A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
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With a little help from The Witches' Thicket
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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #5 -- January 2001 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ mailing list/board: http://www.ecauldron.com/fregmb.php newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ With a little help from The Witches' Thicket website: http://www.cros.net/soraya/ message board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/thicket/start In this Issue: [01] Editorial: Write President Bush Regarding Wicca [02] Poem: Memories [03] Important Cauldron and Thicket News [04] Review: American Indian Myths and Legends [05] Review: The Nigel Jackson Tarot [06] Review: 21st Century Wicca [07] Review: A Witches' Bible [08] Magick: Self Perception Exploration [09] Magick: Herb Use in Magick: Part One (A - L) [10] Recommended Pagan Reading List [11] Humor: Definitions for Church Goers [12] Software: Solo [13] New Articles on The Cauldron's Site [14] New Web Poll [15] Support The Cauldron When You Buy at Amazon.com [16] Cauldron Chats: Tuesdays, 10-11pm CDT [17] Newsletter and Forum Info (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: January 15, 2001 +++ [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL: WRITE PRESIDENT BUSH REGARDING WICCA ========= by Ami Grimes ========= Ever since the election has been over I have been thinking about the best way to move forward and go about making sure that our voices are heard. I think the greatest obstacle is that there is this general idea that we are a small, ineffective group. We have pagan pride days, rallies, interviews, and such, however we have trouble coming together as one cohesive unit. I think that there is a need at this point to make it known just how large the pagan community really is. We need our political leaders to take notice and realize that we will not continue to stand for the discrimination and ridicule that is our daily lives. I think we need to do this by starting at the top. When President elect Bush takes office he needs to hear from the Pagan community. We are far greater in numbers than the number of votes it took to win him this election. I am suggesting that every Pagan write a letter to Mr. Bush and send it to the White House postmarked January 20th 2001. I suggest that the letter be handwritten if possible, typed if necessary, and polite, short and to the point. Have your children write, have pagan friends write, spouses write individually. I have reproduced the letter that I am sending here and if necessary you are invited to print out or copy my letter, change it as you wish and mail it. Too busy to write? Mail a postcard that says "I am Pagan and my vote counts too". Even better how about "I am a Pagan "teacher" (insert your profession here) and my vote counts too". If you are in the closet...send it anonymously. If you are public then use your name. We need to reach as many people as we can with this. All Pagans do not have email. Print this out and pass it along to your circles, post it on bulletin boards and give it to your friends. Are you a shop owner? Have a supply at your register for people to take. Put it in your Pagan newsletters. Send it to your local media. Let's ensure our voices are heard this time. My sample letter is below. Ami Grimes NC Director WARD http://www.ward-hq.org/ January 20, 2001 President George W. Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush, I am writing to you today with the confidence that as our newly elected President you will hear and understand my concerns. I am extremely proud that our country is a place in which our legal system works to be sure that every individual may exercise their Constitutional rights. As I am sure you know, our country was founded so that every individual has the right to Freedom of Religion. Our founding fathers recognized the need to ensure that when each of us sit down to our dinner tables that we may choose to say whatever prayer we wish to whatever deity we saw fit. It was the reason that America became the melting pot that it is today. The responsibility to ensure this same basic right has now been passed to you. In your campaign speeches you continually expressed your own faith to be Christian. I think it admirable that you have such strong faith as this is a noteworthy quality in a leader. I was deeply concerned, however, that you made (on more than one occasion) a statement which implied that you felt that Witchcraft was not a religion and did not support this practice in the US Military. I wish to inform you today that while Witchcraft in and of itself is not a religion, it's practice is included in many Pagan religions which have been recognized by the Supreme Court since 1985. Your comment seems to suggest that your own personal feelings should dictate what others can and cannot believe and I find this troubling. Perhaps, like many others, you are simply misinformed about what it means to be Pagan. I can assure you, however, that our basic rights are no different than anyone else's that live in this country and we should be treated with the same respect and dignity as any other citizen. I am a registered voter. My family votes. I pay taxes and hold a respectable job. The men and women who serve our country do so to ensure our basic rights. It is only fair that we should allow them theirs as well. I trust, Mr. President, that, while you are in office, you will respect our rights to freedom of religion. It interested me greatly that in your