[Cauldron and Candle Illo]

 

 
Cauldron and Candle
Issue #77 -- September 2006

A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
website: http://www.ecauldron.com/
message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/mb/

 

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive

C A U L D R O N   A N D   C A N D L E  #77 -- September 2006

           A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
                website: http://www.ecauldron.com/
            message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/mb/
             newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/
            shopping: http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php
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In this Issue:

[00] Editorial Notes
[01] Cauldron News
   * September Challenge
[02] Interesting Recent Cauldron Discussions
   * Inimical Gods?
   * Are Heathenry and Asatru the Same?
   * How to Deal with Christmas?
   * The Value of Discipline?
   * What Does It Take to be a Member of Your Religion?
   * Is Your Non-Pagan Other Half Supportive?
   * Significators in Tarot
   * Eclectic a Four-Letter Word?
   * Do Some Paths Glamourize Immaturity?
   * Prayer: What Do You Say When You Aren't Asking for
     Something?
[03] Pagan Announcements
   * NOW OPEN: Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum
   * Pagan Moderators Mailing List
   * Pagan Forum Alliance Web Site Updated
[04] Book Reviews:
   * Llewellyn's 2007 Witches' Datebook
   * Llewellyn's 2007 Magical Almanac
[05] Articles
   * Breathing for Meditation
   * The Chaos Magic 'Primer'
[06] Flamekeeping: Membership and Separation
[07] Software Gadgets: The Column
   * Free Launch Bar -- Quick Launch Cubed
   * Sandboxie -- Run Internet Explorer in a Sandbox
   * AlfaClock Free -- Enhance your Taskbar Clock
[08] Grimoire: Magickal Healing Bath
[09] Pagan Webmaster: My Top Ten Website Pet Peeves
[10] Recipe: Chocolate Coffee Bark
[11] Support The Cauldron
[12] Newsletter Information
              (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe)

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[00]
=========
========= EDITORIAL NOTES
=========

Welcome to the September 2006 issue of Cauldron and Candle. You
are receiving this issue because you subscribed. To learn how to
unsubscribe, see the last section of this newsletter.

While I would really like to say that there will be a second
issue of Cauldron and Candle in September, if I said that I would
be lying. I think it is time to call the twice monthly
publication experiment off. My life is just far too busy most
months to pull this off. It's time I just admitted this.

If you read the Pagan Announcement section below, you'll discover
one of the reasons why I am even less likely to have time to do a
second issue, I'm involved in a new Hellenic Pagan message
board, the Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum. While this board
will be far less busy than The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, It will
still help fill up those "spare" hours.  If you are interested in
Hellenic Paganism, I hope you will make Ta Hiera's message board
a regular stop.  You'll find more information in this newsletter,
but if you are impatient, all you need is the URL:

   * http://www.tahiera.org/

I'd like to remind everyone of a couple of painless ways to
support The Cauldron if you are in the market for web hosting or
pagan supplies.  Buy directly from our links:

Dreamhost -- Pagan Friendly Web Hosting
   * http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php

Pagan Supplies
   * http://www.ecauldron.com/esesf.php

Randall Sapphire
Editor and Publisher, Cauldron and Candle
Co-Host, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum


[01]
=========
========= CAULDRON NEWS
========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff
=========

=====
===== September Challenge
=====

In September we're going to go off in a different direction for a
bit. We're going to focus on relationships. Your Challenge,
should you choose to accept it, is to choose one relationship and
find a way to improve it. This might mean making a point of
spending more time with a parent, for example, or doing something
to inject a little romance back into your relationship with your
significant other, or talking to a friend about an issue that's
coming between you.

The nature of this Challenge is pretty personal, so I want to
emphasize that although we love it when people share their
Challenge experiences, of course you're not obligated to.
However, I hope that you'll participate even if you don't post
about it!

What relationship are you going to improve? Do you have any plans
yet for accomplishing this?

  * http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1340.1


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dedication to free speech. Pagan sites are welcome!  Read why we
use Dreamhost for The Cauldron's web site:

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* zend optimizer, ruby on rails
* unlimited MySQL databases
* announcement lists
* discussion (aka mailing) lists
* Jabber server
* Crontab and Shell access
* Web-based Control Panel
* One-Click installs of the Wordpress blog & PhpBB forum
* 1 free domain name
* helpful tech support
* and much more!

All for $9.95 a month with a $49.95 setup fee. Pay for a year
in advance and there is no setup fee. Pay two years in advance
and the price drops to $7.95 a month. (And there is a 97 day
money back guarantee!)

     Visit Dreamhost for Affordable, Pagan-Friendly Hosting
           http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php

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[02]
=========
========= INTERESTING RECENT CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS
========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board
=========

In an average month, over 200 new discussion topics are started
on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more
interesting recent discussions. It's not too late to join in.

Thanks to Feedburner, 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 Feedburner's free news delivery via the form at the end of
the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web
page.


=====
===== Inimical Gods?
=====

I've noticed that many of the scarier gods of various pantheons
have been redefined, reclaimed, or 'clarified'. Possibly
justifiably, but it does leave kind of a void in our
consciousness. Set, Mars, Scathach, the Morrigan; all have
adherents (as they always did, of course) and most are viewed in
a positive light by those adherents. Even Satan has worshippers
ready to tell you how he has been misunderstood and miscast for
centuries.

What I want to know is, are there any Big Bads left? Any gods who
just plain don't like people? Who destroy not to clear a way for
the new, or to teach a lesson, but just, well, because tromping
things is fun? Is there a real Adversary out there whose bad side
you definitely don't want to get on, and who doesn't actually
have a good side?

Does Evil have a patron?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1544.1

=====
===== Are Heathenry and Asatru the Same?
=====

I did some Googling because I know nothing about them, and came
across this site which states "Heathenry, also called Asatru, is
the pre-Christian tribal religion and culture of the Northern
European peoples known variously as the Germanic tribes, the
Teutonic tribes, or the Northern Europeans." Um, hmmm.

And today I'm reading your eprimer, and it states "Asatru is the
modern reconstruction of the religion of the pre-Christian
Germanic peoples." Not until later down the page does it say
"...for people inclined towards study and further knowledge of
the magicks associated with Heathenism, there is much to explore
and ponder."

So are they the same thing? And now that I'm writing all this ...
I thought Thor (mentioned in the eprimer) was Norse. Where do the
Norse fit into it?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1541.1

=====
===== How to Deal with Christmas?
=====

For those of you who are still "in the closet", how do you deal
with Christmas?

My family are Christian, and have always celebrated Christmas.
Last year I felt like a bit of a fraud accepting Christmas
presents. I sent some to my family as well, wrapped in "seasonal"
paper, not Christian themed. And I sent out "Happy Holidays"
cards, rather than those with specific Christmas sentiments.

I feel it's a little wrong to accept Christmas gifts when I'm not
Christian. I'm unwilling to "come out of the closet" right now
though.

Thoughts?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1498.1

=====
===== The Value of Discipline?
=====

What value would you put on discipline in magic? There are so
many types, from free-flowing, 'whatever feels right' magic, to
systems with rules and correspondences up the wazoo. Do you find
a difference in terms of effectiveness in these methods?

