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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #34 -- April 2003 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ message board: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ In this Issue: [01] Editorial Notes [02] Poem: Spirit [02] Cauldron News [03] Pagan Discussions [04] Review: Full Contact Magick [05] Review: The Witches' Craft [06] Review: Positive Magic [07] Review: 2003 Wicca Almanac [08] Review: Wicca for Couples [09] Received For Review [10] Article: Control Yourself! [11] Article: The Bunny and the Rabbit: A Fable For Adults [12] Column: TarotDeevah on the Tarot [13] Humor: The Neo-Wiccan and the Reconstructionist [14] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [15] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: April 25, 2003 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= I don't have a lot to say this month. Wait, don't applaud yet. There is one thing I have to say. I would like to thank everyone who sent in article submissions for this newsletter. Even after filling this issue with interesting articles, the submission bin is no longer empty. I don't have to wonder if there will be anything but my reviews and TarotDeevah's column in the next issue. To all who have submitted an article and to all who will in the future, a hearty Texas-sized "Thank you very much." That's it. I'll shut up now and let you enjoy this issue of Cauldron and Candle. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= SPIRIT ========= A Poem by Moonsongstress ========= Your snow white, downy wing brushes my face With the touch of an angel, and as I look up to See you, emerald shinings flash past my eyes. I feel you then in the air, and I reach inwardly To follow you into the lair sought by those who Need to face the dragon of the self, and to pass Through its fearsome fire to emerge out of the Dark portal new, and one with the forever old. Down, down into the middle of my soul I spiral Round, arcing my path to the music of spheres Smoothly and softly, with the care of ages and Newness of grass first seeding I watch the way. The path winds smoothly broad before my eyes With places to stop, places to watch and to wait. Wisdom of swirling time flashes by in her silent Chariot and I fix myself onto her, fast and free, Strong with silver threads of gossamer silking. The journey is an electric charge, running wild behind her glowing white, oily muscled steeds, Our manes rolling together through the salt air. The twisting of the spiral is tighter woven now And the glossy, braided road smooth as satin In colors glowing of the darkening deep place. Through the soft air glimmers of sound play on My heart. Are they real? Are they there, truly? Yes! They pluck at the my core again and my Soul resonates back in accord. What can it be? The rose is calling to her own and hearts feel Songs of the ages. The horses pull faster now, Feeling the call as I do, to spur hard muscle in The urgency of sharpened, flesh biting tooth, Acid and lash of whipping tail. The end is near As orange dragon fire spurts through the dark. Fear is my familiar, nearer and nearer coming. This is not what I meant! I should not be here, I am no dragon slayer, my thoughts shoot and Ride the boiling air, dancing round the flame as The doorway looms high on a last turn. I close Eyes of terror with nostrils wide in the sulfur. The portal is past and the glaring heat shines Even through closed eyelids. Horse flesh stands Still in that place and the silence fills my mind. Nothing happens. My thoughts still churn, but Slows as the speed of the place chimes within. The dragon awaits, I know. I taste the fear on My breath but the silence beckons. What is it? Calling songs reach with caressing fingers into My mind. A trick! The dragon calls with charms To pull me into its playground. I think and wait. Still nothing, the breath is cavernously empty. Curiosity sends its vital itch into my mind and I scratch. My eyes flicker open to see… to see What? The rose smiles with a warmth of softly Glowing embers and sings a song to my heart. Her roundness embraces me in overwhelming Acceptance and I rush to be enveloped by her. Where is the dragon? I say. You vanquished It with the conquering of your fear, she speaks With a voice full of the callings of time and the Stretching of threads through age and space. The rose opens her petals to give blossoming Warmth of creation to the reachings of infinity. The spirit that nests the universe within her is A tiny flame amidst the blooming of my heart. Copyright (c) MoonSongstress 2001 [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Top Poster -- March 2003 ===== The top poster on The Cauldron's Delphi Forums message board for March 2003 was Moonwolf (MOONWOLF23). The Runner Up was Mari (ARIANCRAIDD). While these are the same two top posters as in February, only four messages separated them in March. Close behind them were Jet (FAOLANB), Giraffe (WICKEDWIT), Elfwreck (ELFWRECK), and Shadow (HEARTSHADOW). (Full Cauldron staff members are ineligible for this honor and so aren't listed. Thread Spinners are eligible.) ===== ===== New Article on Neo-Pagan Unity ===== Faerie K. has translated another article she wrote in Finnish for the Vox Paganorum and kindly allowed us to post it. This editorial article examines the trend of treating "Neo-Paganism" as a single religion, focusing on problems the author sees in Isaac Bonewits' well-known attempt to define "What Neo-Pagans Believe." You can read this article via the following link: http://www.ecauldron.com/opedneopaganunity.php ===== ===== The Cauldron's Message Board Sets Record in March ===== 7435 messages were posted to The Cauldron's Delphi message board in March 2003, surpassing the old record of 6842 posts set just a couple of months ago in January by over 500 posts. Thanks to everyone who participates in The Cauldron's Delphi message board for making it such a popular place. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= PAGAN DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 150 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting discussions from the last month. It's not to late to join in. === === Dissent Within A Pagan Religion or Tradition === How do you deal with "I'm one of you, but I think you're wrong about this--and I'm not going to follow this rule?" Especially how do you deal with it when the person really is "one of you?" (i.e. part of the same clan/group/organization etc.) How do you deal with a person/group who is not part of "your group", but is using the same label for their practices, even if those practices are very different? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8403.1 === === And Then, We Die === So what happens next? Reincarnation, recycling, worm food, resurrection at the end of time? And... Why? If there are options for where we go after death, why are those options there? What do they mean? Is there a purpose to our deaths as well, and afterlife destination, or is it just reward? Or a holding tank? Or nothing at all? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8436.1 === === Does Wicca Have Any Secrets Left? === Traditional Wicca started out a religion full of secrets that were only to be given to initiates. Given that lots of books have been published on Wicca over the years and have printed all sorts of once secret information, do you think Traditional Wicca has any truly important secrets left? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages/?msg=8457.1 === === Who/What Projects The Worst Pagan Image? === What movie/book/author/public pagan do you feel projects the worst possible image to the general public? Did The Craft set your teeth on edge? Would you like to gag Silver Ravenwolf? Do you develop headaches every time Charmed is on? Who or what drives you absolutely bonkers because of the image it projects about Paganism in general or your path in particular? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8515.1 === === Religious Items in Museums? === Do religious relics/art/furniture belong in museums? Why or why not? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8662.1 === === How Effective Is Large Scale Magic? === We've had some posts in here advocating magic on a large scale to influence behavior. The latest was working magic to stop the war on Iraq. I've also seen requests to send healing energy to the earth at various times. How effective do you think this sort of thing is? Does something of this nature work? Does it require a specific goal or can 100s of people work on a vague idea with their own "spin" on it? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8606.1 === === Creating New Sacred Sites === In all of the old faiths, and even new faiths, people have created sacred sites at places of importance (or simply places which they deemed suitable). Yet, in this re-awakening of a lot of the old traditions, I've yet to see new sacred locations being created. Why do you think this is? (Or, if you've seen some, please share!) Do you think the creation of a new sacred site is possible? Practical? What do you think defines a site as sacred? Have you ever thought of creating one yourself? What do you think the creation of a sacred site would require? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=8689.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DONATE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE If you like The Cauldron and have a few extra dollars, please donate via the Amazon Honor System and help us pay the web site bills. http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] ========= ========= REVIEW: FULL CONTACT MAGICK ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior Author: Kerr Cuhulain Trade Paperback, 312 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2002 ISBN: 0738702544 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702544/thecauldron Kerr Cuhulain, a Canadian police officer and author of Wiccan Warrior, has turned his hand to a Wiccan 101 book, Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior. Unless you are a newcomer, you are probably as tempted as I am to simply sigh, mutter something about yet another Wicca 101 book under your breath and pass on to the next book on the store shelf -- which, sadly, is likely to be another 101 book. Passing over it might be a mistake because this is one of the better Wicca 101 books published recently. Despite the "warrior" stress of the title and back cover, this book is not about magickal combat and tossing hexes at your enemies. It's a fairly typical Wicca 101 book. It cover all the material you would expect a Wicca 101 book to cover: the Wiccan Rede and Wiccan ethics, deities, working with energy, the Sabbats and esbats, the elements, working tools, ritual, magick, etc. It's all there and covered in a straight forward and friendly manner. What sets this book apart is its organization, lack of much of the fluffiness and outright major errors that plague so many 101 books, and the examples the author gives to help explain things. Full Contact Magick is organized into five sub-books, one for each of the elements. Most of the basics are covered in the first sub-book, the "Book of Spirit." This leaves the rest of the book free for more advanced material. This also makes it much easier for a true beginner than scattering the basics through a book intermixed with more advanced material -- as too many 101 books seem to do. Cuhulain talks about the Rede as a guideline (not a law), does not tell readers that Pagans in general have the same beliefs and practices as Wiccans, he refers people to Hutton's The Triumph of the Moon for the history of Wicca instead of teaching an imaginary history that traces Wicca back to the Old Stone Age, etc. His examples of how Wiccan beliefs and ethics interact with the world and society are often drawn from police work which gives them a practical, real world emphasis that the examples in many Wicca 101 books lack. As one might expect, this book has a few issues as well. First and foremost, while Full Contact Magick is more accurate than most 101 books, it is still more about Neo-Wicca than more traditional Wicca. This isn't necessarily a failing, but it certainly affects who one should recommend the book to. Secondly, the title is misleading. Many people are probably going to pick up this book expecting "combat Wicca" when the warrior this book deals with is the "peaceful warrior." Third, for a book with "a book of shadows" in its subtitle, it lacks the detailed ritual scripts that many probably expect to find in such a book. For a Wicca 101 book, Kerr Cuhulain's Full Contact Magick is quite good. The book's good points far outweigh its bad points. If you are a beginner or just someone interested in learning about modern Wicca, you could do much worse than starting with this book. If you are looking for more traditional Wicca, instead of Neo-Wicca, then this book is considerably less useful. If you have already read a few books on Wicca, this is just another 101 book that you can pass over. Before you move on to the next shelf of books, however, you might want to look at Full Contact Magick to see if it is a book you can recommend to beginners. It is certainly one of the more worthy of recommendation 101 books published recently. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkfcm.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE WITCHES' CRAFT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation Author: Raven Grimassi Trade Paperback, 282 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: October 2002 ISBN: 073870265X US Retail Price: $16.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870265X/thecauldron In his introduction to The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation, Raven Grimassi lists his two main reasons for writing the book. First, to preserve craft techniques that recent Wiccan authors have ignored. Second, to refute scholarship that claims Wicca is not an ancient religion but was created by Gerald Gardner and others in the 1940s and 1950s. Please note that while I refer to "Wicca" in this review as this book is obviously about that religion, I do not believe the author uses the word at all. He refers to "witchcraft" and the "Old Religion." The second task is a tall order and Grimmassi devotes the first third of the book to the attempt. Grimassi is not a historian and it shows in this section of the book. Although I've seen reviews of this book praising Grimassi for refuting scholars like Ronald Hutton and for proving that Wicca really is an ancient religion, I don't think the book does any such thing. Grimassi pulls bits and pieces from many sources from Hesiod to Freemasonry to recent scholarly works. Unfortunately, he tends to view ancient sources through 21st century eyes. He interprets them with a modern Wiccan worldview, which is often nothing like the way the ancients thought. He also cherry-picks information from 2500 years of sources to make his case. He even attacks scholars who have published works that disagree with the ideas of the "Old Religion" and ancient matriarchies merely for not accepting these things as fact -- even comparing them to medieval era inquisitors at one point (p.24). Yet, in the end, the only thing I could see the author proved in this portion of the book is that many of the pieces that make up Wicca are older, sometimes much older, than Gerald Gardner. This is a fact that, as far as I know, has never been in scholarly dispute. He falls far short of showing