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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #42 -- December 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: Lykeios [03] Cauldron News [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] Earth Magic [05-2] Pagans and the Law [05-3] 2003 Wicca Almanac [05-4] Magical Meditations [05-5] Tarot for Beginners [05-6] Essential Energy Balancing II [05-7] Signs, Symbols and Omens [06] Received For Review (with Mini-Reviews) [07] Articles: [07-1] The Matrix of Connection [07-2] JOLT: An Exercise for Partners [08] Columns [08-1] TarotDeevah on the Tarot [08-2] Humor: Ineffective Daily Affirmations [08-3] Software Watch: ieSpell [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] Stopping Youth Violence Before It Starts [09-2] Fire Safety Tips For Your Home [09-3] Stop Singing The Winter Blues [09-4] Prepare For Rough Weather Driving [09-5] Resolutions: Simple Tips To Help Keep Them [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: December 20, 2003 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum celebrates our SIXTH BIRTHDAY this month. We opened our doors on December 10, 1997 but due to a Delphi glitch only Elspeth and I could post until December 13th, so we count December 13th as our official birthday. I hope you will visit our message board and help us celebrate our sixth birthday on December 13th. It's hard to believe that our message board has been open and running for six years. We've gone through a lot in that time and have somehow managed to survive. Although we will be facing our biggest challenge yet in 2004, we hope our message board will be around for many years to come. You are probably wondering what "big challenge" I'm talking about. It's actually very good news. After a much longer engagement than we had ever planned, LyricFox and I should be (barring disasters) moving a house in Waco from our current widely separated locations and getting married early in 2004. This will greatly cut down the time we have available to spend on the message board. We certainly hope the board will survive this change, but whether it does or not will depend on mostly on our members. Finally, I'd like to add a "Happy Holidays" to the "Happy Birthday." Whatever holidays you celebrate this season, I hope they will be full of joy and peace -- and that 2004 will be a good year for us all. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= POEM: LYKEIOS ========= by Todd Jackson (in honor of Apollo) ========= http://www.winterscapes.com/apollopoetry/main.htm ========= Who, but the God who strikes dead shall be Physician? Who, but He who strikes the living down shall be most beautiful? Who, other than He whose name recalls Destroyer Shall be fit to battle with the Furies? Who else, God of prophecy, But the very God who draws the bow? His Sister, and closest blood, the Huntress. His Son, who would revive the slain. So that when the God and Eros contest before Daphne That is Love-and Death-contesting. Yes. And poetry. No wonder that He shines so. [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Top Poster -- November 2003 ===== The Cauldron's message board had 7036 posts in November. Gyrochaos (GYROCHAOS) had the most posts of any non-staff member in November and snagged our monthly "top poster" award. Our Runner Up was Karen (STARGLADE). Dragonoake (DRAGONOAKE), Pillywiggins (TINUVIEL3), Vash (VASHNEVSKAYA), and Celeste (CELESTE621) gave Karen a very close race for that runner up spot. ===== ===== Support The Cauldron As You Shop Online this Holiday Season ===== Shop Via Our Amazon.com and Cauldron Mall Links ===== The holiday shopping season is definitely here. If you are planning to shop online for family and friends, you can help fund The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum as you shop by shopping at Amazon.com and other stores in our mall via the links on our web site. Each time you visit Amazon.com or one of our mall stores from a link on The Caldron's web site and make a purchase, a small percentage of your purchase price will go to The Cauldron to fund our web site and other expenses -- and it will not cost you a penny extra. New this month: Our Cheap Web Hosting Report! If you are tired of putting up with the limitations of your ISP's web hosting or the ads and limitations of the free web hosting services, you'll find a selection of popular, powerful, and affordable web hosts here. Shop at Amazon.com http://www.ecauldron.com/amazon.php Shop at the Cauldron Mall http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php Find an Affordable Web Host http://www.ecauldron.com/cheapwebhosting/index.php ===== ===== New Special Topic Chat Logs Available ===== The Cauldron's "Special Topic Chats" (Tuesdays 8-10 PM US Eastern Time) have been very popular thanks to all the effort Koi, Shadow, and other staff members have put into them. We are trying to log these chats and make those logs available on our web site for those who cannot attend. Logs of the following additional "Special Topic Chats" are available in the Chat Logs section of our web site: === 2003 Samhain Ritual The chat log for our October 30th Samhain ritual is now available on The Cauldron's web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/chatlog20031030.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 150 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting discussions from the last month. It's not too late to join in. Thanks to Bloglet, you can now receive an email every night on days we post new site news items to the main page of The Cauldron's web site. These emails contain a link to the new item and the first couple of lines of the news text. You can sign up for Bloglet's free news delivery via the form at the end of the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web page. === === What Does Your Religion Say About Suicide? === We've covered the subject of afterlives in general several times recently, I think, but here's a little twist on it that I don't think we've really talked about. Suicide. Does your religion have any teachings regarding what happens if you commit suicide? Are there penalties in the afterlife, or is it just something that happens sometimes, or...? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11557.1 === === Carols You Love To Hate === I'm sure some of you braved the crowds and managed to get in some shopping today. It seems like the day after Thanksgiving is the date the stores and radio stations start queuing up their selection of holiday tunes... and lets face it, some of them are just awful. So, what is (are) the Christmas carol you just absolutely cannot stand? For me, it's "The Little Drummer Boy" in all its incarnations. IMO, there's not a one of them that's worth a damn, and it seems every store I walk into has to play it at least once when I'm there. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11554.1 === === A Deity By Any Other Name...? === Have you ever met someone who professes to follow the same deity you do, but gotten the distinct impression that you and they were not interacting with the same being at all? Perhaps that came in the form of, "That is not (deity)!" or perhaps it was "Well, I guess that could be (deity), but certainly is very different from the (deity) I know." If you've had this happen, did you discuss it with the other person, with the deity in question, or do anything else about it? Or did you just notice and move on? (I guess the point of those last couple of questions is, how did you handle it?) And, since I'm so inquisitive tonight, how about the flip side -- ever met someone who seems to be following the same deity you are, but uses a different name for said deity? (Completely different, I mean, not just another form of the same name.) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11551.1 === === Paganism Causes Teen Promiscuity? === As I came out of the bathroom yesterday, I heard the preacher on one of the TV church services my mother sometimes watches (well, has on for the music in this case as she reads through the guy's weird sermons) tell his congregation that STUDIES have shown that teens who read books on Wicca, witchcraft, and other Pagan religions are more likely to have sex before marriage and are much more likely be "promiscuous sluts". I'm not sure what his point was because after ranting about the evils of Paganism and pre-marital sex for a couple of minutes he somehow moved right into the rapture and weird end times theology with no transition at all. Naturally, he did not feel the need to actually mention which studies show this. Has anyone seen any studies showing that Pagan teens are any more likely to be sexually active than non-Pagan teens? How about studies that show this is true of teens who have simply read a book on Paganism? I haven't seen any, but that doesn't prove anything. What do you think? Do you think teen Pagans more likely to sexually active (or even promiscuous) than non-Pagan teens? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11452.1 === === Expected Afterlife? Just How Does This Work? === I hear a lot that we "go to the afterlife we expect". What I'm wondering is: how the heck does that work, and why? Do the Gods just allow us to pick? Is there one preferred afterlife, but some humans are too stubborn to go there? Is it multiple names for the same place? Who's belief trumps? God, or human? Do only those people that believe in it reincarnate? and if so, how does that work? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11396.1 === === Comments on Proselytizing Methods Wanted === I'm a member of an evangelical Christian church. Our religious beliefs require us to save as many souls as possible from the lake of fire, yet many of the people we approach now refuse to even listen to our message. They call us rude or obnoxious and close their minds to the truth. However, our methods don't seem rude to us. We seem to be blind to the causes of the problem. My church decided to ask the various groups we target what we are doing wrong and how they think we could carry out the great commission without offending. As I've read this message board occasionally, I volunteered to ask Pagans and the hosts of this board have graciously agreed to allow the questions. As I do not want to taint your input with arguments, I will not be replying to your answers. I will be reading and copying your messages for our evangelism committee to read and study. I can promise that each and every reply to these questions will be read and considered. Our questions are simple: 1) What do Christians do when they proselytize that you see as rude or offensive? 2) What can Christians do to spread the Gospel in a positive and non-offensive manner? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11386.1 === === What Do You Need to Buy as a Pagan? === We've been having the discussion about supporting local pagan merchants vs on-line pagan merchants in another thread. This made me wonder just what do you think you need to own/have to properly worship as: * an individual? * a small group (3 to 25) of you (coven, demos, grove)? * a large group (over 50 people)? Please indicate what religion you are talking about (such as Wicca, type of recon, Catholic, etc.) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11357.1 === === Assignments From Deities === Every once in a while a poster here (or elsewhere) will mention that they have been told (or sometimes asked) by a deity to do something. Has this ever happened to you? What sort of things have you been told/asked to do? I'm also curious as to whether anyone's ever been asked to do something that, for whatever reason, they just couldn't or wouldn't do. If so and it's not too personal, can you tell us a little bit about what it was and how you responded to that? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11314.1 === === Online Pagan Shopping and Guilt === Do you buy Pagan or magick supplies online from some of the online supply shops (e.g. Azuregreen, Earthspirits, Whispered Prayers)? If so, which online shops or shops do you use (and why that shop)? If you shop online and there is a local Pagan or New Age Shop near you, why do you elect to shop online rather than at the local store -- and do you feel guilty for doing so? Do other Pagans in your area try to make you feel guilty for not supporting the local store? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11299.1 === === Is Religious Belief an Acceptable Excuse for Prejudice? === A friend asked me these questions. I'm curious as to what everyone here thinks: 1. If a person acts upon prejudices, but these prejudices are caused by sincere religious beliefs, is he or she still deserving of the title of "bigot"? 2. If a person's prejudice is based on sincere religious beliefs should he/she be exempt from the law for acting on them? such as... housing, hiring, stopping abortions, other religions such as Pagan/Witchcraft intolerance? 3. Do you believe religion should interfere in these matters? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11273.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: EARTH MAGIC ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Earth Magic: A Book of Shadows for Positive Witches Author: Marion Weinstein Trade Paperback, 223 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: April 2003 ISBN: 1564146383 US Retail Price: $13.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146383/thecauldron I never saw the first, 1980, edition of Earth Magic. According to the author, it was intended for a limited audience and she had to be persuaded to release it for wider distribution. When that expanded edition was released in 1986, I bought a copy and found it valuable although even then I was no longer truly on a Wiccan path. The book has apparently been revised and expanded a few times since then, although this latest revision is the first I've looked at since I bought my 1986 edition. One of the most noticeable changes is the title of the book. Previous editions of this book were titled Earth Magic: A Dianic Book of Shadows. Weinstein meant to convey the fact that her primary alignment was with the Goddess Diana. Unfortunately, the term "Dianic" has come to narrowly refer to Goddess-worshipping feminist female witches, so Weinstein has elected to change the title to Earth Magic: A Book of Shadows for Positive Witches with this edition. I think this is a good move that will prevent a lot of confusion. I was very happy to see that although a lot of new material has been added to this book over the years, all of the original material from my 1986 edition is still there in this 2003 edition. It may have moved around a bit and is often better presented, but nothing seems to have been left out. The first part of Earth Magick is what one would expect of a Book of Shadows, information on the deities, the tools, covens, and holidays. Next come chapters on various types of magick: cord and string magick, animal and spirit familiars, visualization, contacting the dead, and protection magick. Some will complain that this book glosses over the details. Perhaps it does, but it was first written back when people were expected to be able to take the basics and develop their own rituals instead of having scripts handed to them. It's also a Book of Shadows, not an introduction to Wicca text. The second part of this book, "Advanced Work," is the most interesting part -- and the part that kept my 1986 edition on my shelves all these years. The first chapter in this section, "Aspects of Self," deals with the idea that while we have many different lives they are effectively simultaneous from the point of view of the self and how to deal with those various aspects of oneself. To be honest, I never could quite buy this hypothesis, but it is an interesting way to view reality. This is followed by a short chapter that wasn't in my previous edition on working in an astral castle. The last chapter in this section, "Advanced Manifestation," is as extension of the affirmation magick Weinstein teaches in her Positive Magic book. This edition of Earth Magic concludes with several short chapters that touch briefly on subjects like the true self, ethics and choices, and remembering to serve the community as well as oneself. Chapter notes, a bibliography and an index complete this book. I'd really like to recommend this book strongly, but there are two reasons why I cannot. First, I'm simply not sure that this book will be as useful to the average Wiccan as it was when it first came out in the 1980s. Second, in a three page section of the Protection chapter entitled "History and Mystery," the author knowingly chooses to perpetuate discredited historical claims. Apparently upset that the old commonly accepted number of people killed during the "Burning Times" (9 million) has been reduced by scholarship to less than 150,000, she says that the exact numbers do not matter because: "An entire religion was virtually stamped out. The sacred Books of Shadows were all burned.... The Goddess and all She stands for was gone -- or at least absent from society for almost a millennium." I'm sorry, but Margaret Murray's hypothesis of the persecution of an actual "witchcult" surviving from pre-Christian times was shown to be incorrect over 60 years ago. We do not need more new books today telling Wiccans this type of outdated and discredited material. There simply is no excuse for it. (And when did Books of Shadows become sacred texts like the Bible or the Koran?) Overall, the latest edition of Earth Magic: A Book of Shadows for Positive Witches is a fair book with one truly major flaw. It will be of interest to many Wiccans, especially for the second, "Advanced Work," part. But this book is no longer the must-have book it once was. This edition would have been a much better book if the three "History and Mystery" pages mentioned above had been left out. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkemr.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: PAGANS AND THE LAW ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Pagans and the Law: Understand Your Rights Author: Dana D. Eilers Trade Paperback, 256 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: July 2003 ISBN: 1564146715 US Retail Price: $15.