To clarify - if you had an important goal, would you take the
time to collect your ingredients in the dead of night, with a
silver knife, while naked, etc., or would you dash off a spell
using whatever you had in your kitchen, substituting as
necessary, telling a while candle it was really black now, and
trusting to your focus and intent to carry it off. Is 'proper
form' an unnecessary frill, or does a spell have more 'oomph'
when done elegantly and according to form?

The comparison that comes to my mind is in poetry. Free verse and
poetic pose are both evocative, and, done properly, beautiful.
They don't seem to require the discipline that iambic pentameter
or haiku forms do, where there seems to be a sense of
accomplishment in finding the perfect word with the right
emphasis or number of syllables. Is there a value distinction
between them? Would you choose one form over another according to
the 'importance' of the occasion?

I've seen advice on here to 'do what feels right and it will
work'. I've also seen some very specific debates about academic
rigour. Is cutting the formality out of a CM ritual and adjusting
it to your tastes a matter of freeing yourself of the limitations
of form, or is it a matter of being unwilling to tackle the
difficulties of discipline.

I go back and forth on this myself, both in magic and in poetry,
but it always seems that the more important or more difficult a
task, the more I go for the formal and disciplined. A word that
takes a week to find, and is perfect, seems to acquire value just
from the sense of achievement in finding it. Similarly, a spell
done to rigourous and demanding standards seems stronger somehow.

Opinions?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1478.1

=====
===== What Does It Take to be a Member of Your Religion?
=====

What does a member of your religion/spiritual group have to
have/believe to be considered an actual member? Do you have to be
a hard polytheist? Do you have to use magic? Basically, what
makes a person Wiccan, or Asatru, or whatever? What are the
unifying threads?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1442.1

=====
===== Is Your Non-Pagan Other Half Supportive?
=====

Obviously this is to all of us who live with Non-pagan
partners...

I was really daunted when I first got together with my fiance.
I'd dated a few non-pagans shortly after I came out of the
'Broom' Closet and we had a few issues come up because of my
faith.

I need not have worried about it though. K has been so completely
understanding and supportive about my faith, despite the fact
that she has no interest in gods of any kind herself.

As I've mentioned previously on this board, when we first got
engaged, she did some research for our wedding and found a pagan
priestess who would perform our marriage ceremony and obfuscate
it just enough to make it so the Christians in the audience
wouldn't notice, which I think was soooo totally sweet of her.
(Even though we've ended up just going with a Justice Of The
Peace (Non denominational wedding) because of cost issues)

She also bought me the most beautiful chest to keep my working
tools in when I'm not actively using them (it doubles as an alter
as well) for my birthday.

She even recently picked me up and gave me the kick in my butt
that I needed when she knew I was avoiding talking with Hecate (I
made a promise I didn't quite keep...still smoking.) I talked
things over with Hecate and we made a deal that I would cut down,
and quit after the wedding.

I was curious to know if those of you with Non-pagan partners
have been as lucky as I have with my wonderful K? If not, what
sort of problems have you come across?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1399.1

=====
===== Significators in Tarot
=====

Back when I was first learning Tarot, my teacher made a big deal
about using significators. I thought at the time that it was a
great way to get used to the court cards, gender, age, child-
bearing/having status, hair and skin colour, etc. I even tried to
learn the astrological attributes of each one. With sixteen
options to choose from, I could usually come up with a
significator for anyone I read for. Add in the people who use
Major Arcana for significators, and you have a whole population
right there in your hands.

I found over the years, however, that I dropped the practice. Oh,
I will occasionally use a significator for a situation, if I
really want to focus strongly and narrowly on that sitch, and
sometimes if the first card out is a court card I find it
significant, but in general I just don't use them anymore.

For regular (and irregular) tarot card users: how important is
the concept of a significator card. Do you use one consistently,
in special circumstances, by chance, or not at all? How do you
find it affects the reading - it's focus, it's accuracy, etc.

Enquiring minds want to know!

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1361.1

=====
===== Eclectic a Four-Letter Word?
=====

Ever feel like "eclectic" is sometimes received as a four letter
word? I'm thinking on this because I realized how much I've been
avoiding the word over the last year and a half or so. Seems like
the immediate thoughts that come to mind, for me, is that of
picking and choosing little bits and mixing up a religious
Smoothie. Even though my path IS an eclectic one.

Sometimes it feels like I won't be taken seriously by someone I'm
talking to if I say eclectic, or others when someone I meet (say
in a Witchy store or viewing a new online community) replies with
an exclamation of "YEAH me too, I blend Buddhism, Sihk, Gnostic,
Wicca, ______, ______," etc. Then its me mentally groaning. So
from not wanting to be associated with such a way of thinking, I
tend to omit the word all together. It's like "eclectic' means
"Oh, well the beauty of being Pagan is that I can believe however
I want!" and getting out the blender.

Am I just building up an issue in my own mind and making myself
crazy by overanalyzing or do others feel similarly? I am asking
because its either a thing others notice too, or I'm being a
bitch and should be trying to correct the attitude towards the
word.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1356.1

=====
===== Do Some Paths Glamourize Immaturity?
=====

I've been tossing this around in my head for a couple days.

There are a couple paths, Feri being the one I'm mostly thinking
of that really focuses on the power and allure of the child self.

Nimue in particular, seems to be perceived as sexually viable,
and in some ways outwardly more physical than the Star Goddess
who moves in almost macrocosmic aloofness. The uncontrolled fey
nature of the ever alluring woman/child is carried by a child. In
thinking more about this, I wonder if this is a good thing.

It sort of infantalizes a woman's power, and stunts it. Locks you
in a geisha like existence, dependant upon the notice of other
more grounded people. Makes it seem like in order to retain your
charge, you need to maintain a state of unknowing.

It's hard enough for women to accept the passage of stages of
life in a world that already fixates on youth. It's hard enough
to accept and use your own personal power. Is it healthy to
elevate a state of being that can't really be maintained?

I've always had a sort of kinship with Nimue, but recently have
really seen how it holds me back. Prevents me from seeing power
and direction as attractive. I find that experiences in child
self state, while the energy is thrilling, it's also scattered
and pretty random. I guess what I'm finding is a need for a more
consistent energy.

I'm also thinking that coming into that energy means taking a
deliberate step away from archetypes that glamourize the
childlike. Rather than working to be closer to a feral nature,
focusing more on clear sight and self actualization. Tearing off
the gossamer wings, throwing down the veil and just flat out not
playing endless peekaboo with fairies.

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1324.1

=====
===== Prayer: What Do You Say When You Aren't Asking for
=====         Something?
=====

As some of you may know I have recently started a small shrine to
Ganesh due to a nudge and following events. However, I have a big
question regarding shrines and worship.

If I am not asking Lord Ganesh for something but I still want to
honor him at my little shrine what do I say? Hi, how are you?
Right now I have been bringing in fresh wildflowers and changing
them out as needed and occasionally lighting a candle. I put my
hands together at my breastbone, elbows out and bow to his
figurine without really mentally verbalizing anything. But it
definitely seems like something is missing from that.

My question is what do you say when you aren't actually praying
for something? If you are just honoring them?

* Read (or join in) this discussion:
  http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1321.1


[03]
=========
========= PAGAN ANNOUNCEMENTS
=========

=====
===== NOW OPEN: Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum
===== by Randall
=====

The Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum is now open.

The Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum is a polytheistic
reconstructionist religious web site and message board devoted to
facilitating the understanding of ancient Hellenic religion (and
related ancient religions) and the worship of the ancient
Hellenic deities. While clearly based on academic research into
ancient practices, the understanding and worship is adapted for
modern times and places.

The Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum is not affiliated with any
Hellenic religious organization. This forum welcomes anyone
interested in discussing Hellenic polytheism regardless of group
affiliation (or lack thereof), provided they adhere to the
forum's rules and guidelines. If you are interested in Hellenic
Paganism (or a related religion from the same time period) from a
scholarly/reconstructionist point-of-view, you will want to
create an account and join this new forum. Membership is free.

Ta Hiera's web site and message board have the following major
purposes:

   * To provide religious support, education, and resources to
      Hellenic Polytheists;

   * To assist Hellenic Polytheists in individual and family
     worship;

   * To facilitate communication and fellowship between Hellenic
     Polytheists;

   * To provide resources and information to those who are
     interested in ancient Greek religion;

   * To facilitate advancement of the private and public worship
     of the ancient Hellenic deities in the modern world,
     inspired by the forms and ways practiced by the ancient
     Greeks in ancient Greece and its states, territories, and
     colonies as historically defined; as reconstructed through
     research and study; and as adapted for modern times and
     places;

   * To facilitate advancement of ancient Hellenic polytheism
     through manifesting the work, in the modern world, of the
     ancient Greek deities as known by the ancient Greeks in
     ancient Greece and its states, territories, and colonies as
     historically defined; and as referenced in the art,
     literature, architecture, and history of the ancient Greeks.

If you are a member of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, you will find
a lot of familiar faces on the Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist
Forum:

  Hosts: Randall and LyricFox
  Staff: Caroline (CGJULIAN), Catja, Eidhos, Phillip (PHOIBOS),
         Sasha (SASHAPABLO)
  Threadstarters: Euphonia, Hiketes, Dan (AETOS)

Like The Cauldron, the Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheist Forum's
message board runs on Beehive Forums software.

For More Information:

   * Ta Hiera Web Site
     http://www.tahiera.org/

   * Ta Hiera Message Board
     http://www.tahiera.org/forum/

   * Forum Rules
     http://www.tahiera.org/forumrules.php

=====
===== Pagan Moderators Mailing List
=====

Pagan-Moderators is a low traffic email discussion list for
moderators of mailing lists, message boards, and BBSes with a
Pagan or magickal orientation (and, on a case by case basis,
Pagan-friendly interfaith and other religious discussion areas
with a good number of Pagan members). It is a place to discuss
moderating techniques and dealing with the day to day hassles and
problems all moderators put up with. It's also a place to let out
a primal scream when you have to, we'll understand.

This is a restricted membership list. If you request membership,
you must send a list of the forums you moderate along with a
sentence or two describing their topic and activity level to the
list-owner so the list moderators can determine if you are
qualified for membership in Pagan-Moderators. If you do not send
a message to the list owner within 72 hours of subscribing
through Yahoo! Groups, you will not be added to the list.

If you moderate a Pagan-oriented mailing list or message board,
the Pagan Moderators mailing list may be something you would find
helpful.

For More Information:

   * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pagan-moderators/

=====
===== Pagan Forum Alliance Web Site Updated
=====

The Pagan Forum Alliance web site has been updated. Member forums
are now listed in groups based on the recent average number of
posts in the forum, which will help visitors select a forum with
the level of activity they can handle.

The Pagan Forum Alliance is a "webring-like" association of
publicly accessible Pagan-oriented discussion forums and mailing
lists which adhere to the following standards:

   * Forums are not run as part of or for the primary benefit of
     a commercial entity.

   * Forums stress critical thinking over blanket acceptance of
     ideas based on their popularity.

   * Forums do not support racism, hatred, generalized bashing of
     other religions, or illegal activities which are harmful to
     others. (This last includes being somewhat conservative with
     respect to posting copyrighted material.)

   * Forums treat Wicca as one religion among many separate and
     distinct Pagan religions.

   * Each forum has clear, reasonable rules which are posted
      where they can be easily found.

   * Each forum has an active staff and relatively unbiased
      moderation.

   * Each forum encourages open discussion and allows for polite
     debate of ideas and issues.

The above standards are admittedly and purposely subjective in
part as they are designed to be flexible rather than dogmatic.

For More Information:

   * http://www.ecauldron.com/pfa/


[04]
=========
========= CAULDRON REVIEWS
=========

Most of The Cauldron's book reviews are now written by Mike
Gleason. If you would like to contact Mike with comments about
his reviews (or about books you would like to have reviewed), you
can email Mike at:

   gleason.mike@comcast.GETRIDOFME.net

=====
===== LLEWELLYN'S 2007 WITCHES' DATEBOOK
=====

Llewellyn's 2007 Witches' Datebook
by Llewellyn
Published 2006 by Llewellyn
ISBN 0738703303
144 pages Trade Paperback
$9.99 (U.S.) $13.95 (Canada)
http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738703303

I always look forward to the Witches' Datebook.  It doesn't
contain any earth-shaking revelations, nor is it filled with what
we once called "mystic, trystic b.s."    This edition, as always,
contains information on moon phases and signs, significant
stellar events, and enough thought-provoking entertaining
articles to keep you interested.  In the back of this volume are
concise listings of Full Moon dates, eclipses and planetary
retrogrades.  It also contains a few pages for your personal
phonebook.

One of the things I have always liked about the Datebook is its
spiral binding, allowing it to open flat and stay open.  This
makes it convenient for making notes in it, if nothing else.

The articles in this year's edition are "Night of Hecate", "Tips
for the Busy Witch", "The Cone of Power', "My Other Broomstick",
and "Making Magical Inks".  The Llewellyn tradition of diversity
in topics continues unabated.

In all the years I have picked up copies of this book (dating
back to at least 1999) the price has not increased appreciably
(to be honest, it has gone up in price - from $9.95 to $9.99).
There is something to be said for consistency.

The daily entries follow the normal Llewellyn format, with moon
signs and phases and a color suggested.  There isn't a whole lot
of space for daily notes, but that can be a good thing (it
encourages brevity and efficiency in though).

On each odd numbered page (starting on page 29) you will find a
short article, a recipe, an invocation, a piece of poetry and/or
an illustration.

It is a convenient size, contains enough basic information to
help in tracking trends, and is well-designed.  For me, it is a
staple in my yearly purchases.

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           Shop Paganshopping.Com via The Cauldron's
                      Pagan Supplies Store

              http://www.ecauldron.com/esesf.php

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=====
===== LLEWELLYN'S 2007 MAGICAL ALMANAC
=====

Llewellyn's 2007 Magical Almanac
by Llewellyn
Published 2006 by Llewellyn
ISBN: 0738703273
384 pages Trade Paperback
$7.99 (U.S.)  $9.50 (Canada)
http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738703273

Over the years Llewellyn has developed a formula for each of
their annuals which works.  The format for this annual is quite
simple - articles divided among the four elements by a variety of
authors and a short almanac section in the middle.  In this
volume there are forty-seven articles (15 in the Earth Magic
section, 10 in the Air Magic, 11 in the Fire Magic, and 11 in the
Water Magic section) by twenty-eight authors running the gamut
from writers on Llewellyn's list of book authors to folks whose
major contributions are on websites and in the Llewellyn annuals.