acceptance speech you likened yourself to Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was a staunch supporter of religious freedom in this country. He recognized the fact that our country was not founded on the Christian religion, but instead on the right to worship whatever God or Goddess we choose. I offer to you this quote by Mr. Jefferson himself. "I do not believe it is for the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct its exercises, its discipline, or its doctrines; nor of the religious societies, that the General Government should be invested with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among them. Fasting and prayer are religious exercises. The enjoining them, an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises and the objects proper for them according to their own particular tenets; and this right can never be safer than in their own hands where the Constitution has deposited it... Everyone must act according to the dictates of his own reason, and mine tells me that civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States, and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents." --Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 1808. ME 11:429 There are thousand upon thousands of Pagans who live in this country. They too pay taxes, are consumers and vote in Presidential elections. I can assure you that this number of people is too vast for you to ignore. I urge you to consider this as you make decisions which may affect our lives and the lives of our families. I will certainly consider it the next time I am in the voting booth. Blessed Be, Ami Grimes NC Director WARD ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle now has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= MEMORIES ========= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ========= I remembered, today... Such bittersweet memories. I took them out of storage Where they were packed In boxes crusted with age; All dusty and crumbled. Carefully, slowly, I smoothed them out And wiped them gently off. And there, lying before me Enshrined in their simple beauty Was all that my life was And all it has become. Both the silent tears And shared laughter. Before me, faded with time, I see the sad, hurt, girl That healing time and loving friends Helped to grow into A loving trusting Woman. There are experiences here Both bitterly painful And, oh, how joyous. Mostly I see a young girl Truly in love for the first time And the tall gentle giant That taught her with tenderness. He taught her to love The most important person in the world -- Herself. I'm now packing up all my memories The books, papers, and photos. But even when they are all locked tightly away My memories remain Deep inside my heart. For they are what i have become And what I will always be. They are me. [03] ========= ========= IMPORTANT CAULDRON AND THICKET NEWS ========= ========= +++ +++ ARC POSTS 20,000TH MESSAGE IN THE WITCHES' THICKET +++ Soraya, host of the The Witches' Thicket, announced that her forum received its 20,000th post in late December, a bit over a year after opening. Arc had the honor of posting the 20,000th message. She will receive a piece of Soraya's handcrafted beadwork in reward for making the Thicket's 20,000th post. +++ +++ THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE CONVERTS TO PHP +++ With the new year, The Cauldron converted its entire web site (including all sub-sites) from plain HTML to PHP-enhanced HTML. PHP is a server-side scripting language which will enable The Cauldron's web site to offer more interactive features as time goes on. Changing to PHP also ends the need for much of the Javascript the site was using -- which simply did not work on all browsers. Most people will not notice any immediate change from the conversion. However, if you have any links to specific pages on The Cauldron's web site in your bookmark list or on web pages, they will no longer work. You'll need to change the ".html" at the end of each such address to ".php" to make them work again. Old style addresses will bring the viewer to a customized 404 error page that explains the changes needed. Simple links to http://www.ecauldron.com/ will continue to bring you to The Cauldron's main page and need not be changed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= REVIEW: AMERICAN INDIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS ========= Reviewed by Janessa Hall (Sperran) ========= American Indian Myths and Legends Editor: Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz Trade Paperback Publisher: Pantheon Books Publication date: September 1985 ISBN: 0394740181 US Retail Price: $18.00 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394740181/thecauldron If you are looking for a book that presents Native American stories as they were, and are still being, told then this book is for you. Unlike the dry, third-hand, reporting style of many books this volume relates the stories in an engaging and conversational style. This 527-page book relates 166 stories by storytellers from 80 different tribal groups across North America. The source of each story and the time in which the story was collected is recorded with each story. The book provides a glossary at the end that provides brief descriptions of all the tribes mentioned in the text. Three basic times are covered in the stories related in the text. These stories include classic stories that appear to have origins from before Caucasians came to North America, stories that happened as American Indians began to interact with Whites (such as the story of "Elk Dogs" which relates the introduction of horses into North America), and new stories first told shortly before the publication of th e book. The book is well written and relates the stories in an easy to read, casual story telling style. It need not be read chronologically and many stories are only a few pages long, which makes it an easy book to read a little bit at a time. I enjoyed the organization style. The stories are arranged by topic, rather than tribal groups. I enjoy this organizational style, as this makes it easier to explore the similarities and differences among various tribes. The book appears to be well documented and includes an extensive bibliography of original sources. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an introduction into the stories of a wide variety of indigenous North American peoples. The book is divided into ten sections that relate stories falling under ten general themes as discussed below. Each section is prefaced by a brief introduction that discusses the topic being covered as well as similarities and differences between the tales of different tribal groups. Many of the individual stories are accompanied by explanations of how these stories relate to the ceremony, history, and everyday lives of the tribes discussed. The first section discusses stories of human creation and creation of items that were very important to different tribes. This includes stories of the creation of the buffalo, tobacco, and important rituals such as healing ceremonies and vision quests. The second section discusses creation of the earth and includes stories such as the Yuma's tales of the good twin and the evil twin and the Modoc's story of the turtle. The third section discusses the creation of heavenly objects: the sun, moon and stars. The fourth section is primarily hero legends that discuss the outwitting and destruction of monsters. The fifth section discusses war and the warrior codes. This section focuses primarily on the Plains Indians, and includes tales of counting coup, battlefield bravery and warrior women. The sixth section discusses stories of love. This includes beautiful stories of devotion as well as bawdy sexual tales. The seventh section presents tales of tricksters, including the mischievous coyote. The eighth section discusses stories of animals and includes stories discussing unions between people and animals, and the sacrifices that animals made for humans during the hunt. The ninth section provides stories of ghosts and the spirit world. The tenth and final section recounts stories of the end of the world. This includes a heartbreakingly poignant tale recounted by a witness of the Wounded Knee massacre. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkaimal.php [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE NIGEL JACKSON TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Nigel Jackson Tarot Author: Nigel Jackson Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2000 ISBN: 1567183654 US Retail Price: $24.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567183654/thecauldron If you are a fan of watercolors and like a medieval/Renaissance style of art, you will probably love this deck. Nigel Jackson has painted a truly gorgeous deck. The deck is a bit larger than normal (just slightly smaller than 3 by 5 inches), which provides more area for the pictures. The cards are still surprisingly easy to shuffle and handle, however. The names on some of the cards (The Juggler, The Popess, The Pope, and Fortitude) may be a bit unfamiliar to those who have only used more modern decks, but the meanings of the cards come across clearly in their images. Each of the minor arcana is illustrated, unlike some medieval/Renaissance style decks which only have pips. This illustrations on some of the minor arcana cards seem far more evocative of their meanings that the standard Rider-Waite illustrations. I particularly like the Seven of Coins, with its lazy fisherman resting on the bank, hat over his eyes, pipe in his mouth and jug at hand while his pole is braced on a forked stick unattended. Many of the deck's minor arcana have a martial theme, however. Even the staves are really depicted as arrows. If this bothers you, you may want to pass on this deck. The Nigel Jackson Tarot comes with a small 3x5 inch, 140+ page, perfect bound manual. This is much nicer that the small staple-bound booklet that accompanies many Tarot decks. This small book briefly covers the history of the Tarot, the author's theory of its origins, the divinatory meaning of the cards, five non-standard layouts (the Key of Hermes, the Pythagorean Method, the Method of the Seventh Card, the Royal Road, and the Eastern Cross), and information on using the Tarot in meditation. While the information is necessarily brief, it is enough for a beginner to start to use the deck. Only the part devoted to the author's theory of the Pythagorean origins of the Tarot seems rushed by space limits. There are lots of decks out there, but this deck is definitely worthy of consideration. I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a first deck, but if you are looking for a first deck and it speaks to you when you examine it, don't let that stand in your way. The symbol set it uses is not that different from the Rider-Waite set described in many "Tarot 101" books. You will not be completely lost. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtnigel.php [06] ========= ========= 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: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806518871/thecauldron 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 [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: A WITCHES' BIBLE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= A Witches' Bible Author: Janet and Stewart Farrar Trade Paperback, 550 pages Publisher: Phoenix Publishing Publication date: July 1996 ISBN: 0919345921 US Retail Price: $23.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0919345921/thecauldron If you are tired of "Wicca 101" books aimed at the complete beginner (or worse, at "fluff bunnies"), the Farrar's A Witches' Bible might be the book for you. While some of the material seems dated and even slightly offensive in places (e.g. comments that imply there is really no place for homosexuals in Wicca), there is a wealth of information on the Alexandrian branch of British Traditional Wicca and the early history of Wicca in general. A Witches' Bible is really two books under one cover: Eight Sabbats for Witches and The Witches' Way. This is the chief problem with the book. There are two separate tables of contents and indexes. The page numbers start over from one in middle of the volume. Some information is duplicated between the two volumes included. This doesn't ruin the book, but it does make it much less convenient to use. Having to look stuff up in two separate indexes is a pain, for example. The first half of the book, originally published as Eight Sabbats for Witches, discusses each of the eight major Wiccan festivals in detail. The authors examine both the rituals in a fairly typical Gardner-derived Book of Shadows and how they fit into a wheel of the year cycle of myths. Like much of early Wiccan material, there is a somewhat embarrassing reliance on questionable source material such as Robert Graves' The White Goddess. This doesn't really ruin any of the rituals, it just calls into question some of the background material and theory. This first volume also covers in detail the opening and closing of circles, the Great Rite, and rituals for Wiccaning, handfasting, and death. The second half of the book, originally published as The Witches' Way, mainly consists of sixteen chapters on Wiccan beliefs such as reincarnation, ethics, healing, divination, magick, etc. as seen through the eyes of the Farrars. At times, some of these essays seem very dogmatic. There is useful knowledge and information in almost every one of them, even if you do not agree with all the positions the authors take. Approximately one-third of this second volume is ritual material, however, presented and explained with the same detail as the sabbats were in the first volume. You'll find initiation rituals for all three British Traditional Wiccan degrees, information on consecration rituals and various usual rituals. There's also an appendix by Doreen Valiente detailing her attempts to track down Gardner's "Old Dorothy" and the "New Forest Coven." If you are used to 1990's style Wicca 101 books, A Witches' Bible may come as something of a shock to you. It's not written in a "here's how to do this, run out and try it" style. It provides detailed information and opinion that you have to study and think about to get much out of. As one might expect from any form of British Tradition Wicca, its rituals are definitely aimed at group practice. You will not find solitary versions handed to you. With a bit of thought and effort, of course, many of the rituals presented could be adapted to solitary use. While all this material may sound dry and dull, the Farrars manage to make most of it quite interesting to read. If you are interested in the origin and history of Wicca, British Traditional Wicca, or are just tired of Wicca books obviously written so as to not strain the brain of the average "fluff-bunny," I can't recommend this book highly enough. I've had a copy of another publisher's printing for more than fifteen years. I've read it completely several times, and refer to it at least once month. If you are interested in Wicca and ready to move beyond all the "Wicca 101" books on the market, pick up a copy of A Witches' Bible as soon as you can. It's not perfect, but it is one of the few "Wicca 201" books on the market. Even if British Traditional Wicca doesn't really interest you, you'll learn a lot about Wicca by reading and studying this book. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwbible.php [08] ========= ========= MAGICK: SELF PERCEPTION EXPLORATION ========= by Zephyr Lioness ========= Goal: To perform an organized introspection, and design a plan to achieve increased self love and confidence. To become more aware of your perception of yourself, and its role in your life. Supplies: You will need a notebook, journal or pieces of paper and colored markers thin enough to write legibly with. You may wish to light a candle (pink for self love or white for truth) and/or incense of your choice. Location/Best Time: Make sure you have a couple of hours set aside for this exercise. Go to a place where you feel comfortable (inside or out) and where you will not be likely to be interrupted or overly distracted. A good time to perform this would be on a gibbous moon, as part of your winter starting a new year celebration or your Birthday. Ritual/Procedure: On the first page of you notebook, fill up the page as much as you feel like with the "bad" things or traits you'd like to change about yourself, or habits and traits you don't like, fears and insecurities you would be rid of, whatever. For this page use a red marker, or the color that feels right to you. On the next page write the "good" things, your qualities, what makes you unique, your strengths and values, interesting abilities, skills, talents etc. Try to fill