that there was an ancient witchcult (or "Old Religion"), let alone that Wicca is the modern incarnation of such a religion. The truly sad thing about this section of The Witches' Craft is that many people will probably take it as the gospel truth because it sounds somewhat scholarly and because they really would like it to be true. To be blunt, I think this section of the book is a waste of valuable trees. Once the author leaves the subject of history, however, the book improves somewhat. The second two-thirds of the book is a compilation of practical information about Grimassi's version of Wicca. (However, some more attempts to show Wicca to be ancient do slip in.) While not nearly as much of this material seems new to me as the hype implies, the book does touch upon a number of things that have been downplayed or left out in many recent Wicca 101 books. Unfortunately, for the most part, "touch upon" is all that is done. The new material is mixed in with reams of material I've seen elsewhere (sometimes, I believe, in previous works by this author) and even complex ideas are covered in a few paragraphs or a few pages. The most interesting part of the book may be the first appendix, "The Doreen Valiente Letters" which includes four letters Valiente wrote to Grimassi. Unfortunately, only one side of the correspondence is presented as Grimassi did not keep copies of the letter he wrote to Valiente. While there aren't any great revelations in these letters, they are still an interesting part of Wiccan history. While The Witches' Craft does have a few good things going for it (some bits of information that haven't seen print in a good while -- if at all -- and copies of the Valiente letters), I cannot recommend this book. The revisionist history presented in the first third of the book simply ruins it. While it does not make the outrageous claims that Ann Moura's Origins of Modern Witchcraft did, it still makes claims that fly in the face of scholarship -- and falls far short of supporting them. If you are interested in the history of Wicca, Hutton's The Triumph of the Moon and Heselton's Wiccan Roots do a far better job -- although their conclusions may not always be as appealing. For information not often found in recent Wicca 101 books, the Farrar's A Witches' Bible is more detailed. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktwctrowamt.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: POSITIVE MAGIC ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Positive Magic:Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives Author: Marion Weinstein Trade Paperback, 302 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: October 2002 ISBN: 1564146375 US Retail Price: $14.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146375/thecauldron When the first edition of Marion Weinstein's Positive Magic appeared in 1978 it soon became popular as a simple introduction to magic and divination. The 1981 revision has remained on my list of recommended basic books for over 20 years, despite a chapter on the history of witchcraft that was long out of date. Therefore, I was both hopeful and worried when I heard that New Page Books was publishing a newly revised edition for the book's 25th anniversary. I was hopeful that the author would update the troublesome and out of date portions and fearful that the author might accidentally change the mysterious something that has made this book a Pagan classic despite its more "New Age" orientation. My first scan through the revised Positive Magic: Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives convinced me that my worries that Weinstein might change too much were unfounded. While some of the information and references have been updated, the book is still basically the same gentle and friendly introduction to the occult and to magick that made it one of my favorite introductory books -- especially for people who were a little hesitant about getting involved in something like divination or casting spells. Positive Magic is still divided into two sections. The first section is a general introduction to the occult, complete with a chapter on how to detect and avoid negative groups, teachers, and magick. Unfortunately, the chapter on the history of witchcraft in this section was not revised much. It still talks about the works of Margaret Murray as if scholars consider them authoritative and continues to talk about 9 million people killed during the Burning Times. There is really no excuse for errors like these any more. Twenty years ago, more recent scholarship in these areas was unknown to most in the Pagan community. By the start of the 21st century, that was no longer true. Authors do a disservice to the Pagan community when they do not update such material in revisions. However, this is really the only major disappointment in the book. While the first section is mainly discussion, the second gets very practical, covering astrology, Tarot, and the I Ching as well as "Words of Power" magick. While the author is Pagan, her magick instructions often come with both Pagan and "generic" examples. The generic wording would be acceptable to many open- minded individuals who are Christian or some other non-Pagan religion. While this may annoy some Wiccans, magick is religion- neutral. One need not become Wiccan just to practice magick. Weinstein simply recognizes this and exploits it to open the benefits of magick to a wider audience. The magick Weinstein teaches is simple and among the forms least likely to backfire or go astray. It does not require expensive tools, but is still very effective. It can be a first simple step on a lifetime study of magick, or all the magick one ever needs to know. This newly revised edition of Positive Magic is every bit as good as the 1981 edition. I only wish that the "Witchcraft: A Living Heritage" chapter had had more revision and updating so I would not longer have to recommend it with the warning that the information on the history of Wicca is out of date and should be taken with a very large dose of salt. However, as the book is the best gentle introduction to magick for the hesitant newcomer I've seen, I have recommended the 1981 edition with that warning for many years. I will, unfortunately, have to continue to issue that warning when I recommend the new 2002 edition -- and I will continue to recommend it. Despite the historical information problem and occasional other imperfections, Weinstein's Positive Magic is still one of the best practical books available to the cautious beginner, especially one more interested in using magick and divination than changing religions. No one interested in magick is likely to regret having the 2002 edition of this book in their library. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkpositivem.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: 2003 WICCA ALMANAC ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= 2003 Wicca Almanac Editor: Michael Fallon Trade Paperback, 288 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: February 2002 ISBN: 0738702943 US Retail Price: $7.