The daily listing section, in keeping with most almanacs, is
actually the least important reason to buy this annual.  After
all, that information is available from any number of other
sources.  The articles are the major draw.  This year, as every
year, there were some articles that jumped out and begged to read
("The Well-Organized Witch" comes to mind), and others I just
skipped over.  That doesn't mean I won't go back at a later time
and read them, they just didn't hit a chord at the time I was
looking through the book.

This year's selection of articles seems even more diverse than
usual, to me. Some addressed problems we have all faced (like
"Spiritually Social:  A Guide for Sticky Situations") while
others were much more specialized ("Sigils & Signs").  There were
a number of recipes, and a few "reference" articles.  This very
diversity is, in my opinion, one of the major strengths of this
annual publication.  Over the course of a few years you can build
up an impressive store of material to use in research.  (Hint to
Llewellyn:  It might be worthwhile to publish an index of the
articles once every five years or so on your website.)

Overall, I have to say that this is probably my favorite of all
the almanacs I see every year.  I thoroughly enjoyed it once
again and recommend it whole-heartedly.


[05]
=========
========= ARTICLES
=========

=====
===== BREATHING FOR MEDITATION
===== copyright 2006 by Robert Morgen
=====

Breathing is the most important part of meditation and Kundalini
Awakening. It's the foundation of all the exercises and skills
that come after, so taking the time to learn it now will make
things much easier.

From our birth until death we breathe more or less continually,
yet for the most part we do it without any awareness of our
breath and its effects on us, and believe it or not most people
in the western world do it wrong!

Breathe in through your nose and draw your breath down into the
area just below your navel, allowing your stomach to expand as
you breathe (Baby Breath) and filling your lungs entirely with
each breath before exhaling through your nose. Take a moment
right now and feel your breath. Pay attention to the air as it
flows in through your nostrils and down into your lungs. Don't
think about anything or do anything other than just breathe. 1.
Are you taking a relatively shallow breath and just filling the
upper lobes of your lungs? 2. Does your stomach move out as you
breathe? 3. Do you feel the bones of your ribcage expanding and
opening with each breath?

For most people the answer to 1 is YES and the answers to 2 and 3
are NO so lets expand this exercise a bit.

This time draw your breath down to a point about 2 inches below
your navel (the body's center of gravity). When you do this
you'll feel your stomach expand and push out in front of you.
Most westerners usually keep their stomach pulled in and their
chest out, so when you do this you'll have to relax all those
muscles. Just take a moment and be aware of your breath as it
flows down into your center.

Now as you inhale and draw your breath down, also let your
ribcage expand. You'll feel your floating ribs at the bottom of
your ribcage spread and move, and you may get a few pops out of
your spine also. Just take a few moments and breathe this way.
Don't think or let your mind wander, just breathe.

If you've never meditated before then congratulations, you just
did! It's exactly that simple.

There are many benefits to proper breathing. The extra oxygen in
your system means that your heart doesn't have to beat as fast,
lowering your pulse and your blood pressure. Drawing the breath
down into your center also helps to massage your internal organs,
providing more oxygen to them as well as helping to release the
accumulated stresses that build up there. The long term health
benefits are immeasurable and have been repeatedly proven for
thousands of years.

Breathing is by far the most important part of the kundalini
awakening exercises, although it sounds so simple. Paying
attention to the breath is the beginning of opening up your
awareness and it's seen in every meditative culture on the
planet.

Take some time to practice this, as it's the foundation for
everything that comes next. If you have to dedicate your
meditation time to breathwork for awhile then that's good, as we
all proceed at our own pace.

I recently read a translation of some of Jesus' teachings from
the original Aramaic (the language he actually spoke, although he
apparently wasn't literate) and it was very interesting to me
that in Aramaic they used the same word for 'wind', 'breath' and
'spirit'. Those with a Chi Kung background might find it
interesting to take another look at the New Testament and insert
the word 'breath' every time you see the word 'spirit'.

It's funny that something as simple as proper breathing can have
such a profound effect on the rest of your life, but don't take
my word for it, you can find out for yourself beginning with your
next inhale.

===
=== About the Author
===

"Breathing for meditation" is an excerpt from Robert Morgen's
book "Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery" (ISBN:
0977380106) which is available at a bookstore near you. His new
book "Easy Meditation for Martial Artists" (ISBN: 0-9773801-3-0)
will be available in October, 2006.

Learn more about his books, free events and newsletters at
http://www.mysticwolfpress.com

Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery
  http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0977380106
Easy Meditation for Martial Artists
  http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0977380130

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=====
===== THE CHAOS MAGIC 'PRIMER'
===== by EverFool
=====

Chaos magic is one of the more obscure Western occult traditions,
in that not every occultist has even heard of it, and many of
those don't necessarily understand what chaos magic means to its
practitioners. However, it might more truthfully be said that
chaos magic does not comprise a tradition, but a point of view -
or even as a way of processing points of views. Peter Carroll,
who essentially founded Chaos Magic suggests that the theory is a
meta-paradigm. I will return to paradigms later.

It is impossible, in my view, to discuss Chaos Magic, without
first acknowledging its roots. Austin Osman Spare is the best-
known source - much of his thinking shapes aspects of Chaos
Magic. However, it is important to note that Chaos Magic is
influenced by Spare's writings, rather than mirroring his views
exactly. Spare's magical writing (Microlagus, The Book of
Pleasure, The Witches' Sabbath, Mind to Mind and How By A
Sorcerer) can currently be found in a single volume published
under the title of Ethos.

===
=== Spare
===

Spare felt that religion was nothing more than chains. He
approved of neither religion nor science (in the latter case, it
was more pure knowledge that he appears to disdain - Spare was
interested only in 'practical' things). He suggested that any
idea necessarily involved its opposite. For example, to call
something beautiful was to acknowledge also its ugliness. He
discusses in his work the concept of 'self love,' which can be
difficult to describe. Spare portrays it as a state of laughter -
in a sense it is a state of being satisfied with everything in
oneself. He also denied the concept of identity, as we know it,
which I will return to later in this primer, as it is a part of
his thought that has carried through to Chaos Magic theory more
or less intact. His approach to magic revolved around sigils -
creating an abstract symbol over which to deliberately obsess,
and therefore to occupy the main mind. Spare felt that the mind
could only hinder magic (for example in normal ritual, Spare felt
that one was only acknowledging the lack of the desired result,
rather than achieving anything). Therefore the mind had to be
silenced so that the magical Will could operate. This could be
done by stilling the mind (e.g. meditation), or through
exhaustion (which was Spare's preferred method). Sigilisation is
also a large portion of Chaos Magic, although it is not the only
technique within the 'tradition,' one aspect in which Spare's
thoughts have been melded with other approaches.

===
=== The Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley
===

Ironically given that Spare ridiculed the Ceremonial Magicians of
his time (on page 39 of Ethos, for example, he refers to them as
'unemployed dandies'), the practices of Aleister Crowley and
others have influenced the Chaos Magic approach. When I compared
the first section within Aleister Crowley's Magick with some of
the practices recommended by Peter Carroll, I noticed much
resemblance. However, these influences are not particularly
'core,' and I therefore will not discuss them in detail. Aleister
Crowley's attitude that it doesn't matter if it's real or not, if
it achieves the desired result is often taken to heart, and
probably characterises the approach to belief rather better than
Spare's attitude (in that he advocated rejecting all belief).

