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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #52 -- October 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: October [03] Cauldron News [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] The Witch's Circle [05-2] Mastering Witchcraft [05-3] Positive Magic [05-4] Modern Magick [05-5] 21st Century Wicca [06] Received For Review (with Mini-Reviews) [07] Articles: [07-1] Helpful Insight for the Beginning Tarot Reader [07-2] October -- The Eighth Month [07-3] Covens: Or the Legacy of Issobell Gowdie [07-4] National Witches Days of Prayer (Oct 31 - Nov 2) [07-5] Samhain [08] Columns [08-1] Humor: Raven's Rules for (Very) Proper Pagans [08-2] Cheap Web Hosting Report: October 2004 [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] Recycling Nuclear Warheads Into Electricity [09-2] Teaching Kids the Importance of Voting [09-3] A Familiar Symbol Of Good Works Gets A New Look [09-4] Young Americans Help Children Around the World [09-5] A New Law Changes The Way Checks Clear [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++November Issue Submission Deadline: October 20, 2004+++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= Like in September, there's not a lot to report with respect to the newsletter in this issue. Your editor has spent most of his spare Cauldron time working on The Cauldron's web site. When you check the "Cauldron News" section of this newsletter, you'll see some of the changes and additions we have made. Heck, if you have been to The Cauldron's web site recently, you have probably noticed some of the changes. With the staff reorganization (see the Cauldron News section for more information) meaning that I should not have to spend as much time on the message board, even more web site changes are planned for October, so watch for them. I'm still way behind on book reviews, But I have managed to get "First Glance Comments" written on the few books we have received for review recently. They have been included in this issue along with reprint reviews of the last five the top ten readily available books I often recommend to people interested in investigating Paganism -- especially Wicca-like Paganism. We really do need your book reviews and articles for this newsletter. Book Review Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php Handy Article Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php While we have not decided for sure yet, we may be renaming this newsletter starting with the November issue. Just in case we do, I thought I had better mention that the next issue of this newsletter might have a different name. If it does, however, it will still be issue number #53, will still come from the cauldronandcandle email address (assuming YahooGroups does not change things, of course), and will still have all the usual features you expect. Finally, I would like to urge all US citizens reading this newsletter to go to the polls and vote on November 2nd. Even if you are not in a swing state, you can make a difference in the makeup of Congress and your state legislature. If you think the US is moving too far to the right or too far to the left, here is your chance to have your say. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2ND! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: OCTOBER ========= by Star ========= You might recall that I hinted, back when I announced the September Challenge, that the October Challenge would be related. Well--in September we decluttered our time, got rid of all the unnecessary stuff. In October, we're going to put that newfound free time to good use. Your October Challenge is to find some of those things that you've been meaning to do, but your clutter has prevented you from doing. Now that the clutter's gone, you should be able to at least make a dent in some of those things! A note, though. Don't try to do more than you're able. Remember that the Challenges are supposed to be fun in addition to getting things accomplished. Burnout is not fun. If you've got a lot of things to do and/or the decluttering hasn't freed up that much time for you -- pick one or two of the most important tasks and try them. Or maybe one or two of the most manageable tasks. The point is to get something done, not to clear off your entire to- do list. So. What are you going to get done in October? http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1973.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LOOKING FOR A PAGAN FRIENDLY WEB HOST? 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/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Major Staff Reorganization at The Cauldron ===== A long time ago when we first started The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, the plans were that Elspeth would mainly handle the message board and I (Randall) would handle the technical stuff (website, etc.) and the newsletter. As the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men do often go astray. For various reasons, I ended being the main person behind almost every aspect of The Cauldron: the message board, the web site, the newsletter, etc., etc. When LyricFox became our third Co-Host she got over- involved as well. LyricFox and I have tried to step back before, especially since our marriage. However, we have not had a lot of success. I especially have not had a lot of success stepping away from the message board (which takes a huge amount of my time). Therefore it is time for some drastic measures. No, we aren't shutting down the message board, we are reorganizing staff to divide up the tasks and authority better. These changes described below are effective immediately. The Hosts primary duties are now to set site/board/chat/etc. policy, hear final appeals from staff decisions, supervise senior staff, and handle things that no one else can (like the web site). Just as we are not involved in the day-to-day running of the chats, we will no longer be as directly involved in the running of the message boards. The day-to-day operation of the message board is now in the hands of our new Message Board Coordinator (Star), our new Assistant Message Board Coordinator (Koi) and our message board staff (currently Chabas, Loreley, and Sashapablo). If you have problems with a staff decision, you now need to email Star about it. Only after Star has issued a ruling may a message board problem be appealed to the Hosts. The day-to-day operation of chats remain under the control of our Chat Coordinator (Shadow). Shadow hopes to expand our chat schedule sometime soon. You probably will not notice much change immediately, except that there will not be nearly as many posts from me -- nothing like my current 700 or 800 posts a month, at least. Other changes will be coming in the future, however. Some of those changes are now planning are: * news posting to be handled by multiple people (probably as a weblog with just selected items being posted to the message board). * a way for selected members to directly post reviews of books, films, cds, etc. to the web site. * a way for selected members to post articles, poetry, etc. directly to the web site. * adding editorial staff to the newsletter. You discuss these changes or ask questions in the thread linked below. http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1903.1 ===== ===== New Message Board Coordinator: Star ===== As first mentioned in the staff reorganization announcement above, Star will now be handling the day to day operations of The Cauldron's message board as our new Message Board Coordinator. ===== ===== New Assistant Message Board Coordinator: Koi ===== As first mentioned in the staff reorganization announcement above, Koi will now be assisting Star in coordinating the day to day operations of The Cauldron's message board as our new Assistant Message Board Coordinator. ===== ===== New Message Board Staff Members ===== Sasha and Loreley have joined The Cauldron's message board staff. They will be assisting Star, Koi, and Chasbas in managing out message board. ===== ===== Major Web Site Reorganization: Books and Reviews Area ===== The Books & Reviews section of The Cauldron's web site has received a major update with some streamlining and new functionality. When we added the new Academic Reviews section in early September, LyricFox noticed that the main Books & Reviews page had gotten huge with over 200 links to reviews. This sparked the revision: Changes and New Features: * The section index page has been redesigned. The long list of links to reviews are gone. They have been removed to three separate index pages (for Pagan Books, Academic Books, and Divination Decks). Now these index pages can grow instead of the main section page. The links to articles, online books, and book lists have been moved from the narrow column where they were likely missed to the main column. * The bread crumb trail on all the individual review pages have been updated to include the new review index pages. (Thank the Gods for a good multifile search and replace program. ) * As some of you may have noticed, the direct links to the Amazon in the book reviews (e.g. the book image, the "Price and More Info" link) were replaced with a XSLT page "Amazon Item Page" Amazon generates a few weeks ago. This page has been made to look more like the rest of The Cauldron and the link that will take you to the regular version of the Amazon site for that book has been made more obvious. * In order to make it easier for our Canadian and European members, the above mentioned Amazon Item Page" has been turned into one of our new-fangled tabbed pages (like on the News and Member Weblogs pages) that will let people switch between seeing the item on Amazon.com (via our fancy generated page), on Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.ca. * Amazon.ca? Yes, the Amazon Canada site decided that Randall's Social Security Number was okay after objecting to it for reasons it never would explain many times over the past year or two and let us have an Amazon.ca associate account. * We've added an Amazon Book Browser. This is an easy way to browse Amazon's collection of Pagan books by subject, by publisher, or by selected authors from within our web site. * Given the importance of book reviews on our web site (we have over 200 pages of reviews), we have given our revised Books & Reviews section of our web site its own section of the left column main menu on the web site. There are probably some other minor changes I have forgotten about, but these are the major changes. Here are some quick pointers to major areas of our revised Books & reviews area: Books and Reviews Index Page http://www.ecauldron.com/bookstore.php Pagan Book Reviews http://www.ecauldron.com/bookstorepagan.php Divination Decks Reviews http://www.ecauldron.com/bookstoredeck.php Academic Book Reviews http://www.ecauldron.com/bookstoreacad.php Pagan Book Browser http://www.ecauldron.com/bookstoreaisles.php ===== ===== New Java Chat Room Schedule ===== Our Chat Schedule has been expanded from two moderated chats a week to three. All times listed are US Eastern Time. Monday: 2pm - 4pm Tuesday: 8pm - 10pm Thursday: 8pm - 10pm ===== ===== Message Board and Chat FAQ Pages ===== We have started Frequently Asked Questions pages for our Message Board and Chat. You will find them here: Message Board FAQ: http://www.ecauldron.com/faqboard.php Chat FAQ: http://www.ecauldron.com/faqchat.