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702943/thecauldron Llewellyn publishes a number of almanacs, but this is their first spring to spring almanac. The almanac section of the 2003 Wicca Almanac is just over 60 pages in the center of this 288 page book. Each day's entry lists the moon phase (and whether the moon is waxing or waning), the moon sign, and that day's color. Most days also list a festival or holiday from somewhere in the world. The almanac section covers from the spring equinox of 2003 to the spring equinox of 2004. Like other Llewellyn almanacs, almanac information is only a small part of the book. The meat of the 2003 Wicca Almanac is in over 200 pages of short articles. There are about 25 articles, divided into five chapters. Nineteen authors contributed to this book, so there is a good variety of styles, lengths, and topics. The editorial aim was to be "edgy and timely and hip." As I'm well on the plus side of 40, some of the articles did not impress me at all, but most were at least interesting. Here is a small selection of article titles to give an idea of the wide-ranging, eclectic nature of the articles in this book. From the "Lifestyles of the Witch & Famous" chapter: "Pagan Art in the Modern Age" by Julianna Yau and "Witchcraft at the Movies" by Peg Aloi. From the second chapter, "Witchcraft D.I.Y": "How to be a Thoroughly Modern Witch Mom" by Ellen Dugan, and "How to Conduct a Seance" by Susan Sheppard. The third chapter is on Pagan travel with articles like "Wicca Down Under" by Emely Flak and "Pagan Travel Tips" by Laurel Reufner. The fourth chapter talks about Wicca on the Internet with articles like Gwinevere Rain's "E-Witching: A Wiccan's Guide to the Internet." The fifth chapter is a collection of opinion pieces like Scott Paul's "The Best Wiccan & Pagan Books." The last chapter discusses Pagan consumerism with a pair of articles, one of which is "A Witches' Shopping Guide" by Kat Rodgers. The 2003 Wicca Almanac makes interesting light reading and has a number of articles which would simply never appear in any of Llewellyn's other almanacs. While written for the teen and twenty-something reader, some of the articles are of more general interest. Like other Llewellyn almanacs, the 2003 Wicca Almanac is a very inexpensive book for its size, so it is worth a look -- and not just because Gwinevere Rain's article mentions The Cauldron's web site. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk2003wicca.php [09] ========= ========= REVIEW: WICCA FOR COUPLES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Wicca For Couples: Making Magick Together Author: A.J. Drew Trade Paperback, 223 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: September 2002 ISBN: 1564146200 US Retail Price: $13.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146200/thecauldron Many books on Wicca today seem to do their best to try to be non- controversial and to cater to the desires (and even the fantasies) of the mass market. They often rehash the more or less the same information in basically the same manner, with only the author's style separating one book from another. A.J. Drew's Wicca for Couples: Making Magick Together does the opposite. This book seems to set out to be controversial and does not cater to the desires of the majority of eager seekers who snap up books by famous Wiccan authors as fast as they hit the shelves. It was a very refreshing read. This book is based on two basic premises. First, that one of the fallouts of a "witch war" about who was really "Wiccan" in the early 1970s was the removal of controversy-causing things like sex and fertility from the religion, particularly that form of the religion popularized by "famous" authors in very commercial books aimed at the mass market. According to Drew, this changed Wicca from a religion of love to one that was often cold and sterile. Second, and perhaps even more controversial, Drew suggests that a more natural organizational structure is families, not solitaries or covens. Drew makes a good case for both of his premises. It is certainly a good enough case to make any thinking Wiccan stop and at least consider what the author is saying about the many problems the author sees in Wicca today -- even if he cannot agree with the author's proposed solution. And have no doubts about it before you pick up this book, the author sees a number of problems in Wicca. If you are looking for a book that tells you how wonderful everything is, this is not the book for you. Don't get me wrong, this book does not wallow in Wicca's problems, it simply refuses to pretend that they do not exist. There is a lot of material in this book. From a discussion of when archetypes become stereotypes, to rituals for families, to a discussion of dealing with those who think and believe much differently than Wiccans do, Wicca for Couples covers a lot of ground. Amazingly, for the amount of material covered, this book does not seem superficial. Perhaps this is because while this book is presenting a horde of ideas, some of which have been lost along the way and some that are new, they are all interrelated ideas. This book starts with a moving dedication to Tempest Smith, the young teen who committed suicide in 2001 because of abuse by her peers. When I first read this dedication, it moved me. But it wasn't until I finished the book that I realized just how much the event had affected the author. This entire book truly is, as the author hinted strongly at the beginning, an answer to what he feels is the underlying problem that led Tempest to commit suicide. Wicca for Couples should be read by every Wiccan and Neo-Wiccan. If you are Wiccan, you owe it to yourself to read this book and to discuss its views and ideas with your co-religionists. While many readers will not agree with the author, reading this book will at least open the reader's eyes to some of the less obvious problems in the Wiccan community and possible solutions to some of them. If nothing else, this book is an excellent starting point for discussion within the Wiccan community of problems and ways they might be solved. For some, however, this book will give them a new way of looking at their religion and its place in the world. I wish more of the Wiccan books I review had the guts to be original and take a stand as this book has. The author and publisher deserve a round of applause for their willingness to take a chance and buck the trend of cookie-cutter Wicca 101 books. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkwfcmmt.php [10] ========= ========= RECEIVED FOR REVIEW ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= The following books and decks have been received for review in March 2003 and will be reviewed in future issues. "First Glance Comments" included with these listings are exactly what they seem to be: my first impression of the item from a quick glance through the book or deck. Be aware that these views could change drastically after a more complete examination. If you are waiting for a particular review, remember that reviews appear on our web site as they are finished -- often a good while before they are published in the newsletter. Celtic Astrology by Phyllis Vega (New Page Books) ISBN: 1564145921 First Glance Comments: This book combines 13 "Druid Tree Sign" with the signs of the zodiac to provide a new comprehensive personal analysis. Special exercises and rituals are included for the various tree sign/sun sign combinations. I'm a Hawthorne. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564145921/thecauldron Mastering Candle Magick by Patricia Telesco (New Page Books) ISBN: 1564146545 First Glance Comments: This book is a sequel to the author's Exploring Candle Magick and comes more advanced techniques. While some familiarity with candle magic would be good, this book looks like it can stand alone. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146545/thecauldron The Lore of the Bard by Arthur Rowan (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702854 First Glance Comments: A book of Celtic Bardcraft by a member of the British Druid Order. It looks interesting, if a bit Wiccan-influenced. It probably will not impress Celtic Reconstructionists. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702854/thecauldron How to be a Ghost Hunter by Richard Southall (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738703125 First Glance Comments: A practical guide to investigating hauntings without spending a fortune. It seems to contain useful information and advice. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703125/thecauldron Sexual Ecstasy and the Divine by Yasmine Galenorn (Crossing Press) ISBN: 1580911137 First Glance Comments: This is basically a sex manual from a Pagan spiritual point-of-view. I doubt anyone but Galenorn would have attempted this and at first glance she does quite well at cutting through the esoteric fog that fills many books on magick and sex. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580911137/thecauldron The Teen Spell Book by Jamie Wood (Celestial Arts) ISBN: 1587611155 First Glance Comments: Wicca-oriented spell books for teens seem quite popular. At first look, Wood's book of 75 spells seems to be one of the better ones. The spells seem useful to teens without trying to out-Hollywood Hollywood. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587611155/thecauldron The Wiccan Cookbook by Jamie Wood & Tara Seefeldt (Celestial Arts) ISBN: 0890879958 First Glance Comments: Organized around the eight Wiccan festivals, this cookbook combines recipes from the 13th and 14th centuries with recipes from modern Wiccans. At first glance, this looks like a very nice cookbook. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0890879958/thecauldron [11] ========= ========= ARTICLE: CONTROL YOURSELF ========= Liber III vel Jugorum as a tool for self-control ========= by Faerie K. ========= Originally published in Finnish in Vox Paganorum 2/02 ========= translated from the Finnish by Faerie K. ========= When using magick, being able to control one's primary tool, oneself with all the different sides and features one has, is very important. By being able to harness one's whole essence including the mind, body and language to the working at hand gives the magick worker a more powerful set of tools than what a mage with less self-control and weaker self-awareness has. One method of training yourself to be a more effective for magick is to use Aleister Crowley's Liber III vel Jugorum[1] as your tool. At the same time, you are also able to get yourself more under your own control -- thinking what you are saying and doing, as well as controlling your thought patterns. Jugorum, "Book of the Yoke" divides the fields to be trained into three beasts: the unicorn, the horse and the ox. All these should be yoked "in a triple yoke that is governed by One Whip" instead of having them running wildly. Jugorum can be used not only as a stand-alone practice, but also as a part of preparing for larger workings; especially before starting more complex and continuous operations requiring not only self-control but also self- awareness - for example larger invocation/evocation projects or starting to learn a new system/technique. As a stand-alone practice Jugorum works well as a periodical "re- gaining self-control" and a working intended to be compared to previous results of practicing the Liber III. It can also be used as a changing point between one phase of life and another -- to create an intermediate period of "no phase", devoted to self- contemplation, in preparation for the next phase. Furthermore, this versatile exercise can be used to pulling oneself back together when one's practice has turned sloppy and to stop a working that has started to pall on you or is going badly, in order to study possible reasons for things not going the way they are expected to go. Being wild and unruly can be interpreted as pointing out how "automated" people usually are in their day-to- day life. Their speech is littered with unnecessary refrains like "you know" or simpler "umm", as well as with fixed expressions and points of view. Certain stimuli trigger always the same kind of response, without thinking. Even mannerisms repeat the same habits -- you sit down and lift one knee over the other, fidget your pen or your hair... All in all, there are many kind of mannerisms you don't usually pay any attention to. Thoughts are ruled by old and tried trains of thought and strong but often unquestioned ideas of who "I am" and how "I" usually do things. Jugorum's exercises make you pay attention to your own actions, remove what you've deemed unnecessary, map yourself and train yourself to be your own master. Each of the exercises last a week minimum and in addition to the exercises given in Liber III, Crowley advises you to make up your own exercises. Jugorum isn't a quick route to magickal innovations or stronger capabilities and the results gained vary according to the goals set by each practitioner. However, the exercises do help along the way. There's no use in starting an exercise and then stopping in the middle of it, even though you might feel like you weren't gaining anything from it. Even though the changes would be small and even unnoticeable, in the long run (the only one that really matters) they can be remarkable. ===== ===== Unicorn, Speech ===== Rule thy Speech! With the speech (and other communication) exercise, you start by picking a target, which is then removed from use of language. In the first form of this exercise, you'll avoid a word you commonly use, for example "and", "but" or "the". In the second, you'll avoid using a certain language. In the third one, what's being removed is "self" -- the every pronoun and adjective referring to first person. With each of these, you will not simply miss the word to avoid; you'll work your way around it. The level of difficulty can be fine tuned from very easy to such difficulty where you need to shift the gear of your brain completely. Very easy -- too easy to be of any practical use and also too easy to be in accordance to the spirit of Jugorum -- would be, say, to choose to remove "i" or "oui" and then communicate solely in English. On the other end of the scale would be removing a whole set of concepts or means of expression from your speech. In any case, you should reconstruct the thought patterns affecting speech and to really pay attention to what you are about to say or write, before the words get out of your mind. The target should be a word, letter or concept (like "I") you are using constantly, maybe even too often. For this exercise to be of use for you, do communicate with people as much as you usually. Spending a week alone and in silence gets you off easy, but you won't gain anything from it. While following the speech part of Jugorum, you'll notice how much you are actually using a certain expression in your daily life without actually thinking about it. At the same time, you'll likely start noticing other people's methods of communication better then before, how much others are (over) using the expression you are avoiding -- which is naturally where your attention will most likely be concentrating on in others -- and how much of their communication is "automated". Insights upon yourself and finding new points of view are rather common "by- products" from doing Jugorum. The over all results will vary according to the exercise and the practitioner. My own standards set for myself when doing a communication exercise, be it Jugorum or Jugorum-based, is that people who are not aware of the exercise going on, would not notice anything being different from normal. Going around the target should happen skillfully enough to not draw any attention towards itself. The slightly longer pauses in speech can be noticed, but it shouldn't be too obvious as to get people asking questions. Generally speaking, you'll just return to your normal language usage after the exercise. Exceptions from this rule are the occasions, when the target has been those manners of speech or expressions you intended to rid your speech from, completely or partly. This kind of communication exercise is a useful tool for training, as language affects the mind, mind