===
=== Peter Carroll
===

As Spare is sometimes called the 'Grandfather' of Chaos Magic,
Carroll is the father. In Liber Null and Psychonaut he includes a
diagram in which he essentially attempts to trace the
contribution of all previous occult practices to Chaos Magic. My
attitude to the idea of magic 'progressing' through the ages is
rather different to many published authors, but is not germane to
this discussion. However, the diagram does sum up part of the
spirit of Chaos Magic, in that it is entirely possible to be
using the practices of other traditions, and still be true to the
spirit of Chaos Magic. Peter Carroll's Chaos Magic, while
strongly influenced by Ceremonial and Western occultism, has room
for any practices (I heard once that Voodoo/ Vodou/ Vodun was
popular amongst members of the IOT [Illuminati of Thanateros] in
Germany). This is why Spare isn't the originator of Chaos Magic -
his beliefs formed part of the foundation, but there's a lot of
other stuff in there too.

===
=== Chaos
===

In Chaos Magic, all sorts of ways are found of describing Chaos.
I'm going to describe it as I see it. Chaos is a primal force,
and it's what everything is made of. 'Chaos' in this sense is
just a good a label for an all-encompassing force as 'God' is for
others. It's not a source of mayhem and destruction. Well, it is,
but it's the source of everything else as well. This is key to
understanding many attitudes held by Chaotes (one of the labels
practitioners of Chaos Magic adopt, but it is not the only
label). Chaos is what you love, but it's also what you hate.
Chaos is fire, and it's water, and it's those things whether
that's good or bad. This doesn't just mean that it's objective,
in that it is beyond good and bad (although it is held to be) -
but it also contains the subjective aspects also. It contains all
opposites. As everything is of chaos, so everyone mirrors it.

===
=== Identity
===

Chaos Magic does not really contain the notion of a soul.
Certainly there is no 'true' you. The closest there is, is Kia.
Think of it as a spark of essence or soul. The animating force.
It does not contain any aspects of your identity however (as a
side note, I also identify Kia with Will, but this is a personal
interpretation). There is nothing about you that is sacred. If
you are a liberal, than you must recognise that a different
upbringing would have resulted in your being a conservative. If
you are not a racist, know that had things been different, you
might be a racist now. If you are bitter and depressed, this is
not How Things Must Be - there's no law in the universe that says
you could never have been joyful. In Chaos Magic, because the
person is also a microcosm of chaos, the personality itself is
seen as fluid and changeable. A variant belief among some Chaotes
is that the individual possesses multiple 'selves' possessing
different qualities, having different functions etc. For example,
Carroll occasionally refers to the 'magician self,' as the
personality that comes to the fore for magical workings and so
forth. As magicians, Chaotes seek power over their own identity -
not to forge one identity, but to have the freedom of options.
Chaos magic is essentially about freedom. Peter Carroll includes
'metamorphosis' in Liber Null and Psychonaut as part of the basic
curriculum.

===
=== Belief
===

As Chaotes strive to be able to change their personality and
habits as they choose, they seek the same of their beliefs. In
Chaos magic it is recognised that we only have subjective truths
available. We don't know what is true, we only have beliefs. Of
all beliefs available, some contradict, some outright disagree,
and others accuse other beliefs of being heretical. However, in
Chaos belief is seen as a tool. Any belief that helps may be
adopted, and then changed for the next one that becomes useful.
The belief is a disguise, if you will. The Chaote 'truly'
believes, but only for a short duration, and therefore does not
strictly speaking ever believe. Chaos magic is full of paradoxes.
Peter Carroll's approach, for example, advocates randomly
changing belief to get into the practice, where Spare would have
argued to abandon all belief.

The consequence of this is that often Chaotes have a few
'favourite' paradigms that they work within, although there are
some who do change between many. Thus a (known) ritual from
another path may be used, although it is typical for the relevant
paradigm to be adopted for the duration of the ritual. This is
what marks Chaos magic apart from eclecticism. Where an eclectic
magician or witch seeks to unite rituals or techniques and
beliefs and so forth under a uniting theory or belief, a Chaote
does not care. The effect of the ritual is the important element,
and it is a simple enough task to become a [insert tradition
label here] for the purpose of the ritual. There is no need to
try to choose one option over another, or to try and work out a
way two different things can be true at once. For the Chaote, it
is enough that it is held to be true for a short duration.

An aphorism that can be said to give a sense of the Chaote
perspective reads: 'Nothing is True, and Everything is
Permitted.' The saying itself is found in William Burrough's
writings, and is attributed to Hassan I Sabbah. There are
different interpretations of what the saying means, but a common
one is this: because there is no objective truth, or authority to
tell us what is absolutely right or wrong, there are no rules. We
are free to do absolutely anything. Naturally there are
consequences to our actions, but essentially all that determines
our actions once we realise our freedom, is our will. What stops
anyone from turning on his fellow man? Well often it is the
instinct not to, or the fear of consequences. Once freed from
limitations such as these, the individual entirely owns the
decision as to his or her own conduct. The aphorism has been
interpreted on occasion as permission to do anything one wants.
While this is within the spirit of the statement, one would be a
fool not to realise that there are good reasons for behaving in a
civilised manner. However, part of the ethos of Chaos Magic is to
be aware of the actual freedom we have. An alternative
interpretation has been to turn the first part of the phrase
upside down, and to say that everything is true. The latter point
of view might be held, without radically altering the practices
of Chaos Magic.

As has been pointed out by Faerie K., who has helped produce this
article, if 'nothing is true,' that includes the aphorism itself.
This is not the only paradox within Chaos Magic. In the end,
while authors have often claimed that Chaos Magic has no dogma,
it actually does (even if there is relatively little). Although
Chaos Magic is a meta-paradigm, a way of viewing other paradigms,
it is also a paradigm in its own right. It doesn't take a lot of
thought to see the potential head aches the theory can produce,
so it is probably just as well that Choas Magic is strongly
results oriented.

===
=== Sigils
===

Sigils are one of the better known aspects of Chaos magic.
Although Chaotes often do perform rituals as well as sigils (some
preferring rituals to sigils altogether) - something that would
no doubt vex Spare - I will only be discussing Sigils in this
primer. To express it simply, the sigil is intended a way of
bypassing the conscious mind (which is believed to hinder magical
attempts). There are various ways of crafting a sigil. The most
common method is to write out a statement of will - such as 'I
will obtain the job I applied for.' In Spare's original method,
one would form the letters into a design - possibly beginning by
breaking it down into portions. One then simplifies the image
until one is happy with the sigil created. Peter Carroll suggests
removing letters that repeat in the statement. This certainly
makes for simple sigils! In the statement that I used, 'I will
obtain the job I applied for', the result would be 'I wl obtan he
j pd fr.' This would then be made into a design (Carroll also
suggests the option of turning it into a mantra. There is no
reason this could not be chanted in conjunction with the visual
technique). Then the individual must reach a state of gnosis (in
Chaos magic this is a state of no mind. In Spare's writings this
is described as the neither/ neither state). While in this state,
one focuses on the sigil, so that the Will may act through it
subconsciously (having made the desire abstract). This is
sometimes referred to as 'firing the sigil.' Sometimes a Chaote
may make many sigils in order to improve the chances of
forgetting the 'meaning' of a sigil, and thereby 'charging'
sigils randomly.