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. === === What is Tameran? === I have a friend who work almost exclusively with Egyptian deities. So in my usual newbie ignorant way, I asked her if she was a Kemetic? She denied being Kemetic but said she was more like a Tameran - a sort of cross between Kemetic and Wiccan. I've got a few links that my friend gave me and waded my way through a forum or two and a few yahoo groups, but they really haven't told me anything more than my friend. So here's the thing: Is Tameran a well known path or a new thing that has sprung up in the last few years? Has anybody heard of it before at all? Is anybody here Tameran? Would anybody care to enlighten me to what it really is rather than the bulk standard spiel I seem to be getting of it's a cross between Kemetic and Wicca, I want to know how it is a cross; is it just a case of non orthodox Kemetics practicing a more earthy form of magick rather than a ceremonial form? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2043.1 === === Science Fiction Based Religions? === I know we all talk about people that claim "Jedi" on their census every so often -- and the usual sense is that they're rather silly, or just playing, or pointing out a problem with the census or whatnot. That said... Do you think there's ever truth in religions created for science fiction? Are these religions a sign of what we're moving to, a plot device ... a plot device that's more real than they meant it to be? Do you think any of them may someday be real? For that matter, what do you think of things like Church of All Worlds which is based off a science fiction book? Do you think it has any legitimacy? and if so, is it because the book's religion was legit, or something else? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2002.1 === === Ouija Boards === I would like to ask if anyone has ever used a Ouija Board, and what the sensation and experience was like? It is quite difficult for me to believe that Ouija Boards can work. I still think, that there is a trick behind it all. Then, in a recent TV show, a well known Swiss person was interviewed and, among other questions, asked if she ever assisted to such a seance. She agreed but would not give any further explanations. She only mentioned only that it was very interesting. What do you think about Ouija boards? Do they work? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1978.1 === === Pagan Children and The Bible === Should the children of Wiccan or Pagan parents read the Bible? Why or Why not? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1934.1 === === Would The Real High Priestess Please Stand Up? === Somebody I know online just told me they have just become a high priestess. Now I'm a bit confused/concerned about this as I know the person is solitary and has only been studying the craft for about a year, she only cast her first circle a few months ago. So is this a title one can just give yourself? I was under the impression that to reach that level was as a result of years of training and study and normally because you belong to a coven/grove/circle and have earned the name. If this is a title you can just give yourself, how on earth does a seeker make sure that the title is not just self imposed. I ask because I am considering getting in touch with some local pagan groups as I feel I may benefit from some teaching. However I am now really worried that the teacher may not be any further along than me and we could end up with "the blind leading the blind". I fear that, that situation could be quite counterproductive. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1891.1 === === Fitting Pagan Practices Into A "Normal" Life? === How do you practice within the 'confines' of your so-called normal lives? If you have a 9-5 job, how do you fit in the god/dess? How do you fit Pagan practices into the modern world? I need help assimilating my practices into my life, so, I'm asking advice for me. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1891.1 === === Beliefs and Superstitions === Something that happened last night at a holiday dinner party (Jewish New Year/Rosh Hashanah) made me think about the differences between beliefs and superstitions. I have been instructed by the hostess not to sit at the corner of the table because I'm a single girl and it would be bad luck. The corner of the table, apparently, has the power to prevent me from finding a husband for 3 years. My first thought was "oh what a silly superstition!" My second thought was that as a witch, who believes in all sorts of incredible things not completely based on solid facts (like magic, or the astral light, or that the gods can manifest themselves in humans) - I really have no right to laugh off the hostess' beliefs or even call them superstitions. So, I'd love to hear thoughts about this. Where is the borderline between a belief and a superstition? Are all religious people really superstitious? What makes something a superstition? What do you think? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1856.1 === === Judgement and the Pagan Norm? === In another thread, it was mentioned that the current Pagan norm is to not judge anything. Do you agree--is this what is expected of us by "the Pagan community" (such as it is)? Do you believe the Gods expect it of us as well? And of course the big question: Do you try to follow that guideline, to not judge anyone? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1860.1 === === Source of Magick? === Something Isi said in the Magick Without Religion thread made me think. A poster expressed a belief that God is the source of magic (hence, magic being religious in nature -- but that's a different topic). I said that I disagreed -- and I do, I don't see deities as the source of magic -- but then I realized something. I'm not sure where it does come from. "The Gods" doesn't feel like the right answer to me, and neither does "nature". I do feel like it just is there... But where is it? We pull energy in from somewhere, push it out to somewhere... Where? (Did that make sense?) What do y'all think? Where does magick come from? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1816.1 === === Casting a Circle? === A lot of information I read, admittedly fairly Wiccan based, lay heavy importance on casting a circle. Whilst I understand the need to shield/protect your self, is a circle really necessary? Why not a triangle, Square, hexagram etc? Is any symbol really necessary? What about just asking for protection from the deity or deities? What about making oils/incense whilst visualizing intent and using them? I would be really interested in how others do it; as much as anything whilst I like a lot of the Wiccan concepts, the mere idea of it makes me feel like a prize idiot and I keep baulking. This means that I am reading a lot but the practical experience is lacking and I feel that it is time to take a step beyond basic meditation and visualization techniques (my cubes, spheres etc. are now looking A1 and I'm getting a dab had at visualizing situations persons etc.) but will not take this step until I know I can protect myself from negative energies. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1670.1 === === Do Animals Have Souls? === There are representatives from many different faiths here, and so I wanted to ask a question. My question is this; Does your faith regard animals as having souls, and if so and if you are part of a reconstructionalist faith, how does this concept fit in with ritual sacrifice? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=1647.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: THE WITCH'S CIRCLE ========= Reviewed by Randall ========= The Witch's Circle: Rituals and Craft of the Cosmic Muse Author: Maria Kay Simms Trade Paperback, 496 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: June 1996 ISBN: 1567186572 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1567186572 On the first page of The Witch's Circle: Rituals and Craft of the Cosmic Muse, the author states: This book started out to be a "Book of Shadows" of my rituals based on astrological themes. Somehow, along the way, it became the story of my own spiritual evolution, then the development of my circle, and also the changes and evolution in my mother circle and its other daughter circles. Maria Simms did a much better job than most authors of summing up the important features of her book. While the majority of this book is astrological based rituals written for and used by her group, the Circle of the Cosmic Muse, some of the most interesting parts have nothing to do with Wiccan ritual. The early chapters trace the author's slow change from a Catholic astrologer to a Wiccan astrologer and establish the author's own views of astrology, magick, and religion. The reader sees the evolution of her ideas as well as the evolution of the groups she works with. Readers just looking for rituals will not be disappointed, however. Unlike many of the books full of Wiccan rituals on the market today, the rituals in this book truly present an original point of view. Ms. Simms has fully integrated astrology into all of her rituals. This book has astrologically based group rituals for each of the eight sabbats and the thirteen full moons, along with special purpose rituals for dedication, Wiccaning, handfasting, and more. While these rituals may not have the lyricalness of an Ed Fitch ritual, they are well-written, interesting rituals. The Witch's Circle also has a chapter covering everything from advice on finding or starting a circle, to making robes, incense, and oils, to songs and a brief outline of her circle's three degree training program. The book concludes with a chapter of the author's personal reflections on children in the Craft, social change, religion, evolution, and networking. While I would not give this book a "best of class" award, it is interesting and useful -- particularly for those Wiccans interested in astrology. I consider it well worth the money I spent on it. This is something I can't always say about books published by Llewellyn these days. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktwc.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: MASTERING WITCHCRAFT ========= Reviewed by Randall ========= Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks, and Covens Author: Paul Huson Trade Paperback Publisher: Perigee Publication date: December 1980 ISBN: 0399504427 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0399504427 The year was 1970. I was 13 years old. I had picked up books on astrology and fortune telling as well as books like Zolar's The Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge. This was the first book on witchcraft I had ever seen. I bought a copy. My parents, used to seeing me regularly buy all sorts of strange books with my allowance and newspaper route money, didn't even bat an eye. This book, more than any other, is responsible for setting me on the path I'm on today. Mastering Witchcraft isn't really about Wicca. It is simply a fantastic introduction to Witchcraft as magick, with very little on the religious aspects. Unfortunately, this book has a poor reputation in some sections of the Pagan community because it teaches attack and control magick. Huson leaves the ethical decisions on whether or not to use such magick up to the reader. He usually warns of the possible dangers, but does not make the decision for the reader by leaving the material out or glossing over it as most other books seem to do. The first two chapters introduce the reader to magick and the magickal tools of a witch. The next four chapters contain more actual magick spells than most of the rest of my Pagan library combined. Divination magick, love and lust magick, countermagick and protection, and vengeance and attack magic each receive a long and detailed chapter. The final chapter is on forming a coven. If you are a Wiccan, you may want to avoid this book because of the many ethical problems you will have with it. If you aren't a Wiccan, have an interest in magick, and have the pocket change to buy it, I strongly suggest you pick up a copy. Even if you would never cast a love spell or an attack spell to flatten your enemies, you will probably find a good number of useful spells that you can add to your personal grimoire or book of shadows. I'm one of the people who believes that one's magickal education is not complete if you do not at least know how such things as love and attack spells work. For example, just reading the chapter on attack magick will make you better at defensive magicks as you will know far more about what you are defending against. In summary, Paul Huson's Mastering Witchcraft is a classic and useful text on low magick. If you have a good moral sense, I think it will make an excellent addition to your library. I just wish that it was still printed in hardback. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmwitch.php [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: POSITIVE MAGIC ========= Reviewed by Randall ========= Positive Magic: Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives Author: Marion Weinstein Trade Paperback, 302 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: October 2002 ISBN: 1564146375 US Retail Price: $14.99 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1564146375 When the first edition of Marion Weinstein's Positive Magic appeared in 1978 it soon became popular as a simple introduction to magic and divination. The 1981 revision has remained on my list of recommended basic books for over 20 years, despite a chapter on the history of witchcraft that was long out of date. Therefore, I was both hopeful and worried when I heard that New Page Books was publishing a newly revised edition for the book's 25th anniversary. I was hopeful that the author would update the troublesome and out of date portions and fearful that the author might accidentally change the mysterious something that has made this book a Pagan classic despite its more "New Age" orientation. My first scan through the revised Positive Magic: Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives convinced me that my worries that Weinstein might change too much were unfounded. While some of the information and references have been updated, the book is still basically the same gentle and friendly introduction to the occult and to magick that made it one of my favorite introductory books -- especially for people who were a little hesitant about getting involved in something like divination or casting spells. Positive Magic is still divided into two sections. The first section is a general introduction to the occult, complete with a chapter on how to detect and avoid negative groups, teachers, and magick. Unfortunately, the chapter on the history of witchcraft in this section was not revised much. It still talks about the works of Margaret Murray as if scholars consider them authoritative and continues to talk about 9 million people killed during the Burning Times. There is really no excuse for errors like these any more. Twenty years ago, more recent scholarship in these areas was unknown to most in the Pagan community. By the start of the 21st century, that was no longer true. Authors do a disservice to the Pagan community when they do not update such material in revisions. However, this is really the only major disappointment in the book. While the first section is mainly discussion, the second gets very practical, covering astrology, Tarot, and the I Ching as well as "Words of Power" magick. While the author is Pagan, her magick instructions often come with both Pagan and "generic" examples. The generic wording would be acceptable to many open- minded individuals who are Christian or some other non-Pagan religion. While this may annoy some Wiccans, magick is religion- neutral. One need not become Wiccan just to practice magick. Weinstein simply recognizes this and exploits it to open the benefits of magick to a wider audience. The magick Weinstein teaches is simple and among the forms least likely to backfire or go astray. It does not require expensive tools, but is still very effective. It can be a first simple step on a lifetime study of magick, or all the magick one ever needs to know. This newly revised edition of Positive Magic is every bit as good as the 1981 edition. I only wish that the "Witchcraft: A Living Heritage" chapter had had more revision and updating so I would not longer have to recommend it with the warning that the information on the history of Wicca is out of date and should be taken with a very large dose of salt. However, as the book is the best gentle introduction to magick for the hesitant newcomer I've seen, I have recommended the 1981 edition with that warning for many years. I will, unfortunately, have to continue to issue that warning when I recommend the new 2002 edition -- and I will continue to recommend it. Despite the historical information problem and occasional other imperfections, Weinstein's Positive Magic is still one of the best practical books available to the cautious beginner, especially one more interested in using magick and divination than changing religions. No one interested in magick is likely to regret having the 2002 edition of this book in their library. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkpositivem.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: MODERN MAGICK ========= Reviewed by Randall ========= Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts Author: Donald M. Kraig Trade Paperback, 592 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: October 1988 ISBN: 0875423248 US Retail Price: $17.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0875423248 If you've ever read a "How-To" book on ceremonial magick, chances are you've been lost. Most books on ceremonial magick are written for those who already understand the basics of the Art. They are therefore very hard for a novice mage to fully understand. Donald Michael Kraig's Modern Magick is designed and written for beginners at ceremonial magick. If you follow this volume's eleven clear lessons, in a year or two you will not only have the knowledge and skills needed to understand other books on ceremonial magick, you will be a practicing ceremonial mage. Ceremonial magick is not your path in this life? Modern Magick might still be a very worthwhile addition to your library. Most modern Pagan religions draw a lot from ceremonial magick, even if they are unwilling to admit it. Kraig's book with teach you to recognize and understand those elements in your path. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmmagick.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: 21ST CENTURY WICCA ========= Reviewed by Tony M. ========= 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life Author: Jennifer Hunter Trade Paperback, 219 pages Publisher: Citadel Press Publication date: July 1997 ISBN: 0806518871 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0806518871 I will admit to a big bias about this book. I went to college with Jen. I am even in the book, although not mentioned by name. The part where she talks about the Jehovah's Witnesses who came knocking on the door as we were preparing for out Samhain Circle happened in my apartment. I also co-wrote one of the rituals she mentions. I can tell you three things based on my familiarity with Jen to recommend this book. One, she is a good writer. Even back in college she was getting published in several Pagan publications. When you read her stuff it is like having a conversation. Some authors, when you read them, come across like you are getting a lecture, but not Jen. Two, she is very serious about the subject. I don't mean stuffy. I mean she really cares about Paganism in general and Wicca in specific. She is not a fluff bunny, and has many years of experience. Her knowledge is based on many years of very hard work. She has practiced both solitarily and as a member of a Gardnarian Coven, and has gathered many insights from a multitude of perspectives. Three, she is good. I mean really good. I have not just attended rituals with her, but have co-led and written rituals with her. She is not an armchair Witch. She can back up her talk with actions. She has a real flair for ritual, and a deep understanding of what she is doing and why she is doing it. I think this comes across in her book as well. As I admit, I am biased. But I will tell you this. It is rare that I have come across a book on Wicca that gets such a broad range of Wiccans, of all backgrounds and traditions, who praise it. I have heard only one or two opinions from people who really did not like this book. But I have heard dozens and dozens of people who just love it, and with good reason in my opinion. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk21cw.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 ========= This month has First Glance Comments on the books listed in the September issue and a couple of other new books. === === Your Magickal Name === by Phyllis and Debra Vega New Page Books ISBN: 1564147231 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1564147231 Many Pagan religions and magickal schools have their members select a new name at various points in their life. This book makes the task of finding the perfect name easier. After a couple of introductory chapters, the book discusses using astrology, mythology, and numerology to select the right name. The vast majority of the book, however, is two long lists of names: one list for men and one for women. Listed with each name are the name's language of origin, meaning, and numerological value. Given the number of traditions that urge their following to select a name based on numerology, this list can save a lot of calculation time. If you are looking for a "magickal name," from first glance this book looks like a good source. (Reviewer's Note: One of the authors in a long time personal friend.) === === Past Life & Karmic Tarot === by Edain McCoy Llewellyn ISBN: 073870508X Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=073870508X This book deals with using the Tarot to understand the karmic issues and questions that follow one from life to life. Assuming one (or one's Tarot clients) believe in reincarnation, this book seems useful enough at first glance. Most chapters in this book present a special Tarot spread for dealing with specific types of questions and issues -- and sample reading using the spread. There is also some basic information on pathworking and past life regression. === === Alchemy at Work === by Cassandra Eason The Crossing Press ISBN: 1580911587 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1580911587 From first glance, the title of this book is a bit of a misnomer. At least I don't see a lot of what I consider "alchemy" in it, just some psychic and magickal techniques for dealing with the trials of