affects the reality, reality affects the language and vice versa. ===== ===== Horse, Actions ===== Rule thine Action! The examples given in Liber III point your attention to ordinary everyday gestures and motions -- the kind of which you don't usually pay any attention to. The first example advises avoiding lifting your left arm above your waist, the second mentions avoiding crossing your legs. As the gestures are so common, controlling them can be surprisingly difficult. Our bodies "live their own lives" and small everyday motions come naturally. When you're thinking, your fingers may fidget with your pen. When you sit down, you'll adjust yourself to your favorite position. When you're feeling puzzled, you may start running your fingers through your hair. When your spouse walks by, you may give him a little pat on his bum, etc. Being aware of your own gestures brings along an extra loop of thinking to your daily life, even when there is only one gesture you are focusing on avoiding. When you're focusing on gestures that are usually controlled not by thought, but "come from your spine", you are also training your mind to be more focused and alert. You can use the horse-training part of Jugorum to train yourself out of addictions and other so called bad habits, but the results may be considerably weaker than using the same exercise for culling out automatic gestures for a week or more. If you're a caffeine addict, a cup of coffee may well feel worth the punishment you get from slipping. When it comes to bad habits, you are usually aware of them even before the exercise, so focusing your mind to concentrate on something you don't usually think about doesn't happen. This exercise of gestures or motions helps to heighten awareness of your own body and to train it to act more according to your will. Extending your consciousness to the smallest gestures of your body fine-tunes not only your mind, but also your body to be better in using magick. Many rituals include certain gestures and signs, which aren't there only to bring flamboyance to the ritual and to help the Mage to move from one point to another. By fine- tuning your mind to be more aware of your body, you can gain more understanding of these gestures and make them more meaningful for you. You aren't just doing the gestures or signs, you are starting to be more aware of them and to experience their meanings on a practical level, instead of just reading the meaning of a gesture from a book and thinking in some level of your consciousness the meaning if it while doing it. Furthermore, gestures and signs used in rituals may appear in your dreams while doing this exercise, giving you more information about themselves, possibly providing you with better insight than before. ===== ===== Ox, Thoughts ===== Rule thy Thought! Jugorum includes two differing exercises for training the mind. The first one is similar to those controlling speech and action: you are avoiding thinking about a certain subject and everything connected with it. You're advised to pick a target you are usually thinking about rather often, something that sensory input or other people's conversations stir in your mind frequently. The other example given differs from the earlier ones. This one advises you to create two clearly different personalities (A and B) for yourself. What personality is "on", is defined with some type of tool, for example by switching a ring from one finger to another. The created personalities should be distinct, with the main features being connected to the basic needs of life. When the ring is on the Person A's finger, you shouldn't let any Person B's thoughts to enter your mind and vice versa. In Crowley's example person A is passionate, skilled in Qabalah, a vegetarian and "reactionary" politician. Person B, in turn, is an ascetic thinker, occupied with work and family, eats meat and progressive politician. You can choose the opposites better suiting yourself by looking at everyday issues important to you and then dividing your opinions in two camps. In effect, you can choose between a paradox and a paradigm. The paradox is created by completely avoiding thinking about something, but still being aware of it. The paradigm is connected to controlling the paradigms of two different personalities, without unbalancing your own mind. The mind is the most important tool of the Mage, so training it shouldn't be considered of minor importance. Looking closer at the example exercises given by Crowley, you can spot benefits of doing the ox-part of Jugorum to your magick usage. Shutting a certain subject out of your mind trains yourself to be able to shut out of the reality of your mind thoughts, thought patterns and frames of mind that could be negative from the point of view of your different magickal workings. Having trained with working with two different "I"s, you may be better able to "put on your Mage's personality" when you switch from everyday reality to the reality of magick use, helping with the change of the state of consciousness for those who do not differentiate between everyday life and magick, too. With the paradigm exercise you can also allow your more skeptical sides to exist without disturbing the usage and results of magick. You do not need to cull your skepticism -- that doesn't pay, it is a useful too -- when you can allow it to manifest, separately from the strong belief in magick while practicing. ===== ===== Tools of Control ===== Earlier on, I mentioned the punishment you get from slipping. The main tool of control in Jugorum is very primitive -- physical punishment you are giving yourself. In addition to this, you should keep a diary on your exercise. The advice given by Crowley is grim: "On each occasion you slip to say/do/think that what you have sworn to avoid, cut yourself sharply on the wrist or arm with a razor blade." Advancement is monitored in two ways: "Your arm then serves you both as a warning and as a record. You should write down your daily practices, until you are perfectly vigilant at all times." (Quotes paraphrased.) Perfectly vigilant. That is, no avoidable words should come from your lips or your pen, no forbidden gestures from your body, nor uprooted thoughts should enter your mind. Razor blade as a punishment is very demanding and most people who do Jugorum exercises aren't using it. The most common form of punishment seems to be a rubber band around the wrist. When you slip, you snap the rubber band, hard. I have used that method and while doing my first exercise, I sometimes considered switching to the razor blade method as a less painful option... Other methods I've heard or read about include a pocket-size gizmo which gives electric shocks (which truly isn't advisable!), slapping yourself on the cheek and one apparently very effective method (probably due to the embarrassment factor included) of dropping down to do push-ups no matter where you happen to be. Some consider the embarrassment you get from knowing you've slipped to be punishment enough. If you choose to use rubber band or other methods of punishments that do not leave marks on your skin, the "book keeping effect" (counting the number of mistakes from your own skin and comparing different times of doing Jugorum with each others) is lost. The rubber band will leave red marks, but they are hard or even impossible to count. However, you can take to carrying a pen and drawing a line on your arm after each punishment. You can then mark down the lines into your diary daily and keep an eye on your development this way. ===== ===== Notes ===== [1] Liber III vel Jugorum is a class D publication, official rituals and instructions, in the classification of Thelemic literature. [12] ========= ========= ARTICLE: THE BUNNY AND THE RABBIT ========= A Spiritual Fable