===
=== Experimentation
===

Because there is not a great deal of theory in Chaos Magic (what
would the point be? Much of it is part of one paradigm or
another), there is somewhat more experimentation. One of the
better known aspects of this is the willingness of Chaotes to
invoke Gods that are fictitious. The Chaote in this situation
believes utterly in the God invoked until the ritual is up.

This is not the limit to experimentation. Since, in theory, the
Chaote believes absolutely anything may be achieved, given the
right tools, Will, belief, and so forth, magic may become a case
of identifying problem and solution. Of course, there are
practical limits - to the best of my knowledge, no Chaote has
managed to launch a fireball, defy gravity, or the like. (I have,
however, seen claims of these made on Chaote forums. I take these
with a pinch of salt. Rest assured, if I develop god-like powers,
everyone would become quickly aware). Using magic may then become
a case of 'what do I want to do, what can I do? And how do I
bridge that gap?'

For example, some time ago I saw a group of Chaotes talk about a
scheme to spread magic into the popular consciousness, or to
bring magic into more people's lives. The agreed method was that
various individuals would, when firing some sigil in a relatively
public space, link their magic to a further sigil, which had been
agreed upon by all practitioners. The intended effect was that
all the works of magic would be linked to one network, providing
extra power to each location that would exert a subtle effect on
the public. Whether this plan had any real effect would be
difficult to say, at best, but it is an example of coming up with
novel approaches.

===
=== The Pandamonaeon
===

Peter Carroll advanced a concept referred to as the
'Pandamonaeon.' Buying into the concept of
magical/religious/spiritual ages in history (also seen in
Blavatsky's, and later Crowley's writings) Carroll suggested that
Chaos Magic theory, or 'Chaoist' (Carroll's preferred term for
Chaos magicians) ideas would shape the next era of human history.
This doesn't appear to have happened yet, but some Chaotes are
keen for it to occur. It might be summed up as an era where the
majority of people practice personal metamorphosis (of the
personality), are able to utilise magic much like any other
skill, and where belief is commonly utilised as a tool, rather
than an end in itself. The example of experimental magic I gave
might be considered as part of a larger intent to bring about the
Pandamonaeon. However, there is not enough space to treat the
topic with detail. It is referred to in a large number of Chaote
websites, books, etc.

===
=== Acknowledgements
===

Thanks to Faerie K. for double-checking this article, and for
contributing facts.

===
=== Sources
===

Books:

* Carroll, Peter (1987) Liber Null & Psychonaut
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0877286396
* Carroll, Peter (1992) Liber Kaos
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0877287422
* Crowley, Aleister (1986) Magick
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0877289190
* Hine, Phil (1995) Condensed Chaos
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=156184117X
* Hine, Phil (1993) Prime Chaos
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1561841374
* Kraig, Donald (2001) Modern Magick [Note: Although this book is
         not influential in Chaos Magic, nor a book about Chaos
         Magic, it is an excellent primer to ceremonial magic,
         and may help understand many of the concepts discussed]
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0875423248
* Sherwin, Ray (1978) The Book of Results
    http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1411625587
* Spare, Austin Osman (2001) Ethos
    http://www.ecauldron.com/1872189288

Websites:

* http://philhine.org.uk/ - Phil Hine's website
* http://www.spiralnature.com/magick/chaos/index.html - A summary
  of aspects of Chaos magic, but also has some interesting new
  takes.
* http://www.chaosmatrix.org/ - One of the classic websites, it
  contains a horde of information.

===
=== About the Author
===

EverFool is a staff member of The Cauldron who has a strong
interest in Chaos magic.


[06]
=========
========= FLAMEKEEPING
========= Membership and Separation
========= by HeartShadow
=========

HeartShadow is following her own religious path. She calls it
FlameKeeping. This regular column will present articles on
FlameKeeping, many taken from HeartShadow's FlameKeeping blog at:

   http://flamekeeping.blogspot.com/

=====
===== Membership and Separation
=====

We belong to groups, ideals, religions, creeds, and races. The
very act of belonging is important to us; it gives us meaning and
companionship, a bulwark against the loneliness of the human
condition. In return for that gift of companionship, we do for
those in the group what we would not do for those outside it.

The Divine surpasses groups, defies group definition. We are all
part of the Divine whether or not we believe in it or care about
it. There is, at heart, no out group, for we are all made up of a
greater Self, and when we connect to that Self we lose the
illusion of being alone.

When we deny our commonality, our greater Self, we feel free to
behave differently, even cruelly, to those we see as an out-
group. We deny our universal nature to justify our behavior, our
lack of compassion. We blame those in the out-group for their
out-group status, figure out ways to believe they picked out-
group status for themselves in a way that makes them look bad,
wrong, or evil, and use that as justification for whatever we
wish. After all, they are outsiders, and that makes them wrong.

When we believe that all people get what they deserve, we find
ourselves denying reality itself. Not only that, but a large part
of understanding of how to associate with other people is gone.
We all need help sometimes, regardless of the choices we make or
the beliefs we hold. Only extending that help to those that match
our religious convictions or personal friendship implies that
people outside that circle do not deserve help, denying their
humanity and need.

While we do, and should, react to those closest to us before we
reach out to those farther away, that does not mean we can refuse
to help those in need at all. Indeed, it is our duty, as fellow-
humans, as part of the Divine, to extend that Divine love with
each other as well. There are no answers in isolation, only lies.

===
=== Questions
===

  * What harm does loneliness bring? Why is it true? Why is it
    illusion?

  * Why do we form groups?

  * How do we find compassion for people that are for some reason
    out-group?


[07]
=========
=========  SOFTWARE GADGETS: THE COLUMN
=========  Interesting Items From The Software Gadgets Blog
=========  http://softwaregadgets.gridspace.net/
=========

The Software Gadgets Blog aims to present a different "software
gadget" every weekday. A software gadget is a program or addon
that is both interesting and useful -- and often free. This
column highlights three of the programs listed recently. Many
more were listed and you'll find more gadgets like these added
every week at the Software Gadgets Blog at:

   http://softwaregadgets.gridspace.net/

=====
===== FREE LAUNCH BAR -- QUICK LAUNCH CUBED
=====

Many people have ten, twenty, or even more icons in the "Quick
Launch Bar" area of the Windows taskbar (next to the start
button). The Quick Lauch Bar can easily get overcrowded and not
so quick. While you can put folders of shortcuts in the quick
launch area to create menus, you have to Control-click to open
the menu and you have no control over the order of items in the
menu. Free Launch Bar is a free toolbar enhancement that makes
the "quick launch" area of the taskbar much more organized and
useful. Free Launch Bar makes it easy to have organized menus of
programs in your quick launch area.