up the page. Feel free to take as long as you like. Use a green pen, or whatever feels right to you. Take some time now to ground and center. Go back and look at the negative list. This time pretend to belongs to your best friend. Try to look at these qualities form this new, perspective. Are all of these things so terrible? In light of the good things, do some of them really matter? Try to pick out the things that are not that important, are not necessarily negative, or that don't bother you that much. You can release these things first. Draw a line through these in another color, and say aloud "I accept myself ______". (I accept myself having big thighs, I accept myself talking too much.). Now go through it again, with another color of pen and underline those things you have the power to change. For example if you think you don't socialize enough, you smoke, you lose your temper too easily, etc. Circle those things you can change (circling them symbolizes your power to change these items), On a new sheet of paper list these things, and a target date. Try not to overload yourself and make all the changes immediately. Changing patterns is hard but rewarding work. Back to the things that are not marked out or circled. Are there any left? If not, great, skip the remainder of this paragraph. What are these things? Is it possible you really can change them? Sometimes our own limiting thought patterns convince us that we "have no choice" thus making us feel like victims. Re-examine these items if you have any. Acknowledge the choices, even if they are impractical, for example, if you are staying in a job you don't like because you don't think you could make that much money at a different job, acknowledge that you are choosing to stay in the job, and getting paid well to put up with the crap. Positively frame the things you are choosing not to change. It feels empowering just to know you do have a choice, even if you are choosing not to take any of them. Now go back again, are there truly some things you have no choice about? Like your short, etc. If so, can you learn to accept these things? If a loved one was telling you about this shortcoming, how would you counsel them? If need be, underline the items and design a ritual to embrace/accept those things which are unchangeable. Now go to your positive sheet. If it is not totally full, write on it some nice things people have said about you. Read the list aloud, saying each as an affirmation. For example if you put down that you are a painter say aloud "I am a talented artist," You may want to write these in the form of affirmations on a new sheet of paper. Read them all aloud, and try to consider each. Some of these may be hard to really believe. Add on at the end. "I deserve to be whole and happy." Put this page, and your list of self help goals in a place where you can review them periodically (monthly?) Make sure to read aloud the affirmations regularly until you can truly believe them all. This is most effective if you can memorize a few of them and then look at yourself in the mirror while saying them. Have patience with yourself, we have our while lives to grow into great tree we want to be. Copyright (c) 1997, Zephyr Lioness Permission is granted to reproduce this intact, for non-profit purposes with this guideline attached. [09] ========= ========= MAGICK: HERB USES IN MAGICK (Part One: A - L) ========= Author Unknown ========= [As usual, check with a reliable, trusted herbalist or recognized manual before ingesting herbs you aren't familiar with.] ANGELICA: (sun, fire) The root carried in a blue cloth bag is a protective talisman. Was considered to be under the guard of angels and a preventive against plague. The whole root in a blue or white cloth bag protects against evil. ANISE: (Jupiter, air) Protection. A pillow stuffed with anise seeds keeps away evil. APPLE: (Venus, water) Love spells. The wood is fashioned into wands and used for love spells and rituals. A large apple eaten at All Hallows brings good luck. ASAFOETIDA: (Saturn, fire) Called "devil's dung" for it's disgusting odor. Used in exorcism. A small piece worn around the neck guarded against plague. ASH TREE: (sun, water) Protective, used to make brooms and healing wands. Leaves placed beneath pillow induce psychic dreams. The winged seeds are carried to prevent overlooking or ill-wishing. Leaves are lucky, especially even ones. Leaves should be gathered saying, "Even ash, I do thee pluck/Hoping thus to bring good luck/If no good luck should come from thee/I shall wish thee on the tree". or, as a love divination. Pluck the ash leaf and say: "even ash, even ash, I do pluck thee, My true love for to see, neither in his rick nor in his rear, but in the clothes he does everyday wear". Speak not a word, place the leaf under your pillow, you should see your future mate in a dream. BALM OF GILEAD: (Saturn) The buds can be carried to mend a broken heart. Can be added to love and protection charms. BASIL: (Mars, fire) Wealth and prosperity. Carrying basil in pockets attracts money to them. A wife can dust her upper body with powdered basil to keep her husband faithful. BAY LAUREL: (sun, fire) The leaves can be burned or chewed to induce visions. Worn as an amulet to ward off evil. Leaves under the pillow induce prophetic dreams. Can be used for protection and purification. Growing near a house, it protects occupants from infection and storms. BENZOIN: (sun, air) Used in purification. A few drops of tincture preserves oils and preparations. BETONY: (Jupiter, fire) Protection, purification. Stuff a pillow to prevent nightmares. CHAMOMILE: (sun, water) Used