business and the workplace. Once I quit looking for "alchemy," however, and started to figure out what the book really was about, it looks interesting -- if basic. I doubt there is anything in this book that will be major news to a long-time student of magick. That said, from my first glance, this book looks full of useful ideas and practical information about using magick in the business world for the magickal novice. === === Magic for Lovers === by Selene Silverwind The Crossing Press ISBN: 1580911528 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1580911528 This is not a book of spells for attracting a lover or mate, it's about using magickal techniques to keep a relationship going on an even kneel. There is magick in this book for all periods of a relationship from dating to marriage to raising a family. Despite the hype on the back cover, from my first glance through this book, most of the magick is not about sex -- it's about a good and lasting relationship that includes sex. === === The Women's Book of Healing === by Diane Stein The Crossing Press ISBN: 1580911560 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1580911560 When I glanced through this revised edition of The Women's Book of Healing I was relieved to find that I did not immediately notice any of the weird stuff about a goddess inhabiting the author's body that has been in some of the author's other recent books. Instead, I found a nice update of the original version of 1986 edition of this book. This book still teaches women, in a friendly but clear manner, how to use alternative healing methods like chakra work, meditation, and laying on of hands to prevent or heal diseases before they reach the point of requiring western medicine to cure. However, it has been updated to reflect what the author has learned in the last 15 to 20 years. === === Totem Magic === by Yasmine Galenorn The Crossing Press ISBN: 1580911161 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1580911161 While animal/totem magic is not a part of my personal path, I found this book very interesting as I glanced through it and am looking forward to reading it. As is typical with Galenorn's books, this book takes a very practical approach with lots of rituals, spellwork and activities along with a lot of basic information. This book appears at first glance to be very useful for anyone who wishes to learn ways to discover and work with their "totem animal". === === Understanding the Tarot Court === by Mary K. Greer and Tom Little Llewellyn ISBN: 0738702862 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738702862 I remember having a lot of trouble reading the court cards when I first started reading the Tarot. Meanings listed in books were often something like "A dark haired man" which often was of no help at all. From a first glance through this book, I can promise you I would likely have given my right arm for it when I was learning the Tarot. It is over 300 pages of information on the 16 most enigmatic cards in the deck co-written by one of my favorite Tarot experts, Mary K. Greer. I suspect that anyone interesting in reading the Tarot, beginner or expert, will be able to gain something by reading this book. I've been reading for many years now and I have already picked up some new ideas just with this first glance through it. === === Grimoire for the Green Witch === by Ann Moura Llewellyn ISBN: 0738702870 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738702870 Ann Moura presents a formal "Book of Shadows" for her personal version of Wicca/Witchcraft, Green Witchcraft. While the rituals still seem a bit ceremonial in places for the natural religion she is presenting in her Green Witchcraft books, the information presented herein is useful for anyone interested in following her path. It is also appears at first glance to be mostly free from the revisionist history and biases against other religions that marred many of the author's earlier books. If you are looking for a complete presentation of the practice of Green Witchcraft, this looks like the book you will want. [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= HELPFUL INSIGHT FOR THE BEGINNING TAROT READER ========= by Paul Carr ========= For over twenty years I have been interested in all things mythic and magic. Naturally, when I first witnessed a fortuneteller using cards to predict someone's future, I was more than curious. I wanted to know how it all worked. So (off and on) for the past fifteen years, I learned. I discovered each card's meaning, how each card could relate to other cards, and how each card means something different depending on its position in a spread or if it is inverted or not.          Not wanting to accept just one edition of the Tarot as the correct one, I tried out several. Backed by this understanding and knowing how the Tarot can be difficult for a novice when beginning to work with these wonderful cards, I decided to give some helpful advice to our future diviners.   As I mentioned, there are several books and Tarot editions on the market just waiting for the right fortuneteller to pick them up and begin reading the future. But finding the right deck might be a little harder than expected. So for the beginner, I recommend one or more of the following three Tarot editions and/or books.   For the truly beginning Tarot reader (one who has never picked up a Tarot deck in his or her life), I recommend one of these two books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune-Telling by Arlene Tognetti and Lisa Lenard or The Instant Tarot Reader by Monte Farber and Amy Zerner.   Don't let the name of the first book discourage you. The Complete Idiot's Guide (Alpha Books, 1999.) teaches you all the basics in understandable language and uses the universal Waite Tarot Deck. This book teaches the beginner the meaning of each card, the meaning of each position in a spread (and lists several spreads that can be used), and the meaning of inverted cards. You do not receive a Tarot deck upon purchasing this book, but you can buy a separate deck that you prefer.   The second book: The Instant Tarot Reader (St. Martin s Press, 1997) is slightly more advanced than The Complete Idiot's Guide, but is more to my liking. This book also list all the important information needed to begin reading Tarot cards. The meanings of each card are listed next to the card so that they can be referenced quickly. The deck (standard playing card size) that comes with the purchase of this book is reproductions of the seventy-eight mixed media fabric college tapestries created by Amy Zener. I do not prefer the artwork of this deck to others I have seen (mentioned shortly), but they can still be used until another deck is obtained that is more to a person's taste.   The final book and deck I d like to mention is The Mythic Tarot: A New Approach to the Tarot Cards by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene (Fireside Books, 1986.). Tricia Newell illustrated the cards in this deck. The book is not very useful to the beginner because the meaning listed with each card is slightly vague and left up to the reader s interpretation. However, one could not ask for a better deck. The cards are well designed and beautifully colored depicting artful characters and objects. The deck is also slightly larger than a standard deck of playing cards, which makes them seem more than just cards. This Tarot edition even includes a black cloth to wrap your deck in to protect it.   All three books contain information on the history of the Tarot, although, the later two contain more useful insight to the creation of the Tarot. All three books are worth reading. But if you are just starting out, you might just want to get your hands on one of the first two books and a deck you like. [07-2] ========= ========= OCTOBER -- THE EIGHTH MONTH ========= (Chapter X of The Stories of the Months and Days ========= by Reginald C. Couzens [1923]) ========= In this, the "eighth" month, was held a great festival at Eleusis, a town twelve miles from Athens, in honour of the Greek goddess Demeter. The Roman name for Demeter was Ceres, and she was worshiped as the Goddess of Agriculture, since the fields and their crops were thought to be under her special care. The Greek name Demeter means "Earth Mother", and the name Ceres has given us the word "cereals", a general name for wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Ceres had a daughter, Persephone, who spent a great part of her time wandering with her companions on the slopes and plains of Sicily. One day, as Persephone and her maidens were plucking flowers and weaving them into garlands, Pluto, the God of the Underworld, rode by in his dark chariot drawn by four black horses. Attracted by Persephone's beauty, he determined to carry her off and make her his queen. One story says that he caused a most wonderful flower to spring up, and Persephone, seeing it in the distance and wishing to gather it, was thus separated from her companions. As she stooped to pluck the flower the earth opened, and Pluto in his chariot came up from the Underworld and, seizing Persephone, carried her down to his dark and gloomy home. Another story says that as soon as he saw Persephone he walked quickly towards her, and before she could guess his intention, caught her up and, carrying her in spite of her struggles to his chariot, drove away at topmost speed. He at length reached a river, whose roaring torrent it was impossible to cross. Afraid to turn back lest he should meet Ceres, he struck the earth such a blow with the two-pronged fork which he always carried as the emblem of his power, that the ground opened beneath him, and thus he was able to reach his dark kingdom of Hades in safety. This Hades, the Underworld to which Pluto had brought Persephone, was the home of the dead, the place to which came the spirits of those who had died, there to receive a fitting reward for their deeds on earth. From Pluto's throne flowed five rivers: 1. Styx (the Hateful), a sacred river, and one by which the gods "fear to swear, and not keep their oath". It was also the river which had to be crossed by the spirits before they could reach the throne. They were ferried across by an old boatman named Charon, who charged them an obol, about ½d. of our money. It was the custom, when a man died, for his relations to put an obol under his tongue, so that he might have no difficulty in crossing the Styx. Those who came without their obol had to wait a hundred years, after which time Charon would take them across free of charge. 2. Acheron (Pain), a dark and very deep river that also had to be crossed by the spirits. 3. Lethe (Forgetfulness), which had the power of making all those who drank of its waters forget the past. 4. Phlegethon (Blazing), a river of fire which surrounded Tartarus, that part of the Underworld to which were sent the spirits of evil-doers, in order that they might suffer punishment for their wicked deeds. 