Here are the main features of Free Launch Bar from the program's
web site:

    * Creating menu on taskbar with unlimited levels
    * Compatibility with Windows XP
    * Integration into Windows Shell
    * Low resources
    * Compatibility with Quick Launch
    * Creating separators to group shortcuts inside menus
    * Different view modes
    * Hotkeys
    * Using PNG pictures as icons
    * Support of Windows Drag&Drop technology. To add shortcuts
      you can simply drag them into menus
    * Improved tips. You can include some of HTML tags into
      button description.
    * Fast toolbar switching
    * Absolutely FREE

Free Launch Bar is a scaled down version of the shareware True
Launch Bar which has even more features (but costs about US$20).
However, the free version has a lot of useful features and is a
wonderful enhancement for just about any Windows desktop. Give it
a try!

Rating: 5.0
Operating System: Windows 95+
License: Freeware
Price: Free
Version: 1.0
Web Site: http://www.freelaunchbar.com/


=====
===== SANDBOXIE -- RUN INTERNET EXPLORER IN A SANDBOX
=====

While I prefer Firefox and Opera to Internet Explorer, there are
a few sites that just don't work with any other browser.
Sandboxie lets you run IE in a sandbox, so the changes it makes
to your disk and registry are not permanent -- unless you want
them to be. This allows you to run IE and visit those oddball
sites that insist you have to be using IE to do business with
them -- with a greatly reduced risk of infecting your system
permanently with malware. When you are finished using IE, you can
empty the sandbox and revert your system to the condition it was
in before you ran IE. All changes made by IE (new favorites,
cookies, history, downloaded malware, weird modifications to the
registry, etc.) go away when you empty the sandbox. Sandboxie
will even sandbox other programs and has advanced features that
will allow you to copy changes you want (downloaded files, new
favorites, etc.) out of the sandbox so you can keep them after
you empty the sandbox.

From the Sandboxie web site:

    ...[Y]ou may want to run your Web browser inside the sandbox
    most of the time. This way any incoming, unsolicited software
    (spyware, malware and the like) that you download, is trapped
    in the sandbox. Changes made to your list of Favorites or
    Bookmarks, hijacking of your preferred start page, new and
    unwanted icons on your desktop -- all these, and more, are
    trapped in and bound to the sandbox.

    You could also try a new toolbar add-on, browser extension or
    just about any kind of software. If you don't like it, you
    throw away the sandbox, and start again with a fresh sandbox.
    On the other hand, if you do like the new piece of software,
    you can re-install it outside the sandbox so it becomes a
    permanent part of your system.

    Sandboxie intercepts changes to both your files and registry
    settings, making it virtually impossible for any software to
    reach outside the sandbox.

    Sandboxie traps cached browser items into the sandbox as a
    by-product of normal operation, so when you throw away the
    sandbox, all the history records and other side-effects of
    your browsing disappear as well.

Sandboxie is freeware. There is a paid version with a few
additional features (e.g. warns you when you try to start
selected programs outside the sandbox), but for many people the
free version will do more than enough.

Rating: 4.5
Operating System: Windows 2000+
License: Freeware
Price: Free
Version: 2.42
Web Site: http://www.sandboxie.com/


=====
===== ALFACLOCK FREE -- ENHANCE YOUR TASKBAR CLOCK
=====

I recently switched to a third party Windows XP theme that has a
slightly smaller taskbar. I can get two rows of quicklaunch icons
and task buttons while squeezing out a bit more room for my
actual application windows. Unfortunately, this left only two
lines for my taskbar clock. It displayed the time and day of the
week instead of the much more useful (to me) time and the day of
the month. So I started looking around for a replacement that
would display what I wanted it to display. I discovered a number
of commercial programs that would solve this problem, but could
not justify paying $20 or $30 for a clock program. I finally
discovered AlfaClock Free. This program lets me display the time
and date in the taskbar the way I want it without charging me
enough to buy a couple of cheap wall clocks.

From the AlfaClock web site:

    This tray clock combines multitude of cool features with
    stylish design. First, you can set AlfaClock to display time,
    date and day of the week simultaneously. Second, you can
    customize AlfaClock to announce this information
    periodically. And you can set an alarm - a very handy
    feature, if you frequently keep losing track of time, while
    using your computer. Atomic Clock Synchronization feature
    allows you to periodically connect to atomic clock time
    servers to make sure that your computer displays correct time
    and adjust it automatically, if necessary.

    AlfaClock has quite a few of extra features that other
    taskbar clocks don't have. Like copy time/date to clipboard
    feature. Or a fully customizable pop-up calendar. Created to
    ISO8601 specifications, it allows you to change the first day
    of the week, highlight weekends and holidays.

Unlike some taskbar clock programs, Alfaclock Free is compatible
with programs that change the look of Windows such as StyleXP and
Windowblinds. It solved my taskbar clock problem nicely.

Rating: 5.0
Operating System: Windows 95+
License: Freeware
Price: Free
Version: 1.83
Web Site: http://www.alfasoftweb.com/alfaclock/


[08]
=========
========= From the Spell Grimoire:
========= MAGICKAL HEALING BATH
=========

Take a silver or white candle, some salt, and a healing oil (such
as carnation, violet, sandalwood, or narcissus) into the
bathroom. Light the Candle as you invoke your deities. By the
candle's light run a tub of very warm water. Cast some salt into
it, add a few drops of your favorite healing oil, and then step
into the tub. Relax. Feel the warm salted water sinking into your
pores, through your skin, sterilizing the sick portions of your
body. Visualize the "black worms" of disease leaving it and when
you feel the water teeming with them. Pull the plug and let the
water drain out. While it is draining chant:

    The sickness is flowing out of me,
    Into the water, down to the sea.

when the tub is completely drained stand up. Splash your body
with fresh water (a shower is ideal) to remove the last vestiges
of the sickness-laden water. Repeat as needed to speed your
body's recovery.

===
=== About This Spell
===

This spell is taken from The Cauldron's Spell Grimoire, a
collection of basic spells available on The Cauldron: A Pagan
Forum's web site. You'll find more spells at:

   http://www.ecauldron.com/spells/index.php


[09]
=========
========= Pagan Webmaster:
========= MY TOP TEN WEBSITE PET PEEVES
========= by Nancy Barney
=========

I do a lot of surfing on the Internet. I'm always Googling
something. Sometimes I'm doing business research. Other times I
might be shopping, looking for fun stuff, free stuff, product
reviews, or news. The Internet is a wonderful thing when it's
done right. When websites are designed poorly, it can be very
annoying.

My top ten pet peeves about the design of web pages:

===
=== 10. Websites with nothing on the home page to identify
===     itself.

You've seen them. Nice graphics, artistic, elegant looking home
pages with no information. It might say " BXY Inc.", with a link
for 'Contact' and a list of clients. You click on every link, but
you still don't know what the company does. Hmmm - must be top
secret ... or they are spies ... nobody knows.

===
=== 9. Flashy, sparkly, swirling intro pages.
===

You click on a link, expecting to get someone's home page with
the information you're after. What you get is a page with pretty
pictures flashing or blinking or swirling around. It does this
for several seconds, or longer if you're not lucky.

Website programmers enjoy playing with these fancy features (ooh,
aah!). They look cool, but they waste the reader's time. They
serve no useful purpose, unless you're selling flashy, sparkly
things.

Another kind of intro page that is slightly amusing ... you click
on the link to a website and you get another page that just says
"click here to enter".

===
=== 8. Music, or any other sound, that starts up when you click
===    on the home page and you can't turn it off.