for Adults ========= by MoonSongstress ========= Once upon a time there was a bunny. She lived with the Smith family. Well, when I say lived with them, she had her own spacious, multi-story hutch in the garden with a large bunny run full of grass to play in. Food was plentiful, the carrots were fresh and crunchy and she could see the beautiful blue sky from her bunny run. Life was good. One day, just as the bunny was finishing her first ear polish of the day there was a tremendous commotion. The wooden sides of the bunny run began to quake in a most alarming manner and there was the loud scraping noise of claws on wood. Something was coming into her run. The bunny sat as still as only rabbits know how and looked round carefully with quick, darting eyes. It didn't take her long to see who the intruder was because a bunny run is not an easy place to hide in. The intruder was another bunny. "Hello," said the intruder. "Hello," said the bunny. She had been feeling a bit lonely in her bunny run all by herself. "Who are you?" said the bunny. "I'm a rabbit" said the intruder. "Oh, another bunny," said the bunny. "No," said the rabbit, "I'm a rabbit, wild and free. I live in a warren in the Greenwood" she continued. "What's the Greenwood?" said the bunny. "Ooh the Greenwood," said the rabbit, "is very beautiful and very big. It is full of winding paths that stretch so far that you can never find the end of them, no matter how hard you try. The Greenwood has lots of creatures living in it. Some are tiny like beetles and some are massive like foxes and they all live together in the Greenwood. The trees in the Greenwood spread their mighty branches up to touch the sky and they are so tall that you cannot see the tops. The trees change with the seasons. In spring-time their translucent green leaves shine and grow in the light of the sun. By midsummer they have become large and strong, shading us from the bright sunlight. No need to get sunburnt ears when you have a tree for a friend." She said, smiling. "When Autumn comes all the leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow and red before falling to the ground like rustling raindrops. The fallen leaves give the above-land creatures shelter through the harsh iciness of winter but all the wild rabbits are snug and warm, nestling underground in our big warren. The trees stand like black skeletons in the wintertime, never hiding from the cold and frost like we have to." The rabbit continued. Then she paused for a moment and her eyes became glazed with thought. Suddenly she said, "The Greenwood can be a very dangerous place because there are always lots of creatures who would like to eat you, but it is the most beautiful place on earth and we rabbits are safe in our warren beneath the ground." "This is all very interesting," said the bunny, "Would you like to stay for breakfast? I have some nice, crunchy carrots and lots of the green grass that grows so well in my bunny run." she added temptingly. After all, it did get very lonely living in a bunny run all by herself. "No thanks," said the rabbit, "I must be getting on. The Greenwood calls you know. I'm just visiting and I must get back." "Glad to have met you," said the bunny. "I hope I'll see you again if I'm ever passing this way.," said the rabbit. And with that she flexed her back legs and gave a massive leap upwards, out of the bunny run and was gone. The bunny looked around her bunny run for a moment, gave her ears an absent minded polish and then said, "What a liar! Greenwood! How preposterous!" and went back to preparing her breakfast, sure in the knowledge that nothing could possibly be bigger than the bunny run in the Smith family's garden. Copyright (c) MoonSongstress 2002 [13] ========= ========= COLUMN: TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === Gill Tarot === by Elizabeth Josephine Gill Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880794496 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/gillpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880794496/thecauldron I must say I like the colors of this deck.Unfortunately, I don't like much else about it. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad deck. It's just not for me. Gill Tarot follows the Rider Waite style of order and naming with only a few exceptions.The magician is a woman, the high priestess is simply the priestess and the heirophant is the priest. Court cards are princess, prince, queen and king.Suits are swords, wands, cups and discs. Pips are not illustrated, but show the number of the suit, sort of in the Marseilles style. Keywords are printed on all cards except the majors. Cards measure about 3.25 by 4.25 inches and handle very well. This is the perfect size for me. Card stock is very good as well. I bought my deck second hand, and it appears to be quite durable. It's hard for me to recommend this deck or not recommend it, as it just doesn't speak to me. I'm sure it will speak to some, so check it out. Collectors will want it, as we want them all!! === === Glow in the Dark Tarot === Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1999 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 1572812044 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/glowpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572812044/thecauldron This is a fabulous idea! This deck actually glows in the dark. It's a major arcana deck only, but I hope someone does the minors soon! The illustrations are the same as the Rider-Waite deck, except in black and white. I use them for meditation and dreamwork purposes. I meditate on a card before bed, then leave it on my nightstand. When I get up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water (or whatever), the card is glowing and brings my focus back to it. It works wonders! The cards measure about 2.75 by 4 inches and handle well. They are not stiff, but aren't flimsy either. I don't shuffle my deck, since the ink (or process) they use to make the cards glow adds texture to the cards. I'm worried that some of the iridescent (or is it phosphorescent) ink will rub or wear off. I recommend this deck for everyone, but especially for those who meditate on their cards or use their cards in the dark for any reason. === === Goddess Tarot === by Kris Waldherr Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1997 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 1572810661 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/goddesspics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572810661/thecauldron I don't really feel qualified to critique this deck, since I don't follow a Goddess-based faith. Therefor, I'm just going to describe the deck. This is a Goddess-based system of Tarot. The majors are each attributed to a certain goddess. The majors are: 0, Beginnings, Tara; I, Magic, Isis; II, Wisdom, Sarasvati; III, Fertility, Estsanatlehi; IV, Power, Freyja; V, Tradition, Juno; VI, Love, Venus; VII, Movement, Rhiannon; VIII, Justice, Athena; IX, Contemplation, Chang O; X, Fortune, Lakshmi; XI, Strength, Oya; XII, Sacrifice, Kuan Yin; XIII, Transformation, Ukemochi; XIV, Balance, Yemana; XV, Temptation, Nyai Loro Kidul; XVI, Oppression, the Wawalak; XVII, the Star, Inanna; XVIII, the Moon, Diana; XIX, the Sun, the Zorya; XX, Judgment, Gwenhwyfar; XXI, the World, Gaia. The pips are illustrated with women and the suit throughout. The illustrations are lovely. Courts are king, queen, prince and princess. All the men look very feminine. This is a very feminine deck. The cards measure about 3.5 by 4.75 inches, which is a bit large for me to handle easily. With practice, it shouldn't be a problem unless you have small hands. The stock is perfect for my tastes ... not too stiff but not flimsy either. They will hold up to regular use. I have