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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #31 -- January 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: Lord of the Trees [03] Cauldron News [04] Pagan Discussions [05] Review: Ship of Fools Tarot [06] Review: Playing Card Divination for Beginners [07] Review: Ritual: Power, Healing, & Community [08] Review: The Urban Primitive [09] Review: Gothic Grimoire [10] Upcoming Reviews and New Releases [11] Article: Servitor Creation [12] Article: Nightmare Banishing Dream Pillow [13] Column: TarotDeevah on the Tarot [14] Humor: 25 Reasons Why It Rocks to be Wiccan [15] Dragon Clan Witchcraft Course: December Lesson Index [16] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [17] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: January 25, 2003 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= As this is the first issue of Cauldron and Candle for a new year, I'd like to wish all our members, readers, and friends a very happy 2003 on behalf on the entire staff of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. You'll notice some reorganization and new features in this issue. We will be probably be experimenting a bit in each of the next few issues. Please bear with us and don't hesitate to let us know what you like and don't like on our message board. As always, we are in need of your articles for future issues. This is your newsletter and we need your help to fill it with interesting articles. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= LORD OF THE TREES ========= A Poem by Alwyn ========= http://www10.brinkster.com/alwyn1/index.htm ========= Strange how my mind thinks, as I walk beside the trees. The ancient oak trees forming links, with their breath of wisdom reaching me. Their lineage is unbroken in the vastness of time. How do I respond as I walk past their line? My thoughts are of sharing in their wisdom and dark. Sensations of flotation as my hands clasp around the bark. Knowledge of ancient wisdom transcends the calm thoughts of time. A warmth deep inside forms as I acknowledge his sign. Energy flows upwardly from below my knees. Awareness takes over me, it comes from the Trees. Thoughts of yesterday's anger begin to fade. As the pieces of broken lives are being re-made. My mind is with the leaves as they float down to the ground. My pain has all gone without but a sound. Who can tell me better than the trees? How to live life, like the birds and the bees? Knowing always that everything comes in three's, The words, the wisdom, and The Lord of the Trees. [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== The Cauldron's Web Site Changes Web Hosts ===== After three years with CubeSoft's fairly reliable but quirky web hosting, The Cauldron moved its web site to DreamHost in mid-December. Most web site visitors probably did not even notice the change. DreamHost is a major provider hosting over 40,000 web sites at very reasonable prices. When asking around about the company, we discovered they have many very vocal customers who have been hosting web sites on DreamHost for years. DreamHost provides far more -- and less quirky -- services than CubeSoft did. Some of these new services are behind the scenes webmaster things. Others will be appearing as new features on our web site over the next few months. For example, you will soon be able to sign up for an announcement list and receive an email announcement when a new book or deck review is added to our web site. Two changes to our web site have already been made. First, our third party site statistics links are gone from the bottom of each page. DreamHost provides site statistics so we no longer have to depend on a third party site that places cookies on your computer for some idea of how busy our site is. Second, our original web polls from 2001 are back up. They were removed when our former web host's quirky security measures broke them. The web polls from the first part of 2002 will be converted to this format in the future and put back up as well. I'd like to thank all of our members who have either made purchases through our Amazon.com links or made donations through our Amazon Honor System link in 2002. This is the first year that The Cauldron broke even on our site hosting fees. Doing so is what allowed us to move to DreamHost. Thank you one and all! If you are looking for a web hosting company, take a look at DreamHost. If you sign up with them, list "rssapphire" (without the quotes) as the person who referred you and The Cauldron will get a small discount on our hosting bill. ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Top Poster -- December 2002 ===== The top poster on The Cauldron's Delphi Forums message board for December 2002 was Mari (ARIANCRAIDD). The Runner Up was Brock (BLAKEK). There were a couple of members hot on their heels: DRAGONFAERIE and MOONWOLF23. (Cauldron staff members are ineligible for this honor and so aren't listed.) ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Activity in 2002 ===== A total of 42,934 posts were made on our Delphi message board in 2002. Of those, 37,208 were made from May through December after we decided to move back to Delphi because of all the problems our Yahoo Groups mailing list was having. That's an average of about 4650 messages a month since our Delphi message board replaced our mailing list. That's about 3000 messages a month more than our ecauldron mailing list averaged during its 18+ months of full operation. Most of our members definitely seem to prefer a message board to a mailing list. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. === === "Stolen" From Christianity? === As Pagans, we hear a lot of (not necessarily accurate) stuff about how Christianity has supposedly "stolen" this or that or the other from Paganism. But is there anything that Paganism seems to have borrowed from Christianity? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7832.1 === === Are Gel Candles Safe? === Members of The Cauldron discuss their experiences, good and bad, with gel candles in an attempt to decide if they are as safe to use as regular candles. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7788.1 === === Top Pagan Problems? === Pagans often complain about the many problems of following a Pagan religion. However, one often hears of so many problems that it is hard to know where to start. This makes one wonder what are some of the top Pagan problems are. Is it misinformation? Religious discrimination? Other things? What do you see as the biggest problems facing Pagans (and do you have any ideas how to address them)? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7758.1 === === One Feature Definition of Wicca? === While discussing how to define Wicca on another forum, someone proposed that defining what is Wicca and what it is not cannot be done by using a list of features/factors. Instead, one should try to find one single Wiccan feature, that would set Wicca apart from - not necessarily all other religions, but at least other Pagan religions. Is there such one Wiccan feature? Does this type of definition actually work? With Wicca or with other religions? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7764.1 === === Dion Fortune Books === Dion Fortune wrote almost 20 "occult" books during her life, the most famous of which is probably Psychic Self-Defense. If you read any of her books, what are your opinions of them? Which books are worth reading? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7638.1 === === Favorite Piece of Bad Information? === In the trench warfare of sifting out accurate information on Pagan practices and beliefs from the reams of dreck, what is your favorite (favorite, of course, being a relative term) bit of bad info? Not simply somewhat misguided, or a vague over generalization, but spectacularly, laughably wrong? Give it bonus points if this piece of shoddy research will result in deep embarrassment, grievous bodily harm, or the enraging of various deities, if one actually attempted to use it. Talk about your favorite bit of bad information on our message board. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7617.1 === === Worshiping Fictional Deities? === What do people think of Constructionism, the worship of gods from fiction books and gaming? And as an extension, have fantasy and science fantasy novels influenced you magical processes? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7635.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: SHIP OF FOOLS TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Ship of Fools Tarot Author: Brian Williams Artist: Brian Williams Book and Cards Set Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2002 ISBN: 0738701610 US Retail Price: $34.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtsoft.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701610/thecauldron Brian Williams designed a number of Tarot decks during his life. The Renaissance Tarot and The Minchiate Tarot are perhaps the best known. Brian passed away in April of this year (2002), but not before completing an interesting Tarot deck starring the Fool and based on the woodcut illustrations of Sebastian Brant's renaissance era German literary classic Das Narrenschiff, or The Ship of Fools. The images and text of Das Narrenschiff, like the Tarot deck, function as a catalog of the human soul. However, it has a special emphasis on humanity's capacity for foolishness. Brant's book was very influential in European literature in the 1500s and was printed in many languages and editions, although it is somewhat forgotten today (at least in the English-speaking world). Williams saw that many of the woodcut illustrations in Das Narrenschiff conveyed ideas similar to the cards of the standard tarot deck and that the rest of the deck could be manufactured by modifications (some major, some minor) to other illustrations. The Ship of Fools Tarot is the result. The Ship of Fools Tarot is a fairly standard Tarot deck with the normal trumps and suits. At first glance the only major differences you may notice are that the cards are black and white line drawings and that at least one fool appears on every card. Some describe a Tarot deck as depicting the journey of the Fool. In this deck, that is literally true. While the symbolism is sometimes quite different than that in a more standard Tarot deck, the scenes depicted in the card