in prosperity charms and rituals, induces sleep. The tea brings peace and tranquility. Wash face and hair with it to attract a lover. CARAWAY: (Mercury, air) Used in love charms to attract a lover. CARNATION: (sun, fire) Worn by witches to prevent capture and hanging. Produces added energy in ritual when used as an incense. CATNIP: (Venus, water) Creates psychic bond between cat and owner. Used in love spells and incenses. CELANDINE: (sun, fire) Helps wearer escape unfair imprisonment or entrapment. Cures depression. CINNAMON: (sun, fire) Used in incenses for healing, clairvoyance, high spiritual vibration. Used as a male aphrodisiac. CINQUEFOIL: (Jupiter, earth) Hang on house entrances for protection. Use in spells and charms for prosperity, purification, and protection. CLOVER: (Mercury) Associated with the Triple Goddess. Used in rituals for beauty and youth. Four-leafs are carried to see faeries, heal illness, avoid military service, avoid madness, and for good luck. CLOVE: (sun, fire) Worn to drive away negativity and stop gossip. Cloves strung on red thread can be worn as a protection charm. COMFREY: (Saturn, earth) An herb of Hecate, used in rituals to honor the Crone. CORIANDER: (Mars, fire) Used in love spells and charms. An old spell is to take 7 grains of coriander and grind them in a mortar, saying, "warm seed, warm heart, let them never be apart" three times. Drops seeds into wine and share with lover. COWSLIP: (Venus) Brings luck. Posies of cowslips placed under the pillow allows contact with the dead in dreams. CYPRESS: (Saturn, earth) Connected with death in all aspects. The smoke can be used to consecrate ritual objects. DAISY: Used to decorate the house on Midsummer's Eve to bring happiness and win the favor of faeries. frame of mind. General protection. GARDENIA: (moon, water) Wear flower to attract love. GARLIC: (Mars, fire) Extremely protective, carry the bulb with you on trips over water to prevent drowning. Hang in home to protect. Used in exorcisms. HAWTHORNE: (Mars, fire) Used in protection sachets. Associated with happy marriage. Put into cradles to protect babies. Sitting under the tree on Beltane, Midsummer's Day, or Samhain puts one in danger of being abducted by faeries. Never cut the tree. Burn Hawthorne berries for energy and meditation on change. HAZEL: (sun, air) Makes good all-purpose wands. Can be used as divining rods. Tie two hazel twigs together with red or gold thread to make the Solar Cross, a good luck charm. HENBANE: (Saturn, water) **POISON** Carried to attract the love of a woman. HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT: (Saturn, earth) Add to candle-annointing oils, charms, and sachets to increase their potency. HOLLY: (Mars, fire) Plant around house for protection. Leaves and berries can be carried to heighten masculinity. HONEYSUCKLE: (Jupiter, earth) Use in prosperity spells and charms. HOPS: (Mars, water) Healing incenses and charms. Placed in a pillow, will induce sleep. Unwise to use if depressed. HYSSOP: (Jupiter, fire) For purification baths and protection spells. Associated with serpents and dragons, it can be burned to tap into dragon energy. IVY: (Saturn, water) Protects the house it grows over.Often given (with holly) to newlyweds. JASMINE: (Jupiter, earth) Used in love spells and charms. JUNIPER: (sun, fire) Protects wearer from accidents. Berries can be dried and strung to attract a lover. Can be used in anti-theft spells and grown at doorstep to protect from thieves. LAVENDER: (Mercury, air) Purification baths and incenses. Thrown onto fires at Midsummer in tribute to the Gods and to bring visions and inspiration. Carry to attract men. Scent induces sleep. Brings clarity and focus to workings. LEMON BALM: Drink as an infusion to soothe away emotional pains after a break-up. Useful in recovering from trauma and sexual assault. Drives away low spirits, increases fertility. LEMON VERBENA: (Venus, air) Wear as a love charm and to increase attractiveness. Add to charms to increase their power. Hang sprig around neck to stop dreaming. LINDEN: (Jupiter) Conjugal love and longevity. LOVAGE: (sun, water) For cleansing baths. Carry to attract love. [10] ========= ========= RECOMMENDED PAGAN READING LIST ========= by Allyson Sands ========= [Allyson offered the following reading list in response to a request for a reading list on The Cauldron's mailing list. Allyson also edits The Merry Times, a Canada-oriented Neo-Pagan newsletter. You can find our more on this ezine at the newsletter's web site: http://www.merrytimes.org/.] A common question we all hear is "Is there a recommended list of books one can consider reading before getting too far into witchcraft?" Well, there's no formal reading list... each of us who teaches comes up with our own. My list isn't on the computer I'm using at the moment, but I can give you the names of the ones I use most often with new people. - An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present Doreen Valiente 1973/1985 Hale/Phoenix Publishing This has been recently updated to include some new information on various Traditions and such, and re-released. It's well worth reading, even in its original, outdated form, in my opinion. It's like a dictionary, starting at A and ending at Z, with a ton of information. It isn't really a book to read through front to back (unless you're like me and enjoy that sort of thing), but it's a fantastic reference book. - A Witches' Bible Compleat Janet and Stewart Farrar 1981/1984 Magickal Childe Publishing, Inc. Written by the people who I love most and respect most in Wicca, anything by the Farrars is worth reading, but