5. Cocytus (Wailing), a river of salt water, the tears of those condemned to the torments of Tartarus. In a distant part of Hades, far removed from the place of torment, were the Elysian Fields. Here dwelt the great and the good, in perpetual day, and amid the ever-blooming flowers of an eternal spring. While the frightened Persephone was thus, against her will, made queen of this sunless kingdom of the dead, Ceres, with many tears, was seeking her daughter in the flower-strewn meadows, but all in vain. After many wanderings in Italy, and even in Greece, where she visited the city of Eleusis mentioned above, Ceres at last learnt of Persephone's fate, but her joy at finding that she was safe was turned to grief by the thought that Pluto would never allow her to come back to the happiness of the sun-lit earth. Meanwhile the goddess had neglected all her duties; the flowers withered away, the trees shed their leaves, the fruit was fast falling from the branches, and the crops could not ripen. The time of harvest was quickly passing, and the people, threatened with famine, and finding that their prayers to the goddess were unheeded, appealed to Jupiter to save them from starvation and death by allowing Persephone to return to the upper world. Jupiter at last consented, and said that Pluto must give up Persephone, provided that she had not eaten anything since the time when she had been carried off. Unfortunately that very day she had tasted a pomegranate which Pluto had given her, and she was compelled to stay with her husband one month for each of the six seeds she had eaten. So for six months she has to live in the Underworld, and there in the thick gloom, never pierced by a ray of sunshine, she waits for the time when she may return to the sun-kissed hills and plains of her favourite land, where, happy in her mother's smile, she dances with her companions amid the flowers. "Persephone to Ceres has returned From that dark god who stole her for his bride, And bids the Earth, that for her coming yearned, Its sombre garb of mourning lay aside. The sun o'ertops the clouds with wonted speed, And so to give the goddess honour due, O'er hill and dale, o'er mountain-side and mead, Now scatters flowers of many a wondrous hue. The trees that shed their leaves, each leaf a tear, Now deck themselves again in bright array, And Man delights to see the Winter drear Yield place to Spring, and Night to gladsome Day." At length comes the time when once more Persephone must return to her desolate home, and with heavy heart she leaves the sorrowing Ceres. "Persephone is called away, And Ceres weeps That she must go; while o'er the Earth Now slowly creeps The gloom of death; fled is that smile Of love that made All Nature waken into life, And all things fade." The Old-English name for October was "Winterfylleth", that is, "winter full moon", because winter was supposed to begin at the October full moon. [07-3] ========= ========= COVENS: OR THE LEGACY OF ISSOBELL GOWDIE ========= by Seren ========= Many aspects of witchcraft and Wicca today are based directly, or indirectly, on the information we have from historical accounts of witchcraft trials during the medieval period. These accounts were based on the concept that witchcraft was devil worship, and involved various nefarious, and even depraved acts - all centered around Satan, or the/a devil.   From these accounts, we find many unique and interesting aspects of medieval witchcraft, and this includes the concept of a "coven" consisting of thirteen witches, it seems.   One of the most important accounts of witchcraft comes from Scotland, from a woman named Issobell Gowdie. She gave us the word "coven", referring to a group of witches (specifically thirteen, she said), who worked together to commit terrible deeds in the name of Satan. Or so the records tell us.   On April 13th, 1662, records show that Issobell Gowdie of Auldearn, Nairnshire, gave a voluntary confession of her association with witchcraft. Her confession involved a lurid and detailed account of everything she got up to in the dark arts; shapeshifting, sex with the devil, flying on straw, using wax images to kill people, raising winds and consorting with elves and faeries.   To top it all off, Issobell claimed that her association with witchcraft had begun in 1647, when bored by her marriage to a dull farmer, she had made a pact with the devil at the church of Auldearn.   For the last fifteen years, Gowdie claimed that she had been attending Sabbats with other witches, in a coven of thirteen members. The coven was led by a man and a woman (the officer and maid), and they would frequently meet on top of a hill with another coven of witches where they would dance in honour of the devil. On one occasion when her coven met, Issobell admitted in her confession to yoking toads into a plough and used it to take the fertility of the soil in an effort to make the crops fail.   Gowdie also claimed that she had been baptized by the devil, who had sucked blood out of her shoulder, and then spouted it into her hand and sprinkled the blood over her head. As he did this, the devil then gave her a new name - "Janet".   She also claimed to have been entertained by the Queen of Fairies in a howe, or pre-historic burial mound (considered to be an entrance to fairy, or the underworld - Elphame), who showed her how elves made elf-arrows with the aid of the devil. These elf arrows were thought to be responsible for spreading sickness and disease amongst the population.   Gowdie also admitted that she had used the body of an unchristened baby to make a magic potion. She then described how the devil would beat her and her coven-mates if they failed to attend Sabbats for whatever reason, and how he would give them money that would later turn into dung.   The younger members of the coven (including Issobell) engaged in intercourse with the devil, whose penis was apparently "great and long". Issobell claimed that all the women enjoyed sex with the devil more than with their own husbands. No doubt Issobell herself would, if her husband was that dull...   As well as being able to affect the crops and milk of cows, Gowdie said she and her covenmates could also raise a wind with a wet cloth and a beetle in water, which was then beaten against a stone as a charm was sung.   Each witch had a spirit that would wait on them to do their bidding, and Issobell's was dressed in black and called "the Read [red] Reiver".  In addition, Issobell claimed that she and her fellow witches could change into a number of different animals such as a cat, hare, jackdaw, crow or horse.   In order to turn into a hare, for example, she would chant the following:   "I shall go into a hare,   With sorrow and sych and meickle care;   And I shall go in the Devil's name,   Ay while I come home again. "                   (sych: such; meickle: great)   In order to change back, Gowdie sang:     "Hare, hare, God send thee care.   I am in a hare's likeness now,   But I shall be in a woman's likeness even now."   Other charms were used to heal ailments as well, and Issobell said she also rode through the air on a piece of straw by singing the charm "Horse and hattock, in the Devil's name!".   Issobell said she rode on a piece of straw, rather than the more typical broomstick, because if she brought it with her, then her husband would notice she had left the house. The straw meant that she could attend the Sabbats without her husband ever noticing something was up. This was presumably because the broom either had some magical charm on it to make her husband not notice, or that she placed the broom in bed in a way that would fool her husband into thinking she was asleep.   Gowdie and another accused witch in the area, Jonet Braidhead, implicated at least forty-four other people in practicing witchcraft. Jonet named her own husband as being a fellow witch, and said that he was the officer of her group. Her mother-in-law, and many other men and women in the area (often belonging to the same families) were also implicated. Unfortunately, there are few records that show the fate of all these people who were accused, after they were tried.   Jonet described a baptism by the Devil that was much the same to Issobell's, but Jonet was given the name Christian, and said that the Devil paid her for sex but the money would turn red later on. She described the Devil as being "as cold as spring well water inside of her." Like Issobell, much of the magical practices she engaged in were aimed at destroying the wealth and prosperity of the local lairds, Laird Lochloy and Park. This included destroying the fertility of the soil - and therefore the yield of crops.   Many of the elements described in the confessions of Issobell and Jonet have become integral to the popular perception of witchcraft, and to a certain extent most of these elements are by no means peculiar to Issobell and Jonet's descriptions. The practice of witchcraft in groups was not unknown before Issobell s confession - or the idea of it, anyway. But people were just as likely to be found guilty of practicing witchcraft on their own, as well as in groups (and especially in Britain, witches tended to practice alone outside of Scotland).   According to Hutton the term "coven" had never been seen or heard before Gowdie's use of the word, at least in the context of witchcraft. It was not used in any other trial records after Issobell's confessions either.   "Coven" is apparently a Scottish word, known to have been used from the fifteenth century onwards. Most attribute its origins to the word convene or a covenant; a similar Middle English word is covin, "a group of confederates", or else a covine in Old French, "a band or group with a single purpose". All these words relate to the Latin convenire - "to agree".   In the case of "covens", it is a unique element found in one woman's confession, but which has come to be a standard feature of modern practice, purely by accident of preservation of a few modern authors like Margaret Murray.   In reality, trial records show that where Sabbats were practiced (mainly on continental Europe) - where witches would join together in worship of their devil, according to the historical records - there was usually no limit to the number of people that could attend.   The famous seventeenth century witch hunter Pierre de Lancre mentions that in one part of France, Labourd, the practice of witchcraft was so endemic that the area was "a hive of witches", with Sabbats having an average attendance of 12,000. Difficult though this might be to believe, it does show that there was no common or general precedent to limit the number of attendees to a Sabbat in trial records.   So if it had not been for Issobell s detailed description of her practices, it is unlikely that the word coven would have been taken up by more modern scholars and practitioners of witchcraft. Writers like Sir Walter Scott and Margaret Murray relied heavily on the Scottish trial records in forming their ideas of historical witchcraft, and these works influenced other writers and people like Gerald Gardner, who used them as a source to recreate - or augment - his own witchcraft practice.   