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146715/thecauldron Pagans and the Law: Understanding Your Rights is the first book written by a lawyer but aimed at normal mortals I've seen that attempts to explain the rights Pagans (and non-Pagans for that matter) have in the United States with respect to religious freedom and religious discrimination. The author, Dana E. Eilers, has spend 17 years in private civil practice. Realistically, but unfortunately, the first chapter is on how to find a lawyer willing and able to take your case if you need one. This chapter points out what I see as the biggest hole in the American system of civil rights, you really only have the rights you have the large sums of cash you need to pay a lawyer to enforce. If you can't come up with the cash, you really don't have any way to enforce your rights. While I think this is a huge flaw in the US legal system, it's not Ms. Eilers' fault. Assuming you have the money, this chapter guides you through the process of finding and working with an attorney should you be unfortunate enough to need one. From watching my lawyer clients work (I'm a computer consultant) over the years, I think the advice in this chapter is excellent. The second chapter briefly explains how the various state and federal court systems work in the US. Given that each state has its own ways of doing things, this chapter is fairly general, but shows how complex even a simple case can become once it gets in the system. With the exception of a short final chapter on God and government, the rest of the book deals with specific types of issues: First Amendment issues, child custody issues, employment discrimination, landlord/tenant issues, and land use issues. Each is discussed in considerable detail with numerous examples from case law. These examples come with appropriate legal case citations which make this book very useful if you ever need to hire a lawyer for a religious rights case as a lot of legal work seems to consist of finding similar cases from the past to use in legal arguments. Despite all the citations, Pagans and the Law tries hard to be both readable and understandable by those without a law degree -- and generally succeeds. There are 39 pages of chapter notes and bibliography at the end of the book. While these are mainly case citations, there are some useful to laymen books, articles and web sites included. The book is indexed. Pagans and the Law: Understanding Your Rights belongs on the shelf of every Pagan and should be required reading for everyone who claims to be a Pagan leader (and probably for every minority religious leader who isn't scared off by the word "Pagan" in the title). Eilers has done a remarkable job of making understandable legal information on religious rights available to members of minority religions in the United States. Even if legal issues bore you, this is a book you should consider buying as a form of insurance. You pray that you never need to use any of the information in it, but know that having it at hand will make life so much easier if you ever do need it. If you buy it, resist the urge to simply put it on your "just in case" shelf unread. Take the time to read through it and find out just what rights you have -- and don't have, as not all the "rights" you hear about in Pagan discussion areas actually exist. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkpatl.php [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: WICCA: 2003 WICCA ALMANAC ========= Reviewed by Reni ========= 2003 Wicca Almanac Editor: Michael Fallon Trade Paperback, 288 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: February 2003 ISBN: 0738702943 US Retail Price: $7.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702943/thecauldron I didn't expect to like the 2003 Wicca Almanac nearly as much as I did. The title alone made me wary. I expected it to be another diatribe on the Wiccan faith, almost completely alienating other forms of Paganism and Witchcraft. What I found instead was a book of (mostly) well-written personal pieces on many different topics. In total, the book contains twenty-six articles in six different categories. Article topics were of general interest to Pagans, Wiccans, and others of "alternative spirituality". I have articles that I like more than others, but there were none that I distinctly disliked. The majority of the articles seemed to be well-researched with resources listed where applicable. As much as I liked this book, there were moments at which I was disappointed with it. The title of the book gives a different connotation from what is actually contained within. As much as I enjoy the essays of others, it seems that the groupings were rather loosely formed. There is no sense of connection between the articles. The almanac section was pretty standard (running from Spring 2003 to Spring 2004), but it did include small news articles at the end of each month. Overall, I did enjoy the 2003 Wicca Almanac. Will I buy it again next year? Probably not. I can find similar articles through discussion groups and other means. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bk2003wicca2.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: MAGICAL MEDITATIONS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Magical Meditations: Guided Imagery for the Pagan Path Author: Yasmine Galenorn Trade Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: Crossing Press Publication date: September 2003 ISBN: 1580911552 US Retail Price: $16.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580911552/thecauldron Guided meditations have long been a tool of esoteric study. They allow an experienced guide to take a group of students through an otherworldly experience (for example, an exploration of the Qabalistic Tree of Life or an element) that ensures the student is in the right place, but allows each student to experience and interact on his or her own. In Magical Meditations: Guided Imagery for the Pagan Path, Yasmine Galenorn has attempted to provide a series of guided meditations that less experienced guides can use. Except for a few pages of introductory matter and a short chapter on meditation, this book consists of the text of 18 guided meditations ready for the reader to read for a group or to record with a tape recorder for individual use. Each of the meditations comes with guidelines for its use (including a pronunciation guide, if necessary) and some suggested exercises for further work. The first two meditations deal with cleansing and protecting and grounding and centering. These are generally useful regardless of ones religion. These two are followed by meditations on each of the four elements, each of the eight Wiccan Sabbats, and meditations Artemis, Pele, Taliesin, and the Underworld. Despite the "for the Pagan Path" in the title, the meditations in this book are mostly aimed at Wiccans or those following a Wiccan-like religion. An Asatruar or a Kemetic Pagan, for example, does not celebrate the Wiccan sabbats or deal with any of the deities from this book. The meditations themselves are well thought out and generally well-written. They are designed to be spoken aloud. This seems obvious, but I've seen guided meditation texts where the author seems to have forgotten this important point. For the most part, these meditations seem to flow nicely and should work well if read by someone skilled at reading aloud. Those who use these guided meditations will be affected by them. If you are part of a Wiccan (or Wiccan-like) Pagan group and would like to use guided meditations in your group work but don't really have the skills to design and write your own, Magical Meditations: Guided Imagery for the Pagan Path would be an excellent way to start. For solitaries, I don't really know what to say. I've never had much luck recording a meditation and then listening to it as I dislike the sound of my voice. If you don't have this problem (or have a friend who could record them for you), you might give this book a try as well. Note, however, that this book is a revision of Trancing the Witch's Wheel. I don't know how much was changed, but if you have that book, you may not need this new edition. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkmmgiftpp.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: TAROT FOR BEGINNERS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Tarot for Beginners: An Easy Guide to Understanding & Interpreting the Tarot Author: P. Scott Hollander Paperback, 384 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: April 1995 ISBN: 1567183638 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567183638/thecauldron There are hundreds of different Tarot decks and, at times, it seems that there are hundreds of Tarot books for beginners. There probably aren't that many books, but if you are new to the Tarot and trying to select a book or two to help you learn to read the cards, it can certainly seem like there are that many to choose from. The late P. Scott Hollander's book, Tarot for Beginners: An Easy Guide to Understanding & Interpreting the Tarot, is apparently a popular choice as over 100,000 copies have been sold since it was first published in 1995. Hollander's book begins with a brief description of the history and use of the Tarot and then jumps right into the cards. Each card in the Major Arcana is well-described with at least three pages of written material describing the appearance of the card in general terms as this book is not deck specific, the esoteric meaning of the card, and the meaning of the card in readings. Black and white pictures of each card in at least three decks accompany the text. The second part of the book covers the Minor Arcana. This portion begins with two fairly long chapters on the general meaning and interpretation of Minor Arcana cards. Then each card is described. If the book falls down anywhere, it is in the descriptions of the individual cards of the Minor Arcana. Most cards only receive one or two pages of specific meaning and reading information, and half of that is usually taken up by pictures of the card. The court cards are generally well- described, but the pips often seem a bit short-changed. The final -- and shortest -- part is on reading the cards. The basic principles are stated and three spreads are presented with a brief sample reading given for each. The first spread is the Celtic Cross (called the "Ancient Celtic Method" here) and it is described in fair detail. The second spread is a 5 card Major Arcana only spread. The third is a 7 card spread designed for yes or no questions. These two spreads are not given nearly the detail that the Celtic Cross spread is given. I really like the fact that multiple tarot decks are used in this book. The ones used in this thirteenth printing are the Universal Tarot, the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Legend Tarot, the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Witches Tarot, and the World Spirit Tarot. This demonstrates the wide variety of card symbolism found in Tarot decks. Given the large number of Tarot decks on the market, this is an excellent practice for a beginner book. The days when it was safe to assume that beginners will be using a Rider-Waite deck are long past. I can see why this book is popular with beginners. It is well- written and enjoyable to read. The large number of decks used in its illustrations is a definite plus. However, I'm bothered by the somewhat skimpy information on the individual Minor Arcana cards. The two introductory chapters on the Minor Arcana somewhat make up for this, but I still suspect that many beginners will find themselves wanting a second book with more complete information on the Minor Arcana. Therefore, I can't recommend Tarot for Beginners: An Easy Guide to Understanding & Interpreting the Tarot as a stand alone book for the complete novice. If one is willing to buy a second book with more complete information on the Minor Arcana, however, this book is a fine introduction to the art of Tarot reading. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktfb.php [05-6] ========= ========= REVIEW: ESSENTIAL ENERGY BALANCING II ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Essential Energy Balancing II Author: Diane Stein Trade Paperback, 172 pages Publisher: Crossing Press Publication date: October 2003 ISBN: 1580911544 US Retail Price: $16.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580911544/thecauldron Diane Stein is probably best known as the author of Essential Reiki, an excellent book on non-traditional Reiki. Therefore, I was really surprised and disappointed by the contents of her latest book, Essential Energy Balancing II: Healing the Goddess. The back cover makes the book look interesting, explaining that the first book in this series covered healing the effects of negative karma suffered on Earth and this book deals with releasing the karma of past lifetimes. There was a bit about releasing karma "through the universe" and bringing Goddesses to live permanently with us, but I ignored that as marketing hype. Sadly, it was not. The first part of this book talks about how the human species originated in other universes and traveled the stars to get here, how various entities from beyond oppose us, and how a few people on Earth, including the author if I'm reading this correctly, have been selected to have Goddesses incarnate within them. The BS detector in the back of my mind was sounding the same type of alarms I get when I read books on UFOs or when I listened to Nixon say he was not a crook. The second part of this book is filled with twenty-four rituals for releasing karma and protecting oneself, the earth, and perhaps the universe from the various evils from beyond. Like Stein's other books, this one has a pronounced feminist slant. If you are a feminist who is into UFOs and is willing to believe all of our problems might be caused by evil entities from beyond our cosmos and their spawn in our universe, this may be just the book you are looking for. Personally, I think it was a waste of trees and is a waste of reading time for most people. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr02.php#eeb2 [05-7] ========= ========= REVIEW: SIGNS, SYMBOLS AND OMENS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Signs, Symbols & Omens Author: Raymond Buckland Trade Paperback, 244 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 2003 ISBN: 073870234X US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870234X/thecauldron In Signs, Symbols & Omens, Raymond Buckland provides an overview of the signs and symbols of 25 different groups as well as information on magickal alphabets and a brief description of omens. Over 800 symbols from religions, magickal traditions, and cultures from around the world are illustrated with line drawings and, in many cases, briefly discussed. Symbols from alchemy, astrology, ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, ceremonial magick, Christianity, Freemasonry, Islam, Rosicrucian, and many others are included. Symbols are grouped in chapters by origin. Each chapter briefly describes the group or culture that created the symbols and provides commentary of some -- but usually not all -- of the symbols depicted. Buckland did the symbol illustrations and they are quite good. I wish the commentary were as good. Unfortunately, from looking at the groups and cultures I'm most familiar with, the commentaries are sometimes incomplete, lack details and context, or give "minority" interpretations of the symbols. Nevertheless, this book can be a useful resource because it covers so many different types of symbols in one volume. The book's bibliography often provides useful references to solid books for further stuff. Academic books are even listed for some of the groups. This book is not a must have by any stretch of the imagination, but it is somewhat more interesting than I expected. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr02.php#ssao ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and many more stores at The Cauldron Shopping Mall. Every purchase from our one of our mall links helps support The Cauldron and this newsletter. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [06] ========= ========= RECEIVED FOR REVIEW ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= The following books and decks have been received for review in November 2003 and may be reviewed more fully 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. The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer (Llewellyn) ISBN: 1567183360 First Glance Comments: This book is 530 pages of encyclopedic articles on western magick and occultism. While I have only looked at a few dozen articles thus far, I'm impressed with Greer's efforts as I picked subjects both prominent (like "Wicca") and obscure (like "electric fluid") and found them well-written and acceptably accurate for an encyclopedia. I suspect my full review will say that this book belongs on the shelf of everyone interested in magick, the occult, or modern Pagan religions, but there's no probably need to wait for the review to get your copy. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567183360/thecauldron Putting the Tarot to Work by Mark McElroy (Llewellyn) ISBN: 073870444X First Glance Comments: I'm breaking my rule against reviewing advance copies again. Mark McElroy does corporate training seminars and has a Tarot practice on the side. This book provides a unique look at using the Tarot in the business world. McElroy tells how he's used the Tarot to aid in career planning, brainstorming, job reviews, building business relationships, and even making presentations -- and he tells how you can do so with special spreads and case studies. With this book, you'll learn how to use the Tarot to get practical business insight -- and in today's economic climate, even a tiny bit of extra insight can make a big difference in the bottom line. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870444X/thecauldron [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= THE MATRIX OF CONNECTION ========= by Conny Jasper ========= Before you were born, you were conceived by the connection of the egg and the sperm. Your cells multiplied many times and stayed connected. And then you connected with your mother's womb. For about nine months, there you stayed connected. When you were born, you were no longer physically connected with your mother, but you were emotionally connected. All of life is connected. The Universe is one great network of connectedness. There is no such thing as separateness. There is only the illusion of separateness. People are able to move about freely, but without the rest of the system they would not exist. We are interdependent with everyone and everything on this Earth. And on a wider scale, with the Universe. Yet our experience of modern life is one of separateness, where we feel further and further removed from each other, from ourselves, and from the natural world. We have become emotionally and spiritually inaccessible to ourselves and to one another. Our ability to reach out and to feel compassion has been impaired. Loneliness and isolation are epidemic in our society. And all this dis-connectedness is causing us a great deal of physical and emotional distress. Our present state of dis-connectedness is caused by many variables, which include abuses by our social institutions, our communities, and our families. And Big Business takes advantage of our loneliness and isolation with their aggressive sales pitches that promise us fulfillment with the purchase and ownership of consumer goods. However, most of these products isolate us even further, since we have to spend time using, maintaining, and working to pay for them. Or we are offered medications which are promised as magic pills that will make our lives all better. When we live with so much dis-connectedness around us, we internalize it and become dis-connected from ourselves. We become desensitized to our own physical and psychological needs. Yet deep inside we still long for love, meaning, and fulfillment. When we are not taught the healthy ways to have love, meaning, and fulfillment, then we seek it in unhealthy ways. Connecting with others begins with connecting with ourselves. And connecting with ourselves means healing ourselves. As we peel away the layers of our wounding, we become more present for ourselves and for others at the same time. We can connect more with who and what is around us. The more that we can support ourselves, the more we can support others. This includes not just people, but animals, plants, and all of the natural world. Because we are not used to being connected, it can feel uncomfortable when we begin to get in touch with it. When connectedness is something that we are not familiar with, there is often a tendency to run away from it. So, in order to have the connections that we want, we need to be aware of our own uneasiness that it brings up. We need to be aware of what prevents us from moving toward genuine bonding, unity, and relationship. When we can recognize those blocks, then we can push them aside and begin moving toward connectedness. When we are aware of our own issues, we are able to connect with others in a mindful way. We also need to be aware of who it is safe for us to connect with, and in what ways we can connect appropriately. Healthy connection must come from a place of inner strength, personal security, and groundedness. Before we can connect in healthy ways, we have to have stable boundaries. When we have healthy boundaries, we know what our limits are for ourselves and with others. We know the distinctions between ourselves and other people. We need to have self-respect, and we need to know that we deserve respect from others. We need to know how to be open to others without being taken advantage of or abused by them. When we have a strong sense of self worth, we can really connect with ourselves. We need to give ourselves acceptance and compassion. We need to accept who we are and where we are psychologically. We need to be able to look at ourselves, and to appreciate what we see, even if it is painful. We need to give ourselves permission to be who we are in any given moment. The more that we are able to do this, the more that we are able to do the same with others. When we are able to accept others where they are, then we can better connect with them. The very basis of connecting is through grounding. Being grounded means being in your body and being connected with the Earth. When you are fully in your body, your awareness is centered in your whole body, and not just in your head. Being grounded and embodied also means taking care of your health, and treating your body as the sacred vessel that it is. We connect with the Earth through Earth-based spiritual practices and by spending time outdoors. We connect by treating the Earth and all of life as sacred. It is also important to connect spiritually and energetically with the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. This can be done through visualization, meditation, and ritual. Whenever you meditate, imagine that you have roots extending down from your body and going down deep into the Earth. And imagine that you have branches stretching upward connecting you with the cosmos. When you become an adult, the Universe becomes your parents. Your caretakers are everywhere around you in the Earth and in the Sky. We modern people must learn to connect with them, trust in them, and allow them to give us love and support. We need to be open to their care and guidance, and in return we must honor them in our prayers, meditations, and rituals. Loneliness and isolation is not the true nature of the Universe, because we are all One. We are all woven together in the energetic fabric of existence. Let us remember and reclaim the matrix of connections. Let us love the being that is We. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHEAP WEB HOSTING REPORT Looking for affordable web hosting with lots of features from popular hosting companies? Check the Cheap Web Hosting Report! http://www.ecauldron.com/cheapwebhosting/index.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [07-2] ========= ========= JOLT: AN EXERCISE FOR PARTNERS ========= by Leafdaughter ========= The game is JOLT, we're working in a duo - both parties need to agree that this is all right before beginning. Each partner gets a turn to play each role, but probably not on the same night. Partner B, the joltee should retire to bed about a half hour before partner A, the sender, joins them. Physical linking, holding a hand -- touching foot to foot will help first timers. After trying this a couple times though the goal is to eventually be able to do it from remote distances. Partner A should begin meditation, nothing in particular, just a nice blank open meditation. The deeper you go the easier it will be, so take your time. Usually to get a good game going it takes me a half hour on top of the half hour my partner has already been asleep. Once you are at the right *level* for lack of a better word, begin collecting energy. Once you get to a level you're comfortable with you push it towards your partner in a wave -- JOLT The response will usually be a big twitch. I envision a motorboat throttle, and I push it up to high -- or the swing controller for playstation golf games. After a few rounds, when you get better at holding at a depth of meditation, you can begin asking questions, based on an already agreed upon yes or no system. For us, a response within a time frame is a yes. Question one: Can you hear me? If the response is affirmative, continue. The next night or after you've both recouped energies -- switch partners. A becomes B and B becomes A. Remember partners work requires ethics. No inside stock trades guys. Happy gaming to you! JOLT!!! [08] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [08-1] ========= ========= TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === Robin Wood Tarot === by Robin Wood Published by Llewellyn Publications Copyright 1991 by Robin Wood ISBN 0875428740 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/woodpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875428740/thecauldron I can't say enough wonderful things about this deck. This is a deck that speaks to almost everyone who picks it up. The images are inspiring and symbolism is readily apparent. This is THE ideal deck for beginners (in my opinion), and is mature enough to be a lifelong deck. This deck follows Rider Waite style of order and naming without deviation. Cards measure about 2.75 by 4.5 inches, which is a bit long for me. Card stock is excellent. The cards have proven to be quite durable. I recommend this deck for all, especially beginners. More advanced readers will love it as well. It makes an excellent primary reading deck. === === Rock Art Tarot === by Jerry Roelen Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1996 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880791470 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/rapics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880791470/thecauldron This deck is just about everything I don't like. Well, actually, it's just the art I hate. The art is in a sort of caveman drawing style, which I dislike immensely. Otherwise, the deck is fine. Rock Art Tarot loosely follows the Rider Waite style, although many modifications have been made. The majors consist of: 0- innocence, 1-illusion, 2-psychic, 3-intuition, 4-logic, 5-wisdom, 6-lovers, 7-journey, 8-strength, 9-meditation, 10-ritual, 11- justice, 12-transition, 13-transformation, 14-harmony, 15- deception, 16-unexpected, 17-terrestrial, 18-evolution, 19- illumination, 20-awakening, 21-eternal. Suits are intellect (swords), intuition (wands), emotions (cups) and sensations (pentacles). Court cards are mankind (king), womankind (queen), peacemaker (knight) and defender (page). Cards measure about 3 by 4.75 inches and are a bit long for me. Card stock is very good, not too thick but not flimsy either. I haven't used my deck at all, but have no reason to doubt their