this one takes the cake. It's basically the interior of an Alexandrian Book of Shadows, minus a few of the more private rituals and without all the spellwork. It's got a zillion articles on things ranging from how to write a ritual to how to do out of body travel to ethics to history. I use this book almost daily, even now, umpteen years later. - Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft Raymond Buckland 1986 Llewellyn Publications. Fondly referred to as "Big Blue" by most pagans I know, this one is the best beginners book I know of. It's set out like lessons, and has quizzes, questions, and practical things for you to do and make. It's got a little bit of everything, and for someone who's working alone, it's the best for the money. - Drawing Down the Moon Margot Adler 1979 Viking (reissued by Beacon Press). Another of the re-issued books, this one's got a lot of information on the various types of paganism and Wicca out there. It's also been updated, to include the new Trads that have formed since its original release. Wow.. 20 years ago. Holy cow ... I feel old! ;) It's another book that you can't really read from front to back, but that you find yourself referring to over and over again. Heck, about seven years ago, my High Priest and I ran into a group called "Georgians" and at that time, we'd never even heard of them! We went to Margot's book and voila, there they were, with the information we needed to understand where they were coming from. - Psychic Self-Defense Dion Fortune 1930/1993 Samuel Weiser. The best book on the subject. Period. :) Perhaps I'm biased because I like Dion Fortune, but this is the most comprehensive, sensible book out there, in my opinion. - The Witch's God Janet and Stewart Farrar 1989 Phoenix Publishing - The Witch's Goddess Janet and Stewart Farrar 1987 Phoenix Publishing - The Witches Way Janet and Stewart Farrar 1984 Hale Like I said, anything by the Farrars. The first two are books on various Gods and Goddesses that you can read about in mythology, and work with inside a Wiccan ritual. The third book is actually a part of the Witches Bible Compleat, so if you've got that, don't bother with this one. - Witchcraft for Tomorrow Doreen Valiente 1978/1986 Hale/Phoenix Publishing A wonderful book explaining many things about Wicca, its origins, and some funny stories about things that have happened to Doreen in her many years of practice. This one was updated in 86, I think, so it's got a new foreword and such. Again, well worth reading - chock full of information. - The Silver Bough F. Marian McNeill 1989 Cannongate. - The White Goddess Robert Graves 1948/1973 Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. Both excellent books, though be careful to take the information with a grain of salt. That's true of all books of course, but in my opinion some of Graves' research is more hopeful/wishful thinking than excellent historical stuff. - When God was a Woman Merlin Stone 1976 Dial Press. Interesting book... use that grain of salt again, but read and learn. Excellent! - The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell 1988 Doubleday. Read it, re-read it, and read it again. Then go rent the video series from your local library, watch it, learn, watch it again, then go read the book again. - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs Scott Cunningham 1985 Llewellyn Publications. - Mastering Herbalism Paul Huson 1974 Stein & Day. (OOP) - The Complete Book of Incenses, Oils and Brews Scott Cunningham 1989 Llewellyn Publications. Three fantastic books on herbalism. They have nice pictures, good quality information, and easy to understand recipes and explanations. The last one, Cunningham's, is amazing, and I don't know what I'd do without it! - The Mabinogion series Evangeline Walton - The Mists of Avalon Marion Zimmer Bradley 1981 Bantam Del Rey. Fictional books have their place in my reading list, too. The Mab is the myth cycle of the British Isles, and is fascinating... You needn't get Walton's version if you don't want to, but do get SOME version of it. Especially if you want to work with Celtic deities! :) And Mists, we've already been discussing on here. Don't take it as history, because it's not... but read it in the same light that you'd read the Bible, or the Mab, or any other mythological work. It has important things to teach you, if you can only read between the lines. [11] ========= ========= HUMOR: DEFINITIONS FOR CHURCH-GOERS ========= Author Unknown ========= AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows. PARISH BULLETIN: 1 Parish information read only during the homily 2 Your receipt for attending church 3 Substitute for air conditioning on hot days CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync. HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY. HYMN: A song of praise, usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at church, often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left. INCENSE: Holy Smoke! JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to found colleges with good basketball teams. JONAH: The original "Jaws" story. KYRIE: The only Greek word that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava. MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower. MANGER: 1 Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO. 2 The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been tough PEW: A medieval torture device still found in churches. PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning, consisting of altar servers, the celebrant and late parishioners looking for seats. RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of