Throughout her work, Margaret Murray picked on certain facts - whether unique or otherwise - and applied it to her picture of witchcraft in universal terms. She also tended to ignore any contradictory evidence that didn't fit her views. This is deemed to be bad scholarship these days, but her work came to be extremely influential in the revival of modern witchcraft. Without Issobell or Margaret Murray, it's safe to say that we wouldn't have what we have today. [07-4] ========= ========= NATIONAL WITCHES DAYS OF PRAYER ========= October 31 - November 2, 2004 ========= by spiritualshe@aol.com ========= === === Who? === Witches, Wiccans, Pagans, Druids, Root-Workers, Magickians, Hoodooist, Conjurors, and Earth-Based Practitioners of all Traditions We Wish to Invite You to Join Us in the National Witches Days of Prayer. ===  === When? === Starting October 31, 2004 through November 2, 2004 ===  === What? === "A Rolling Spell" that Spiritualists can participate in. The spell will be performed on specific days and at specific times a day. Spiritual Practitioners will choose from seven specific times a day so that somewhere in the nation Practitioners will be performing spells at the same time and conjuring energy for the national prayer. ===  === Why? === This is a dark time in our nation's history. There are forces in the U.S. that are negatively affecting our civil liberties, peace from wars, our rights to choose, our rights to vote, the environment of our Mother Earth, our economic health, our choices in life partners, health care, foreign relations and diplomacy, education of our children, our religious choices and so much more. This is a chance for us to make a difference. As things are going, we may not have another chance.   On August 28th and 29th marches began in New York against the Republican Convention. We are asking that you join us to begin our own "Spiritual March" to release the negative forces that are darkening our nation, and to help us find balance once again.   Our goal is to pray for "Divine Spiritual Guidance" so that we choose "the right person to be President of the United States" on November 2, 2004. This choice will not only affect the people of the U.S. but it will also affect the people of the world. The leader we choose here will also be the world leader. All nations will depend on the choice that we make in November. ===  === How? === Those who wish to participate in the prayer will start on the date(s) of their choice between October 31st (Samhain) through November 2nd (Voting Day). Then they can choose the time period that is convenient for them. They can choose between the seven time periods of: 6:15am; 8:30am; 12:30pm; 3:00pm; 7:00pm; 9:00pm or 12:00 midnight. This will allow participants to be in sync with others in prayer and allow the prayers to be in a continuous "rolling" sequence, time after time and day after day. Practitioners can participate as often as they wish. In other words: they may pray multiple times a day, and as many of the three days that they wish. ===  === Tools to Be Used? === The given chant is all that is necessary to participate. However, any Practical Magick such as: Root- workings, Circles, Candle- workings(white for hope, green for prosperity, brown for grounding the nation, gold for success, candles are highly recommended), rituals, ritual tools of Practitioner's tradition are welcome.   We only ask that: 1) The spell work is positive. 2) The spell will not be directed toward any specific individual or group. 3) If a Practitioner truly knows who is best for the country it is not necessary for a name to be mentioned. Give way to the judgment of the Divine. 4) Participants will repeat the following chant at least 3 times as a cohesive binder to make potent all spells casted:   On This Hour We Call Upon The Universal Power As Many We Speak in One True Voice United We Pray for the Nation's Choice. Earth Rain Fire Wind Take Evil From Our Country, Let Peace and Prosperity In.   Distinguish Between He Who is Man and Mouse Only The Best for Our Country May Reign Our Nation's House. So Mote It Be   We sincerely hope that you join us in our first National Witches Days of Prayer.   Please send this to as many of your Pagan friends as possible.     If you have any questions feel free to email us at: spiritualshe@aol.com [07-5] ========= ========= SAMHAIN ========= (Chapter III of The Book of Hallowe'en ========= by Ruth Edna Kelley [1919]) ========= On November first was Samhain ("summer's end"). "Take my tidings: Stags contend; Snows descend-- Summer's end! "A chill wind raging, The sun low keeping, Swift to set O'er seas high sweeping. "Dull red the fern; Shapes are shadows; Wild geese mourn O'er misty meadows. "Keen cold limes each weaker wing, Icy times-- Such I sing! Take my tidings." --GRAVES: First Winter Song. Then the flocks were driven in, and men first had leisure after harvest toil. Fires were built as a thanksgiving to Baal for harvest. The old fire on the altar was quenched before the night of October 31st, and the new one made, as were all sacred fires, by friction. It was called "forced-fire." A wheel and a spindle were used: the wheel, the sun symbol, was turned from east to west, sunwise. The sparks were caught in tow, blazed upon the altar, and were passed on to light the hilltop fires. The new fire was given next morning, New Year's Day, by the priests to the people to light their hearths, where all fires had been extinguished. The blessed fire was thought to protect the year through the home it warmed. In Ireland the altar was Tlactga, on the hill of Ward in Meath, where sacrifices, especially black sheep, were burnt in the new fire. From the death struggles and look of the creatures omens for the future year were taken. The year was over, and the sun's life of a year was done. The Celts thought that at this time the sun fell a victim for six months to the powers of winter darkness. In Egyptian mythology one of the sun-gods, Osiris, was lsain at a banquet by his brother Sitou, the god of darkness. On the anniversary of the murder, the first day of winter, no Egyptian would begin any new business for fear of bad luck, since the spirit of evil was then in power. From the idea that the sun suffered from his enemies on this day grew the association of Samhain with death. "The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year, Of wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows brown and sere. Heaped in the hollows of the grove, the wither'd leaves lie dead; They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the rabbit's tread. The robin and the wren are flown, and from the shrub the jay And from the wood-top calls the crow, through all the gloomy day. "The wind-flower and the violet, they perished long ago, And the wild rose and the orchis died amid the summer glow: But on the hill the golden-rod, and the aster in the wood, And the yellow sun-flower by the brook in autumn beauty stood, Till fell the frost from the cold clear heaven, as falls the plague on men, And the brightness of their smile was gone from upland, glade, and glen." --BRYANT: Death of the Flowers. In the same state as those who are dead, are those who have never lived, dwelling right in the world, but invisible to most mortals at most times. Seers could see them at any time, and if very many were abroad at once others might get a chance to watch them too. "There is a world in which we dwell, And yet a world invisible. And do not think that naught can be Save only what with eyes ye see: I tell ye that, this very hour, Had but your sight a spirit's power, Ye would be looking, eye to eye, At a terrific company." --COXE: Hallowe'en. These supernatural spirits ruled the dead. There were two classes: the Tuatha De Danann, "the people of the goddess Danu," gods of light and life; and spirits of darkness and evil. The Tuatha had their chief seat on the Isle of Man, in the middle of the Irish Sea, and brought under their power the islands about them. On a Midsummer Day they vanquished the Fir Bolgs and gained most of Ireland, by the battle of Moytura. A long time afterwards -- perhaps 1000 B.C. -- the Fomor, sea- demons, after destroying nearly all their enemies by plagues, exacted from those remaining, as tribute, "a third part of their corn, a third part of their milk, and a third part of their children." This tax was paid on Samhain. It was on the week before Samhain that the Fomor landed upon Ireland. On the eve of Samhain the gods met them in the second battle of Moytura, and they were driven back into the ocean. As Tigernmas, a mythical king of Ireland, was sacrificing "the firstlings of every issue, and the scions of every clan" to Crom Croich, the king idol, and lay prostrate before the image, he and three-fourths of his men mysteriously disappeared. "Then came Tigernmas, the prince of Tara yonder On Hallowe'en with many hosts. A cause of grief to them was the deed. Dead were the men Of Bamba's host, without happy strength Around Tigernmas, the destructive man of the north, From the worship of Crom Cruaich. 'Twas no luck for them. For I have learnt, Except one-fourth of the keen Gaels, Not a man alive--lasting the snare! Escaped without death in his mouth." --Dinnsenchus of Mag Slecht (Meyer trans.). This was direct invocation, but the fire rites which were continued so long afterwards were really only worshipping the sun by proxy, in his nearest likeness, fire. Samhain was then a day sacred to the death of the sun, on which had been paid a sacrifice of death to evil powers. Though overcome at Moytura evil was ascendant at Samhain. Methods of finding out the will of spirits and the future naturally worked better then, charms and invocations had more power, for the spirits were near to help, if care was taken not to anger them, and due honors paid. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= Raven's Rules for (Very) Proper Pagans ========= Author Unknown ========= (1) Keep your pinky straight when holding the chalice. (2) Pass the serving dishes (and salt, pepper, etc.) deosil, not widdershins. (3) Do NOT butter bread (cut meat, etc.) with the athame! (Use the bolline.) (4) Ask the altar's owner before using it as a cutting board. (5) Do NOT hog all the cakes and ale for yourself; share nicely. (6) When invoking, issue kind invitations, rather than summary commands. (7) Do NOT invoke storm gods during an outdoor picnic. (8) If you violate (7), prepare to volunteer as the lightning rod. (9) Following your True Will does not require trampling on other people's. (10) Always be polite: saying "please" and "thank you" is as important during an orgy as at any other time; put your weight on your elbows. [08-2] ========= ========= Cheap Web Hosting Report: October 2004 ========= by Gridspace ========= With thousands of web hosts to choose from, it can be hard to find cheap web hosting with the quality and dependability you want. Many web hosts now advertise extremely low prices and promise more features than anyone could ever want. Unfortunately, many cheap web hosting offers turn out to be too good to be true. Either the service is poor or the fine print in the terms of service make many of the features effectively useless. Low cost web hosting with excellent service, reliability and features does exist -- if you are willing to spend many hours researching offers and user experiences. Many offer to help you select cheap web hosting by listing 10, 20 or even more cheap web hosting companies with offers they consider good. However, that's still a lot of cheap web hosting companies and plans to research. We are more selective in our Cheap Web Hosting Report. We check out the sites and the user comments and list what we believe are the current top five general purpose cheap web hosting plans. We also list several additional plans that provide special features (such as "root" access or a Windows server with ASP and an Access database). This means less work for you. ===== ===== Top Five General Purpose Cheap Web Hosts for September 2004 ===== These are the top five general purpose cheap web hosts selected for September 2004. All of the following hosting plans include a web control panel, a cgi-bin directory, php4, perl, and at least 1 mysql database. Many offer a number of additional features. The prices listed are the monthly price based on the shortest prepayment period offered (1m = one month, 3m = three months, 6m = six months) and for annual pre-payment (1y = annual rate). The setup fees we list are for the shortest prepayment period offered and for the annual pre-payment plan. === === #1 iPowerWeb === Price: 3m: $9.