a couple of friends who use this deck and really like it. I can't connect to it very well, since I'm not of that faith. I do find it quite lovely, and am very happy to have it in my collection. I recommend the book which came with my deck, called "The Goddess Tarot," for anyone who gets the deck. It explains in detail the reason for the associations between the majors and their Goddesses. === === Golden Dawn Tarot === by Robert Wang Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1978 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0913866164 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/gdpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0913866164/thecauldron This deck is "based upon the esoteric designs of the secret Order of the Golden Dawn." The majors follow the Rider-Waite style of order and names. The pips are more in the Marseilles style in that only the number of the suit is shown, except that this deck also shows hands, clouds and flowers or petals on the pips. Courts are king, queen, prince and princess. The majors are rich with symbolism. The cards are about 3 by 5 inches, which is a little large for me to handle easily. Unless you have small hands, it should be easy enough to get used to. The stock is not too stiff and not too flimsy. The cards are durable and will stand up to heavy use. I got my deck second hand, and it's still in excellent shape. I recommend this deck for those who follow the Order of the Golden Dawn's esoteric system (naturally), collectors, and intermediate to advanced readers. Because the pips aren't illustrated with symbolism, I don't really recommend it for novices. ===== ===== About This Column ===== TarotDeevah's column will feature monthly articles or reviews selected from her web site or written for this newsletter. You can find TarotDeevah's web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/home.html [14] ========= ========= HUMOR: THE NEO-WICCAN AND THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST ========= Author Unknown ========= Reconstructionist: You know ancient Pagans probably wouldn't have consistently stopped and picked up every piece of litter they see on the road. Neo-Wiccan: They wouldn't have to. Reconstructionist: Why not? Neo-Wiccan: There wasn't any litter in ancient times. Reconstructionist: How do you know that? Neo-Wiccan: In the ancient days when everyone was Pagan, no one would litter because they all loved the Goddess. Reconstructionist: Where did you get that idea? Neo-Wiccan: Scott Cunningham said so. Reconstructionist: How does he know what the ancients did or didn't do all the time? Neo-Wiccan: He has an ancient Wiccan lineage which has told him of the old ways. Reconstructionist: How can a fifty year old religion have an ancient lineage to a time when it didn't exist? Neo-Wiccan: You're just trying to persecute me because you don't love the Goddess. Reconstructionist: What goddess? Neo-Wiccan: The Goddess!! You heathen. Reconstructionist: Yes, I am a heathen, but still, there was litter and graffiti in Rome. Neo-Wiccan: We all come from the Goddess Reconstructionist: What, which goddess do you mean? Neo-Wiccan: And to her we shall return Reconstructionist: Which ancient peoples believed that? Neo-Wiccan: All of them Reconstructionist: What's your source? Neo-Wiccan: Silver Ravenwolf Reconstructionist: Where did she get her degree? Neo-Wiccan: Lord Serphant Stone Reconstructionist: Is that a private college? Is it accredited? Who sits on their ancients faculty? Neo-Wiccan: No, you need to love the Goddess, stop persecuting me. You're such a Christian. Reconstructionist: No, I'm a heathen. what sources are listed in Prof. Ravenwolf's bibliography. Neo-Wiccan: Mama Silver learned from spirit. Reconstructionist: Which spirit? do you mean her personal genius? Neo-Wiccan: She is a genius when it comes to spells and witch books Reconstructionist: What? Who? Witchcraft like Thessaly, or like Aradia, or like Seithcraft? Neo-Wiccan: Like the Goddess? Reconstructionist: Which goddess? Neo-Wiccan: THE GODDESS! Reconstructionist: What myth does she appear in? Neo-Wiccan: All of them. Reconstructionist: What is your source? [15] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum was founded in December 1997 to provide a friendly but serious discussion area for Pagans on the Internet. We've grown a bit over the years. We now have an active message area, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including well over 150 book and divination deck reviews), and a monthly email newsletter. To continue to provide and expand these services, The Cauldron needs lots of volunteer help from our members and supporters. Here are some of the things members and supporters can do to help The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum thrive: ===== ===== Actively Participate In Our Message Board ===== While our Delphi message board welcomes readers, we encourage members to actively participate by posting their comments and views in our discussions. One of the easiest ways to help The Cauldron is to actively participate in our message board. 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You can donate by using the Amazon Honor System button below (we get about 85% of what you donate). http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ===== ===== Amazon Purchases ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receives a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/fradambooks.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to 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.) [17] ========= ========= 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) 2003 by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. Copyrights on individual items in this newsletter are retained by their author, please contact the editors if you need to contact an author for permission to reprint an article and the editors will do their best to put you in touch with him or her. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ===== ===== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS ===== You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter via your web browser at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cauldronandcandle/join Or you can unsubscribe via email by sending a blank message to cauldronandcandle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Be sure to send this message from the email account actually subscribed to the newsletter. If you have trouble unsubscribing by email, please use the web browser method mentioned above. If you need to change your subscription to a new email address, unsubscribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. Note that you have to make these changes yourself. Yahoo Groups does not allow the list owner to make them for you. ===== ===== NEWSLETTER WEB SITE AND BACK ISSUE ARCHIVE ===== The Cauldron and Candle web site contains information on this newsletter and an archive of back issues. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ===== ===== PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE ===== If you have Pagan friends who you believe would be interested in Cauldron and Candle please invite them to subscribe. You can either drop them a note yourself or -- better yet -- send them one of The Cauldron's email postcards with the information. You are also welcome to forward a copies of this newsletter to interested friends and associates provided you forward the entire newsletter. ===== ===== SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ===== Don't forget that your suggestions for this newsletter are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to LyricFox (lyricfox@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

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