durability. I recommend this deck for those looking for a whole new kind of tarot, for those who love primitive art and collectors. Beginners will have difficulty, as the art doesn't inspire the meaning (even if keywords are present). === === Royal Tarot === Made in Taiwan Copyright 1995 by Kuo Kau Paper Products Co., Ltd ISBN unknown See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/royalpics.JPG Amazon Link: none All I can say about these cards is "cheap knockoff." I can't find an ISBN or author or illustrator or anything. Personally, I don't blame them. I wouldn't want my name on this deck either. Its as if the creator wanted to create a tarot deck without any knowledge of tarot. S/he looked at many decks and tried to make his/her own. Except for the size, it is identical to the Mystic Tarot. The fool is a clown, and his dog is actually attacking him... and that's just the first card. I can't even begin to point out all the errors in this deck. There are even typos in the deck: temperance is number XIY, the sun is number XIL, and on and on. The court cards look the same on every suit, except for minor changes. There isn't even a little white booklet with the deck. On a positive note, I really like the coloring on the majors and courts. Pips are not illustrated. The cards measure about 2.5 by 4.25 inches and handle fairly well. They are a bit long for me, but certainly not longer than many other decks. The stock is a good thickness and will probably be durable. It actually appears to be good stock, and also seems to be cut well. The edges are smooth and even. I cannot recommend this deck to anyone. Symbolism is misleading and the whole deck is almost insulting. This deck must have been designed for the card game, not for what I use tarot for. === === Russian Tarot of Saint Petersburg === by Yury Shakov Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1992 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880795832 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/russianpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880795832/thecauldron Oh, how I love these gilded decks! Against the black backdrop of these cards, the lavish gilding is fabulous. This deck follows the Rider-Waite style with only a few deviations. The tower is called the falling tower, wands are clubs, and pentacles are coins. Even though this deck is large (for me), the art takes up a small space in order to allow for the extensive gilding. I wouldn't mind less gilding and larger pictures (gasp). Cards measure about 2.75 by 4.75 inches, which is large for my hands, but not impossible. Card stock is very good, and these cards will definitely stand up to lots of use. I recommend this deck for anyone who loves gilding, as I do. Collectors will also want to add it to their collection. Beginners should be able to use it, as symbolism is readily apparent. ===== ===== 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 [08-2] ========= ========= INEFFECTIVE DAILY AFFIRMATIONS ========= Humor by "Eggnoramus" ========= Feeling blue or insecure? Losing sight of what's important? Still searching for the real "you"? In this self-help age of soul- searching, daily affirmations have been known to do the trick. But you probably shouldn't try these ... * I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia. * I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault. * I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself. Unless, of course, I want to stay employed. * In some cultures what I do would be considered normal. * Having control over myself is nearly as good as having control over others. * My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of good judgment. * I can change any thought that hurts into a reality that hurts even more. * I honor my personality flaws, for without them I would have no personality at all. * Joan of Arc heard voices too. * I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self- righteous people around me. * I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper and complain. * When someone hurts me, forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit. But not nearly as gratifying. * All of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid and disgusting parts. * I am at one with my duality. * Only a lack of imagination saves me from immobilizing myself with imaginary fears. * I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws. * Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so." * A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem. * I am learning that criticism is not nearly as effective as sabotage. * Becoming aware of my character defects leads me to the next step -- blaming my parents. * I will find humor in my everyday life by looking for people I can laugh at. [08-3] ========= ========= SOFTWARE WATCH: IESPELL ========= By Randall Sapphire ========= Our message board provider, DelphiForums, only offers a spelling checker to those willing to pay for an expensive DelphiPlus account. As that spelling checker works over the Internet, it's often slow or even broken. If you use Windows and Internet Explorer, you have another spelling checker option: the free IE add in called ieSpell. ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a web page. It will do this on all pages with a text entry box (such a blog entry form or webmail), not just DelphiForums messages. It is fast and you can use custom dictionaries easily. ieSpell installs as a new button in the IE toolbar (as well as a new menu item under "Tools") - after filling in a text entry box, just hit the ieSpell button and it pops up a dialog, similar to a word processor's spell check. ieSpell also works for many browsers based on the IE engine (such as CrazyBrowser, MSN Explorer, MyIE, NetCaptor, etc.) although you have to use a menu as the button will not appear. ieSpell is not spyware or adware. It's free for personal use. Commercial use in business, government, etc. requires paying a license fee. I believe dictionaries for a few languages other than English are available, but I'm not sure. As I write this, the current version of Messenger Plus is 2.01. The installer is about a 2.5 meg download. You can read more about it and download it at: http://www.iespell.com/ [09] =============== ============ AROUND THE PLANES: NOTES FROM ALL OVER ========= Corporate America (and many large non-profits) keep a small army of publicists busy writing copyright-free articles that busy newspaper and newsletter editors can use in their publications. Many are nothing but shill worthy only of a cartoon version of used car salesman. Others contain useful information with only a subtle plug. Your editor has found a good online source for these and will be including a few that he feels may be of interest to Cauldron and Candle readers in issues of this newsletter. Remember that publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors' position or any products and companies mentioned therein. [09-1] ========= ========= Stopping Youth Violence Before It Starts ========= Thanks to sustained research, the causes and effects of youth violence are increasingly becoming understood. This improved understanding has led to the development of tools and techniques that can help defuse conflicts before they escalate into violence. The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC) has assembled current resources on the Web site http://www.safeyouth.org/ to help teens, parents and other adults concerned about violence committed by or against youth. This Web site contains reliable information on all aspects of youth violence prevention, as well as referrals or links to additional related information. With roots in international diplomacy, conflict resolution techniques have been recognized as effective in preventing violence in schools and workplaces as well as averting warfare between hostile nations. The goal is to find solutions that all parties to a conflict can accept. Children can begin learning-and using-conflict resolution skills at an early age, at home, at school and in their neighborhood or community. === What You Can Do At Home Whether it's a routine argument at home, being teased at school or being threatened by a gang at the mall, the knowledge a child has on how to respond to situations can make the difference between a minor incident and a potentially larger problem. Here are some ideas to think about and explore with your child: * Anger is OK; violence is not. Everybody gets angry at times; what counts is how the anger is managed. Channeling anger into problem-solving gives these emotions a constructive outlet, and helps defuse the situation. * There are many ways to win. Keeping calm, responding with humor, walking away, or asking for help are some winning alternatives to heckling and fighting. * Strong people don't need to fight. This is more than just a saying; research shows that children who feel powerless are more likely to fight than those who feel they have some control over their environment. * Teach by example. Think about how you handle conflict; do you insist on winning every argument on principle, or do you look for acceptable solutions? In conflict situations, do you control your temper or "lose" it? Can you admit being wrong? Just as whatever parents say influences their kids, what they do also has an impact on their children. === School-Based Programs Many schools throughout the U.S. have begun to integrate conflict resolution education into their curricula-beginning as early as the first grade. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has developed a fact sheet outlining four basic approaches to school-based conflict resolution education. By choosing various elements from each, educators can tailor programs to a schools' specific needs. * Freestanding courses in which dispute resolution principles and skills are presented as a distinct class or study unit. This is also called the "process curriculum" approach. * Peer mediation involves training young people to act as problem-solvers, helping to settle disputes among their peers. * Peaceable Classroom incorporates conflict resolution education into a curriculum's core subjects; further, teachers use these techniques to manage their classrooms. * Peaceable School programs integrate conflict resolution into every aspect of the school's operation, involving every level of staff. As many as 10,000 programs using these techniques have been implemented across the country-and have yielded significant results. The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center was established as a central source of information on violence committed by and against young people. For more information, log on to http://www.safeyouth.org/, call toll-free 1-866-SAFEYOUTH (723-3968), 1-800-243-7012 (TTY), 301-562-1001 (FAX), or e-mail NYVPRC@safeyouth.org. [09-2] ========= ========= Fire Safety Tips For Your Home ========= Fire Safety Tips For Your Home (NAPSI)-Fire safety is no accident. Whether it's the glow of a single candle or the flames wrapping a bundle of wood in the fireplace, open flames can quickly turn from cozy to dangerous. Fire safety is of special concern during the winter months when there is increased use of heat, electricity and appliances. Heating is the second leading cause of residential fires and fire deaths. The U.S. Fire Administration offers the following tips to help reduce fire hazards in your home and protect you and your family in the event of a fire: Safe Heating: * Don't use the oven to heat your home; it's a fire hazard and source of toxic fumes. * ONLY use the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot. * Space heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater. * Have your furnace and chimney professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. * Keep fire in the fireplace. Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace. * Dispose of ashes in metal containers away from the home. Fire safety around the house: * Don't put flammable decorations close to heat sources. * Don't overload your outlets. * If you use lit candles to decorate or in case of a power outage, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they can not be easily knocked over. * Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Having a working smoke alarm doubles your chances of surviving a fire. * Develop a fire escape plan with your household and practice it regularly. Know two ways to exit from every room in your home. The United States Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and now a part of the Department of Homeland Security, is the federal leader in public fire education and awareness, fire service training, fire-related technology and data collection. For further information on holiday fires or other fire safety topics, visit the USFA Web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/. [09-3] ========= ========= Stop Singing The Winter Blues ========= As the days grow shorter and the skies grayer, many find that winter weather brings sunken moods, apathy and other sad feelings-especially around the holidays. Even celebrities experience this phenomenon, which is sometimes called the "winter blues" or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). "I find the best way to keep the winter blues at bay is to get proactive," says actress Camryn Manheim and star of the hit television series, "The Practice." "I have dinner parties, go out to the theater, plan scrapbooking days, organize my home and catch up on all my reading. But the best way to kick the blues is to hang out with my 2 1/2 year-old son and all his friends. If that doesn't make you laugh, nothing will." About 20 percent of the population is affected by SAD, which usually begins in late fall or early winter. Women are four times more likely than men to experience SAD, and the condition occurs more often in northern parts of the country. According to American Family Physician magazine, SAD is seven times more common in Washington state than in Florida. Doctors believe SAD hits in the winter because of the limited sunlight exposure that accompanies the shorter winter days. "People who have reduced exposure to sunlight often have low levels of melatonin, serotonin and other compounds that support the body's feelings of stability, emotional balance and well- being," said Richard Brown, M.D., associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, practicing psychopharmacologist and co-author of Stop Depression Now. Dr. Brown adds that during winter, people stay indoors more, eat more and become less active, particularly in the cold regions. "These lifestyle changes can impact your mood, but there are ways to combat the problem," he said. To jump start your mood, Dr. Brown recommends the following tips: * Monitor your diet. Take vitamins and make sure to get enough fresh fruits and vegetables with a well-balanced diet. Consume fish and other high-quality proteins. Avoid refined sugars, which can negatively alter your mood. * Exercise and breathe. Exercise is an important part of feeling good. A 10-minute walk, three times a day is enough to help you to fight the winter blues. Exercise may release hormones and neurochemicals that restore your body's mood. * Try yoga. The breathing and meditative practices of yoga may help relieve anxiety and tension. * Consider a natural remedy. SAM-e (pronounced "sammy" and short for S-adenosylmethionine), is a naturally occurring compound found in all living organisms. It's clinically proven to help enhance mood and emotional well-being. "Taking SAM-e regularly is one of the best ways to enhance mood," adds Dr. Brown. "Studies have shown that it often works in half the time of prescriptive medications, and SAM-e has very few, if any, side effects." For more information on SAD and to receive a free SAM-e kit, please contact the SAM-e News Bureau at 1-877-866-2539 or e-mail SAM-e@carryonpr.com. [09-4] ========= ========= Prepare For Rough Weather Driving ========= Winter driving can be dangerous and stressful, especially in snow and ice. Advanced preparations can provide greater peace of mind and help make trips safer, whether it's to the grocery store or a faraway ski resort. === Get the Car Ready for the Cold Whether you take your car in for a routine checkup at a service center like Jiffy Lube or do it yourself, these are some essential preparations for winter driving: Check the battery's age to make sure the car will start on frigid mornings. On average, a car battery will last about four or five years. If yours is more than two years old, test it to see if it will withstand the cold. According to the American Automobile Association, a battery loses 35 percent of its power at 32 F and 60 percent of its power at 0 degrees F. To minimize the strain on your battery, start the car with the heater, lights and window defrosters turned off. Tire blowouts can be particularly dangerous, so make sure they are properly inflated, have adequate tread depth and have been rotated according to manufacturer's recommendations. Make sure you have enough fresh antifreeze and washer fluid. Check wiper blades to make sure they glide smoothly and do not leave streaks or blind spots. Check engine oil, differential fluid and transmission fluid to see if they need changing according to manufacturer's recommendations. === Carry the Essentials A properly packed emergency kit is essential during the winter. Make sure to have a flashlight, extra batteries, water, flares, blankets, shovel, snow brush and ice scraper. Also, keep some kitty litter or sand in the trunk-spreading it under your tires will give you more traction if you get stuck. Bring wire and cloth if you need to patch a leaking hose to make it to the nearest service center. === Before Hitting the Slopes Winding narrow roads and black ice (especially on bridges) make mountain driving dangerous. Take extra precautions before driving to your favorite ski resort. Test your brakes on the mountain roads to get a feel for how they react. Reduce your speed, brake slowly, and leave plenty of space between you and other motorists. Check the weather conditions before you leave and use sound judgment. If you get caught in a sudden blizzard, stay in your car. Do not idle your car for long stretches of time to keep warm. For more information on car maintenance and safety, visit http://www.jiffylube.com/. [09-5] ========= ========= Resolutions: Simple Tips To Help Keep Them ========= For many, the New Year is a time to resolve to become healthier, wealthier and wiser. Whether you decide to give up smoking, lose weight or