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: $30.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: 500 Comments: iPowerWeb is only a few years old, but it already hosts over 200,000 web sites, has won numerous awards for its service, and has successfully managed rapid growth with only a few visible customer service hiccups. The company and its offerings are not perfect, but they provide featureful, reliable, low cost web hosting -- and do so very well from the point-of-view of the average customer. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zipowerweb.php === === #2 midPhase === Price: 3m: $11.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: unlimited Disk Space: 1500 MB Mailboxes: unlimited Comments: midPhase is a young hosting company (launched in late 2002). They offer a strong hosting package with many features at a reasonable, although not super-low, price. It has grown quickly -- and, thus far, without a lot of complaints from their customers over service. If they can continue to provide good service, expect them to rise on our list in the future. At the end of August, they switched to unmetered bandwidth for most sites (60 gig limit for download sites and image galleries). While unmetered bandwidth sometimes causes hosting companies problems, midPhase says that they have been planning this switch for months and do not expect any problems. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zmidphase.php === === #3 Lunarpages === Price: 3m: $9.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: $30.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: Unlimited Comments: Lunarpages has over 5 years experience in shared web hosting and hosts over 50,000 web pages. While they have not pushed for the huge growth of some of the other low cost web hosting companies, Lunarpages customers seem generally very happy with their service and appear to this reviewer to be more loyal to their hosting company than the customers of other hosting companies. This speaks well for Lunarpages. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zlunarpages.php === === #4 PowWeb === Price: 3m: $7.77 1y: $7.77 Setup: 3m: $20.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB /day Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: 650 Comments: PowWeb has been in the low cost web hosting business since 1999. They are best known for their one-size fits all web hosting plan. They have recently raised their bandwidth limits from 45 gigs a month to a whopping 5 gigs a day (but you get an email warning at 4 gigs in a day according to their policy). We have seen a few more customer complaints over performance and customer service recently, which has caused this web host to drop a bit in our rating, but they are still a good choice for many. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zpowweb.php === === #5 Dreamhost === Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $24.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 800 MB Mailboxes: 60 Comments: Dreamhost has long been -- and still is -- listed as the best affordable web host for unusual content (as they will host just about anything legal) in the Special Needs Hosting section of this report. Recent improvements in their plans have made them very competitive in terms of bandwidth, web space, and features offered for the price, so they have moved into our "Top Five" list. If you are looking for low cost, high quality web hosting with truly excellent tech support and very friendly people, check out Dreamhost. (This site hosts with Dreamhost.) More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zdreamhost.php === === Honorable Mention Dot5Hosting === Price: 3m: $8.00 1y: $5.00 Setup: 3m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: 50 GB Disk Space: 750 MB Mailboxes: unlimited Comments: In late July, one of our readers suggested we look at Dot5Hosting. We looked and are very impressed with what they offer for the price. For $60 a year, you can get a fairly powerful web site. For $120 a year, you can get 1500 megs of storage and 80 gigs of bandwidth. Although this web host has won a number of best hosting awards, we need to track it more closely for a few months before we can add it to our "Top 5" list. However, it looks like a good enough deal that we are listing Dot5Hosting as an "Honorable Mention." If you are on a very tight budget, this might be a host to strongly consider. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zdot5hosting.php ===== ===== Special Needs Cheap Web Hosting ===== If you have special hosting needs, one of the following cheap web hosting solutions may meet those needs better than one of the above plans. While the following companies generally do not offer as much bandwidth and disk space as the Top Five Cheap Web Hosts listed above, they provide more than enough of both for most sites and their special features, if you need them, will more than make up the difference. === === Fewer Content Restrictions === Dreamhost Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $24.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 800 MB Mailboxes: 60 Comments: In an effort to avoid arguments and complaints, most web hosting companies are fairly restrictive on questionable content -- to the point that some will terminate a site for displaying a picture of a classical (but bare breasted) statue from ancient Greece. Dreamhost not only has an excellent, cheap web hosting package but is far more liberal than most web hosts on acceptable site content. Basically, if your content is legal in the US, Dreamhost will probably have no problems hosting it. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zdreamhost.php === === Windows Hosting === Easy CGI Price: 1m: $9.95 1y: $7.96 Setup: 1m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: 50 GB Disk Space: 3000 MB Mailboxes: 50 Comments: Easy CGI provides Windows 2000 servers instead of the standard Unix servers. Their accounts come with ASP and one Access Database. They are one of the most affordable and most popular Windows hosting providers. Customer service reports are spotty, however. Most people report excellent service but minority report major problems. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zeasycgi.php === === Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting (Root Access) === Jumpline Price: 1y: $9.95 Setup: 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB Disk Space: 500 MB Mailboxes: 75 Comments: Jumpline uses special technology to provide each account with its own virtual server. You have your own Apache web server, your own email servers, your own database server, etc. and you have root access to the virtual machine running them. These types of accounts can be more stable and provide better control, but are best used by Unix experts who understand the ins and outs of running servers. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zjumpline.php === === Dedicated Server Hosting === ServerPronto Price: 1m: $29.95 Setup: $149.00 Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 200 GB Mailboxes: unlimited A dedicated server gives your site its own physical computer as a server. The upside is that you have full root access so you can install whatever software you want on it and have very few restrictions on scripts (even if they hog CPU time). The downside is that you have to maintain the system yourself. ServerPronto has some of the most affordable dedicated server prices we have seen, although there are many options that can increase the monthly price or the setup fee. Windows and Windows 2003 dedicated servers are also available at higher prices. In mid- September, ServerPronto started a special offer of $80 off the above listed setup fees on several plans. The length of this offer is unknown, so check their website for more information. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zserverpronto.php === Notes The information in this report was checked for accuracy on September 30, 2004. Web hosting companies, however, can change their pricing and plans at any time so the information may no longer be accurate when you read this report. Gridspace is not responsible for errors nor for what use you may make of this information. Looking for even more hosting options or more information on web hosting? See the Cheap Web Hosting Report web site at http://www.cheapwebhostingreport.com/ [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] ========= ========= Recycling Nuclear Warheads Into Electricity ========= How many nuclear warheads does it take to power a light bulb? The answer is no joke. Since 1995, a joint U.S.-Russian government initiative known as Megatons to Megawatts has recycled weapons-grade uranium equivalent to 8,000 Russian nuclear warheads into fuel used by American power plants to produce electricity. That's enough fuel to power an entire city the size of Boston or Seattle for about 300 years. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the 20-year, $8 billion program, which is charged with eliminating the proliferation threat from 500 metric tons of Russian weapons-grade uranium- equivalent to 20,000 warheads. The program has been so successful that today about one in 10 American homes, businesses, schools and hospitals receives electricity from nuclear power plants fueled by recycled Russian warheads. It works like this: In Russia, the bomb-grade uranium is diluted into safe power plant fuel, which can no longer be used in weapons. Then, the fuel is purchased by USEC Inc., the U.S. government's executive agent. USEC sells the fuel to its large base of power plant customers across America. The program is completely funded by USEC, which has paid Russia more than $3 billion to date for the uranium fuel. No taxpayer funds are required. USEC, an investor-owned company, is the world's leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Through Megatons to Megawatts, commercial nuclear power plants are proving to be the most effective means of eliminating excess nuclear warhead material and reducing the proliferation threat. To date, more than 100 American nuclear power reactors-virtually the entire U.S. fleet-has used Megatons to Megawatts fuel. Experts consider the Megatons to Megawatts program a "win-win" idea: it helps eliminate stores of weapons-grade uranium, which is actively being sought by terrorists and rogue nations. At the same time, the program converts the warhead material into a valuable resource: fuel used to light and power America from coast to coast. This is a unique example of how the private sector helps advance national and world security. For more information, visit www.USEC.com [09-2] ========= ========= Teaching Kids the Importance of Voting ========= In the 2000 presidential election, only 37 percent of Americans made it to the polls to cast a vote. Equally as dire is the voter turnout for congressional and local elections. As presidential and local election campaigns heat up, we could all be reminded how much each voice, through voting, has an impact. There's no better time to instill