the service led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot. RELICS: People who have been going to church for so long they actually know when to sit, kneel and stand TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew. [12] ========= ========= FREE SOFTWARE: SOLO ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= Do you find yourself killing time playing solitaire on your computer? Do you get tired of playing the same few games all the time? If so, Solo is for you. Solo allows you to play 60 or 70 different solitaire games "out of the box" (or zip file, in this case). If Solo doesn't come with the game of your choice, you can create it yourself with a drag-n-drop visual game design tool. You can also modify the games it comes with if they don't play by the exact rules you are used to. You will find this free Win9x program at: http://members.home.com/kenguru/ [13] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW ARTICLES ON THE CAULDRON'S SITE ========= The following new articles have been added to The Cauldron's web site since our last issue. * A Poem for Yule 2000 http://www.ecauldron.com/yulepoem.php * LyricFox's Signature Image Archive http://www.ecauldron.com/lfsigarchive.php The following book reviews (included in this newsletter) are new to the web site: * American Indian Myths and Legends http://www.ecauldron.com/bkaimal.php * The Nigel Jackson Tarot http://www.ecauldron.com/bktrtnigel.php * 21st Century Wicca http://www.ecauldron.com/bk21cw.php [14] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= NEW WEB POLL ========= Our new polls are working nicely and without all the problems we had when they were hosted offsite. You'll find them on their own web page at: http://www.ecauldron.com/pollindex.php Our newest poll, opened January 1, asks: * Should Pagans organize mainstream-like churches with church buildings and trained and paid clergy? http://www.ecauldron.com/cldpoll13.php Make your opinion known, take this poll today! [15] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON WHEN YOU BUY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM ========= If you wish to purchase books or other items at Amazon.com, you can help fund The Cauldron's web site by using this link to access Amazon.com when you make your purchases: http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php Just use this link to go to Amazon.com via our web site and almost every purchase you make that visit will earn The Cauldron a small amount to help pay for our web page -- at no extra charge to you. You can also use the Amazon link on the menu of every Cauldron web page and not have to remember this long link. Unlike the Amazon link listed in some prior issues of this newsletter, you can simply visit this site and save the link in your bookmark list. If you then use this bookmarked link every time you wish to visit Amazon.com, any purchases you make while there will help fund The Cauldron's web site. [16] ========= ========= Cauldron and Thicket Info ========= CAULDRON CHATS: TUESDAYS, 10-11PM CDT ========= Cauldron Co-Host Randall Sapphire hosts a one hour general chat almost every Tuesday evening from 10pm to 11pm Central (Daylight) Time in our channel (#thecauldron) on the PaganPaths IRC server. We usually have a pretty good turnout. Discussions cover a wide range of topics, depending on what the folks present want to discuss. You'll find all the information you need to connect to our chats either with your own IRC client or via the Java IRC client (including images of the various Java windows which pop up) on our Chats web page at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cmchats.php You can open a Java chat client directly to #thecauldron by clicking on the "IRC Chat" link in the menu of any of our web pages, but we strongly suggest you visit the above page first and read a few paragraphs on how to use it. This page is also available from the "[Info]" link right next to the "IRC Chat" link on our web page menus. If you have your own IRC client program, the address of the main PaganPaths server is: madison.wi.us.paganpaths.org (port 6667) If you'd like to host a chat for members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum on a regular, weekly schedule, please let us know. If "Central Time" doesn't mean anything to you, this an online time converter at http://sandbox.xerox.com/stewart/tzconvert.cgi might help. I think Central Time is listed as something like "US - Central" in the drop down box. [17] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER AND FORUM INFO ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum with assistance from our sister form, The Witches' Thicket. The Cauldron and The Thicket aim to publish this newsletter twice a month and often actually succeed in doing so. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ++++ ++++ HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ++++ You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. 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If you'd like some graphic buttons to use to link to our web site, check the following URL: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php Thanks in advance. ++++ ++++ SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ++++ Don't forget that your suggestions for the forum are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to Elspeth Sapphire (elspeth.sapphire@worldnet.att.net) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire@ecauldron.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet again! |
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