find a job, following a few simple tips can make it easier to follow through on your resolutions. "Keeping a New Year's resolution can be extremely stressful, especially when people have unrealistic expectations," said Angie DeLaCruz, a Dallas-based therapist. "You should set simple, achievable goals and stick to them. If you want to run a marathon, aim for running four or five miles first. Create milestones that can lead up to your overall goal. Trying to make too many changes at one time can lead to failure." To help you get started, here are a few tips: * Plan Your Resolution in Advance. Decide what goal you'd like to achieve in the New Year. Is it becoming healthier? Spending more time with your family? Once you zone in on that one goal, make sure it is realistic. If you want to start an exercise program, make sure you pick an activity that fits into your schedule. Draw up an action plan for how you will achieve your goal. Include a specific timetable and rewards for your road map for success. Write down your resolution and your plan of action. Stick it up on the fridge, in your locker, or wherever else you know you'll see it. That way you'll have a constant reminder of the resolution. You may want to revise the wording as you progress. * Plan your strategy. Develop strategies for changing your behavior. Make sure you customize your goal to your lifestyle and habits. If you are trying to lose weight, try stocking up on low- calorie snack foods or diet beverages such as Diet Rite, Diet Dr Pepper or Diet Snapple Lemon Tea. If quitting smoking is your goal, stock up on sugar-free gum such as Trident or Dentyne. Several of these low-calorie snack foods contain the same great taste of their regular counterparts. Taste need not be sacrificed to meet your resolution. Small changes will help you obtain your overall goal. * Share Your Goals with Loved Ones. Share your goals with your spouse, best friend or coworker. Empower him or her to remind you of your resolution if you begin to waiver. Or choose a goal that you can reach with a friend. This way you have a "buddy-system" approach to your goal. * Be Realistic about Setbacks. Setbacks are bound to happen. If they do, don't get discouraged, DeLaCruz said. If you do slip up, acknowledge the slip and get back on track. One lapse does not equal failure. Keep the big picture in mind, and don't take resolutions too seriously. Remember that resolutions are goals, not absolutes. These simple tips will help create a realistic way for you to keep and stick to your New Year's resolutions. [10] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum was founded in December 1997 to provide a friendly but serious discussion area for Pagans on the Internet. We've grown a bit over the years. We now have an active message area, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including over 250 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. The staff especially appreciates members who start new topics for discussion based on their own questions, opinions, or interests. http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start ===== ===== Articles! Essays! Tutorials! ===== We are in constant need of original, well-written and accurate articles, essays, tutorials, and other written items for both our web site and for our Cauldron and Candle newsletter. There's no real limit on length for web site articles. Here are a few areas in which we always need articles: * information on the beliefs and theology of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * information on holidays and festivals of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * recipes for oils, incenses, and food for the various Pagan holidays * magick, spells, and ritual information * herbal information * positive articles on dealing with other faiths * information on historical pagan cultures * editorial/opinion pieces Non-Wiccan material is stressed not because we don't want Wiccan material but because good non-Wiccan material has been hard to find. We have a web form you can use to submit an article for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php ===== ===== Book Reviews ===== While The Cauldron receives some review copies from a couple of Pagan publishers, there are many books that can only be reviewed on our web site if a member has a copy and writes a good, objective review. The Cauldron is interested in reviews on the more academic books used by reconstructionist Pagan religions as well as on the books one finds on the Pagan/New Age shelf in the bookstore. We have a web form you can use to submit a book review for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php ===== ===== Graphic Assistance ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is purposely a low graphics site as we value page download speed over flashy graphics. However, we are always willing to talk with artists who have ideas for well-designed small graphics (small in both physical dimensions and file size) that might enhance a specific article or page. ===== ===== Invite Your Friends ===== If you have friends or acquaintances who you believe would find The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum useful, please tell them about our site. If you are active in our message board and have friends who might enjoy them or have information to contribute, please invite them. ===== ===== Link To The Cauldron ===== If you have a web site where linking to The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would be appropriate, simply providing a link to this web site is a big help. Our Link to this Site page explains how you can do this if you need help or want some simple graphic buttons to use: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php ===== ===== Donations ===== As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as possible, our need for money to operate our site is currently lower than our need for the many items we list above. However, if you have a few dollars to spare, we would be honored to have your help in paying for our web site. You can donate by using either PayPal or the Amazon Honor System links below (we get about 85% of what you donate). Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ===== ===== Amazon Purchases ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receives a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/amazon.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFEME.com. (Unfortunately, Randall has to answer general "Tell me more?" type questions with a request for a more specific question. He's not trying to be rude, he just can't think of anything general and useful to say that isn't said here.) [11] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER INFORMATION ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. The Cauldron intends to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeeds in doing so. We tried to publish it twice a month for a while, but real life interfered too often. This issue of Cauldron and Candle as a whole is copyright (c) 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. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of newsletter, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, or its staff. Publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors position or any products and companies mentioned therein. No one involved in producing this newsletter has any money to speak of so suing us if you don't like something we do is a waste of time and money. ===== ===== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS ===== You are receiving a copy of this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter via your web browser at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cauldronandcandle/join Or you can unsubscribe via email by sending a blank message to cauldronandcandle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Be sure to send this message from the email account actually subscribed to the newsletter. If you have trouble unsubscribing by email, please use the web browser method mentioned above. If you need to change your subscription to a new email address, unsubscribe your old email address and subscribe your new email address. Note that you have to make these changes yourself. Yahoo Groups does not allow the list owner to make them for you. ===== ===== NEWSLETTER WEB SITE AND BACK ISSUE ARCHIVE ===== The Cauldron and Candle web site contains information on this newsletter and an archive of back issues. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ===== ===== PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE ===== If you have Pagan friends who you believe would be interested in Cauldron and Candle please invite them to subscribe. You can either drop them a note yourself or -- better yet -- send them one of The Cauldron's email postcards with the information. You are also welcome to forward a copies of this newsletter to interested friends and associates provided you forward the entire newsletter. ===== ===== SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME ===== Don't forget that your suggestions for this newsletter are always welcome, either posted on the message board or via email to LyricFox (lyricfox@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

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