the value of voting in our youngsters. According to data from the non-profit, non-partisan educational group Kids Voting USA, an early education on voting makes a great difference. In fact, the voting rate for registered 18- year-olds is 14 percent higher in communities that teach civic responsibility in the classroom, such as voting, than in those that do not. Now, one hotel company is stepping up, helping kids put their voice toward community service, educating children on the significance of voting in their communities. Doubletree Hotels, with assistance from Kids Voting USA, has developed a voting-focused lesson plan and is providing tools to hundreds of elementary school students in the U.S. this year. The voting education initiative is an extension of Teaching Kids to CARE, a community outreach program which pairs the hotels with elementary schools and youth groups to educate children about making conscious decisions, including caring for their local community. This year, Teaching Kids to CARE students will cast their ballots in more than 100 cities to determine who, in their communities, deserves a caring gesture-2,004 Doubletree cookies -as part of the Great Community Cookie Election. Outside the classroom, parents can also teach children about the importance of voting. According to Chris Heller, Kids Voting USA president and chief executive officer, "Parents who talk with their kids about community service, social issues and show they care for their community by voting in elections raise children with higher levels of political knowledge and engagement." For those parents wanting to get involved in a voting activity with their children, following are a few tips: 1. Create a family album with newspaper and magazine clippings about an election-local or presidential-and the candidates. Consider including photographs, advertisements, bumper stickers or other election-related collateral. Sit down as a family and discuss the kind of articles (objective versus editorial), tones and issues each clipping addresses. 2. Organize a family political discussion about voting, encouraging questions. Some questions and discussion topics might include: a. Why do you think voting is important? b. Why do you think some people don't vote? c. What characteristics do you think a candidate should have? d. Which candidate do you like? Why? e. What are some problems in our community? How will this candidate solve these problems? f. What can we do as a family to help our community? 3. As a family, research how the voting process works. Look up "popular vote" and "electoral vote" to learn more about the American democratic voting process. 4. Challenge kids to take on a reporter's role, writing a brief story about community service, democracy, elections or voting. 5. Volunteer to help voting programs by distributing voter registration information to friends and family. For information on voting sites and registration, visit http://www.us.gov/ or call 1-800-FED-INFO. Remember, even one vote can make a difference. In 2000, just five electoral votes and 540,520 popular votes-about the same as the population of Wichita, Kansas-separated the presidential candidates. Learn more about Teaching Kids to CARE at http://doubletree.com/teachingkidstocare [09-3] ========= ========= A Familiar Symbol Of Good Works Gets A New Look ========= A well-known symbol of charitable giving is getting a makeover. For 54 years, this orange box has stood for the ability of children to promote change-by collecting change. The change collected by children during the month of October for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign has improved the lives of millions of children around the world by funding immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation programs. Over the years, children have helped to raise $123 million to help support UNICEF programs around the world. Kids enjoy participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF because it allows them to take action and make a global impact right from their own neighborhood. With an eye on emphasizing the impact produced by students, parents and teachers, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF has unveiled a newly designed Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box. The 2004 box will continue with its traditional orange color and will be joined on the front panel by an image of a jack-o'-lantern in UNICEF's signature blue. To help support the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign this year, retailers Pier 1 Imports and IKEA will serve as box distributors. Throughout October, Pier 1 will distribute boxes at over 1,000 locations and IKEA will once again make boxes available through all its U.S. stores. It has also been announced that actress and UNICEF Ambassador Alyssa Milano will serve as the national spokesperson for the 2004 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Throughout October, she will be raising awareness for the time-honored Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. In addition to the new look, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is rolling out enhanced educational resources-including a video, posters, information on the campaign, and an online program-to support continued success in the classroom. "Children continue to express an interest in the world outside their local communities," said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "By reinventing the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign for a new generation, we are engaging children who have the power to become revolutionaries behind effecting positive change in the lives of millions of their peers around the world." The new boxes and free educational materials are now available and can be ordered by calling: 1-800-4-UNICEF or by visiting http://www.unicefusa.org/ Trick-or-Treaters can make a direct donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF by depositing their coins into a Coinstar machine at their local supermarkets. Coinstar makes it easy to give to the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program by accepting donations through its network of supermarket-based machines 365 days a year. To learn more, visit the Web site at http://www.unicefusa.org/ [09-4] ========= ========= Young Americans Help Children Around the World ========= America's teens are tackling the challenge of bringing help and hope to the world's poor children-and they're being honored for their efforts. * Sarah Cayia, 15, of Hampden, Maine, recently launched a school- wide campaign that collected ten large boxes of school supplies for needy children attending a rural school in Bosnia, where her father was serving with the National Guard. Sarah recruited volunteers to help her make collection boxes decorated with pictures and information about Bosnian children. She then placed the boxes in classrooms at their school, and promoted the collection drive with posters, speeches and an advertisement on the school's television station. * Pedro Lizama, 13, of Washington, D.C., set his sights on helping the poor children of Central America after a visit to El Salvador. When he returned home, Pedro began soliciting donations of gently used clothing, school supplies and other necessities for young Salvadorans. Pedro personally delivered the supplies to more than 30 children during a return visit to the Central American country. * Hannah Lee, 18, of Missoula, Mont., volunteered for six summers at orphanages in Kenya and a school for underprivileged children in South Africa. She visited an orphanage in Nairobi in 1998 for children afflicted with HIV/AIDS and spent the following summer there feeding, bathing and playing with the children. Hannah returned to Africa over the next few years to help make life a little better for its youngest and most vulnerable residents. For their desire to make a difference in the lives of others-and not letting even thousands of miles stand in their way-Sarah, Pedro and Hannah were honored with this year's Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Each year, Prudential Financial, in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, presents the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards to youngsters in grades 5-12 who have distinguished themselves through volunteer work. For more information, visit http://www.prudential.com/spirit. [09-5] ========= ========= A New Law Changes The Way Checks Clear ========= Check it out. A new law is changing the way banks clear checks. The legislation-known as the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, or Check 21-will benefit consumers through faster check clearing, decreased fraud, less paper and increased security. The law makes it possible for banks to send-and accept for clearing purposes-digital images of checks electronically. This eliminates the need to physically transport checks between banks. As an added benefit, Check 21 will reduce uncontrollable delays in transporting checks caused by weather or natural disasters. According to the American Bankers Association, the law does not eliminate paper checks, nor does it change the way consumers write checks. It simply requires banks and customers to accept paper copies of original checks, called "substitute checks." A "substitute check" is a paper copy of the original check, including the front, back and all endorsements. Supporters of this law say that consumers will benefit. Here's why: * They'll have earlier access to their funds and more convenient access to information online about the status of their checks, * Check fraud will be reduced because faster processing will mean faster detection and faster resolution of problems, * Consumers receive special recrediting rights if a problem arises due to a "substitute check." One caution: with faster processing, consumers must ensure they have enough money in their account to cover their checks. In addition to the changes brought on by Check 21, a growing number of retailers are now converting paper checks into electronic automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments on the spot. This means that if a consumer has written a check for a purchase, the check is returned immediately at the point of purchase, after it is converted into an ACH payment. Regular billers, such as utilities or credit card providers, are also converting checks to ACH payments. Once the check is converted, a consumer will not receive a copy of the original. However, the check will be reflected in the consumer's bank statement, which will be accepted as proof of payment. To learn more, visit the America Bankers Association at http://www.aba.com/ and click on "Consumer Connection." [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! 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 either PayPal or the Amazon Honor System links below (we get about 85% of what you donate). Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com 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/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. 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 OR CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS ===== 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, unsubscribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. Note that you have to make these changes yourself. 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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