In the first place, I resent it when people assume I want to
listen to their choice of music. There should at least be the
option to turn it off.

I find a website that has some good content that I'm interested
in, so I go to their home page and the music starts playing some
sentimental, mushy song like "Feelings". So I hit the 'stop'
button on my browser, but the music goes on ... and on.

OK, fine, I click on one of their interesting links and thank you
God, the music stops. When I'm finished with that page, I have to
go back to the home page to get to the next link and guess what
happens! That's right - "Feelings, whoa, whoa, whoa,
feelings...." So I quickly hit the next link. They have several
interesting links on their homepage so I'm am going back and
forth 15 times and the music is going off and on 15 times.

Pretty soon, my husband says, "What the heck are you doing over
there?" So I either give up on that website or mute my sound.

===
=== 7. Excessive drop down menus.
===

Drop down menus have their place when you have an option of 50
states or 100 countries, but I think they should be avoided when
there are only a few menu options. This is another one of those
cool features programmers like to play with that isn't
necessarily productive for the user.

One problem I have with drop down menus is that too often they
are coded in text about the size of the width of my cat's
whiskers. You have to have the dexterity of a Swiss watch maker
to click on the right option.

If the drop down menus have several nested levels - one wrong
click on level 5 and you have to start over!

If you have a drop down menu with 100 items, for heaven's sake,
please have them in alphabetical order! I was filling out a form
with a drop down menu with about 100 countries listed in random
order. I had to read the whole list and I finally found my
country near the bottom listed between China and Transylvania!

===
=== 6. Too many moving parts.
===

Too many moving graphics on every page make it hard to read the
content. I know, it's fun to have cutesy animated graphics on
personal web pages, but they shouldn't get in the way of reading
the content. A little animation is interesting and artistic - too
much is annoying and cheesy.

Oh, let's not forget the most annoying graphics of all - animated
banner ads that talk to you! Excessive animated banners are
distracting and annoying and they look unprofessional on business
pages. If a page has too many of them, I won't stay there long.

===
=== 5. Web page that is too long or too big.
===

Long web pages are too hard to follow. These are the web sites
where the first page goes on and on with no discernable
structure. It's like trying to read a 400 page book on 1 very
long sheet of paper with no chapter breaks.

Web pages with huge pictures are a problem, especially for
Internet surfers on a dial-up connection. Pictures should be
resized to no more than 50k-100k and/or compressed. When someone
is on a dial-up connection, it can literally take 5 or 10 minutes
for a bunch of large pictures to be displayed.

Couple a bunch of large pictures with a web page that never ends
and you might as well go watch your favorite movie while the page
is loading. People on a slow connection will just give up and go
to someone else's website.

===
=== 4. Totally invalid search results.
===

If you spend a significant amount of time researching on the
Internet you have probably run into this. You enter 'cat jewelry'
in the search engine and you get a page that is selling a bunch
of stuff, but it has nothing to do with cats or jewelry - and
it's not a rock group called Cat Jewelry either.

This happened because the keeper of that website is using the
search keyword phrase 'cat jewelry' for their website because
they found out it is a popular keyword. This is known as keyword
spamming.

What are these people thinking? I guess they think if you throw
enough spam against the wall, some if it will stick.

If Google catches you keyword spamming they send a burly guy
named Bruno out to stomp on your keyboard. No, seriously, they
drop you from their 'lists' and act like you don't exist.

===
=== 3. Websites that look like they were shot out of a shotgun.
===

These websites often have the #5 problem also - going on and on
with no structure. They have tons of obnoxious banner graphics
with no common theme. 'Save the Orphan Rats', 'Best Long Distance
Rates', 'Are you a good kisser?', 'Free Insurance Quotes'. They
have all kinds of unrelated text links in different text sizes
and colors, with no organization or relationship.

Often these unorganized, unfocused websites use about 15
different fonts, sizes, and colors, giving it the look of the
work of a 10 year old.

Somewhere on this website there must be something related to what
I Googled to get there, but darned if I can find it!

===
=== 2. Text size that is too small or too large.
===

Have you ever seen a web page where the text size is so large you
have to scroll down to read 3 words? Does the author of that
website think they will get their point across by shouting at the
top of their lungs? How smart does that make the author of the 4
inch letters look?

Sometimes the text size is way too small. It must be wonderful to
have such great eyesight that you can comfortably read letters
the size of the year on a penny from 18 inches away. It's
ridiculous to go to all the work of creating a website with great
content, but it's too hard to read. I know sometimes you can
change the text size in your browser, but sometimes you can't.

===
=== 1. Content is hard to read because of text and/or background
===    colors.

The purpose of having written content on your website is so
people can read it, right? So why make it hard to read by having
light pink text that you can barely see on a pink background. Add
to this scenario text that is too small (see #2) above and have
some butterflies or fairies flittering across the screen, and you
have a pretty picture that is impossible to read!

The easiest to read is a very dark text on a very light
background. Even white text on a black background is harder to
read.

When you create a website or web page, avoid anything that wastes
the reader's time or causes confusion. Too many fancy features
slow down the loading speed. If you want people to read your
content, make it easy to read. Your structure and design should
be straightforward and organized. When you are building a web
site, you need to consider what is best for the readers and they
are more likely to stay on your website longer.

===
=== About the Author
===

Nancy Barney is the owner of writing-planet.com
( http://www.writing-planet.com/ ), which has free articles, free
article submission and free writer's resources.


[10]
=========
========= From the Cauldron Cookbook:
========= Chocolate Coffee Bark
========= submitted by Ashtarot
=========

=== Ingredients

2 to 3 Tbsps fresh fine ground coffee
12 oz. bag simi sweet chocolate
1/8 tsp vanilla

=== Directions

Melt chocolate, add coffee and vanilla. Stir till well
incorporated.

Spread 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick on wax paper. Let cool, then break
in to bite sized chunks.

Enjoy

===
=== About This Recipe
===

This recipe is taken from the Cauldron Cookbook, a growing
collection of recipes submitted by members of The Cauldron: A
Pagan Forum. You'll find more recipes at:

   http://www.ecauldron.com/cookbook/index.php


[11]
=========
========= 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
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Cauldron is to actively participate in our message board. The
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http://www.ecauldron.net/mb/

=====
===== Articles! Essays! Tutorials!
=====

We are in constant need of original, well-written and accurate
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Non-Wiccan material is stressed not because we don't want Wiccan
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=====
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=====

While The Cauldron receives some review copies from a couple of
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=====
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=====
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=====
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As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as
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Donate via PayPal
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=====
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The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receives a small percentage
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If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from
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If you are a regular user of the US version of Amazon, you can
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If you use Amazon Canada, you can use this addess:

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=====
===== Ebay Purchases
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Are you an Ebay user?  Ebay has a new program that pays
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If you are a regular user of the US version of ebay, you can help
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To do this in Internet Explorer or Firefox, find ebay in your
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"Location" in FireFox and "URL" in IE). Erase that url completely
and replace with one listed above, then click on OK.

=====
===== 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.)


[12]
=========
========= 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)
2006 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
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herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of newsletter, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, or
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endorsement of the authors position or any products and companies
mentioned therein. No one involved in producing this newsletter
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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
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=====
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=====

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=====
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=====
===== 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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