art are very close to "standard" in meaning. Anyone familiar with the Tarot should have little trouble reading with this deck. With many Tarot decks the book is an afterthought, containing little more than basic descriptions of the card and commentary on the standard divinatory meaning associated with the card. This cannot be said of the companion book to Ship of Fools Tarot, the Book of Fools. In some ways the book is the most interesting part of the set. In addition to pictures of the cards in the deck and their short descriptions and meanings, Williams talks about how the images were created from the original woodcut Das Narrenschiff illustrations and compares the imagery to that of the Rider-Waite Tarot and/or the Tarot de Marseille, complete with images of those cards. An illustration of the original woodcut the card image was based on is also provided. It is a lot of fun to compare the two and see how small or great the changes were. Ship of Fools Tarot is one of the most interestingly different Tarot decks to come across my desk this year. I find exploring this deck and its companion book fascinating. It's worth your time to take a look at this deck when you have a chance. It might not appeal to you at all, but if it does I suspect it will fascinate you as much as it does me. My only complaint about this set is that the book really doesn't give enough information on how to use the deck. The chapter on reading the cards is only three pages long. The Ship of Fools Tarot may be Brian Williams' most unique work. The real shame is that it is his last. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtsoft.php [06] ========= ========= REVIEW: PLAYING CARD DIVINATION FOR BEGINNERS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Playing Card Divination for Beginners: Fortune Telling with Ordinary Cards Author: Richard Webster Trade Paperback, 192 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: November 2002 ISBN: 0738702234 US Retail Price: $9.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702234/thecauldron When I was a youngster in the 1960s, Tarot decks were something which I only read about in books and saw in a James Bond movie. I wanted a Tarot deck so badly, but simply never saw any for sale in South Texas -- at least at the stores my parents took me to. However, I did come upon the paperback version of The Complete Illustrated Book of the Psychic Sciences in 1968. It had a chapter -- a whole 28 pages of fine print and layout illustrations entitled "Cartomancy or Fortune Telling with Cards" -- that told how to use regular playing cards for divination. I inhaled this chapter and soon was using cards for more interesting things than playing solitaire. I used playing cards as my main form of divination for over ten years until I finally obtained a Rider-Waite Tarot deck when I was in college. Learning to read cards from a 28 page chapter with card descriptions that averaged four lines long was not all that easy, as you can probably imagine. Fortunately, I was a stubborn child. A book like Richard Webster's new Playing Card Divination for Beginners, however, would have made learning much easier. Webster begins slowly with a long introduction giving a history of playing cards, which does its best to stick to known facts instead of interesting but improbable legends. The first chapter discusses the essentials of reading and how to prepare to give a reading. The second and longest chapter teaches the meanings of the cards -- or at least the ones Webster prefers (he admits up front that there are many systems of meaning). I would have prized this chapter when I was younger. While a few cards only have five or six line interpretations, many have half a page or more. What I had to learn from trial and error (mostly error), Webster provides in black and white. A short third chapter suggests ways to learn the card meanings with less effort. The next chapter discusses the meanings of card combinations, for example what might be indicated if a large number of red cards appear in a reading or if all four aces appear. Having discussed the cards and their meanings, the rest of the book is devoted to how to use this mass of information to give readings. The fifth chapter talks about how to read the cards for yourself and provides two sample readings. The following chapter talks about reading the cards for others and also provides two sample readings. All four sample readings are detailed examples. I would have loved to have had such samples when I was learning. Love and romance, with several special ways to read the cards, is the topic of the seventh chapter. The eighth and final chapter provides ten additional card spreads. A short appendix on using playing cards as an aid to dream interpretation completes the book. With Tarot decks so common, I'm sure some are wondering why anyone would use playing cards. There are many reasons. For example, playing cards are everywhere and are less frightening than tarot cards to many who might like to have a reading. However, the best reason I know of to learn to read playing cards is that using playing cards improves one's divination ability. Unlike Tarot cards, playing cards do not have beautiful pictures which are often designed with deep symbolism to aid in interpretation. They force one to focus on the meaning and relationship of the cards themselves. Books on playing card divination are not as common as books on Tarot divination. Webster's Playing Card Divination for Beginners is a good introduction to the subject, although it is not the best I've read. The best I've read, however, is out of print and very hard to get. If you are interested is learning the art of playing card divination, Playing Card Divination for Beginners should be easy to find and will get you off to a good start -- a far better start than I had. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkpcdfb.php [07] ========= ========= REVIEW: RITUAL: POWER, HEALING, & COMMUNITY ========= Reviewed by Jen Sokoloski ========= Ritual: Power, Healing, & Community Author: Malidoma Patrice Some Paperback, 112 pages Publisher: Penguin Books Publication date: December 1997 ISBN: 0140195580 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140195580/thecauldron You won't find this slim but powerful volume in the New Age section of the bookstore, but you may find in it an insight into why ritual is performed, and how to add meaning to your own rituals. Malidoma Patrice Some is a member of the Dagara tribe, in Burkina Faso, West Africa. In Ritual, he describes not only the ritual practices of the Dagara people, a highly spiritual tribe of indigenous Africans struggling to maintain their traditional ways in the face of Western encroachment, but the larger view of spirituality held by the indigenous African. Ritual engages the reader in examining the deeper, psychological reasoning behind the difference between the Western way and the Dagara way. The book examines the Dagara's theory of the cause of many problems found in Western society -- lack of ritual. The social, community, and spiritual effects of ritual are examined in engaging recollections of rituals and events in the author's and his tribe's lives and serve to illustrate by example the difference not only in practice, but in worldview held by the Dagara as opposed to that held in the Western world. The author makes a case that the West's disregard for the spirit world is a key factor in the ills found in the society. In comparing Dagara societal traditions with Western ones, the case is rather convincing. However, Ritual is far from being simply another "Western culture is evil and we must all go live like stone-age indians" book-length rant. Some breaks down the elements of ritual, and examines the reasons why community, family, and individual rituals seem to "work" for the Dagara, yet don't for the West. The difference in basic worldview here becomes apparent in its importance not because the author seeks to claim that the Dagara view is somehow better than the Western one, but because the Dagara worldview is a framework in which the spiritual power of ritual is permitted to work. I would venture to say that this book is essential for anyone seeking to understand a bit more about the worldview of African Traditional Religions (Kemeticism/Kemetic Reconstructionism included). Other Pagans will also enjoy this book because of the insights into the meaning of ritual within a community structure, especially when used to gain insight into a pagan group context. General readers will also gain an understanding of tribal society through this book--not just African tribal society, but the tribal society that most of us -- no matter where we are in the world--seek to find in the groups we join whether they are religious groups, parenting-style groups, social groups, interest groups, or family groups. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkrphac.php [08] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE URBAN PRIMITIVE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle Author: Raven Kaldera & Tannin Schwarzstein Paperback, 268 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: October 2002 ISBN: 0738702595 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702595/thecauldron The back cover copy of The Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle by Raven Kaldera & Tannin Schwarzstein makes this book look very interesting. "You live in a twenty-first-century city, so become an urban primitive. Learn how to live a magical life in the concrete jungle..." As most people live in an urban area, a good book on urban magick would be an excellent addition to the many books on magick and spellcraft that assume one is in or has easy access to a rural environment. Unfortunately, while The Urban Primitive is an interesting collection of advice and material on urban magick, it has too many flaws to be more than a fair and somewhat superficial introduction to the subject. This is a shame because with a little more care and attention to details, this book could have been excellent. There is quite a lot of useful information for someone living in an urban jungle in this book. The authors discuss magick for getting a job, finding an affordable place to live and roommates one can live with, for example. They suggest places in urban areas to honor specific ancient deities. They touch upon dealing with the many other Pagan religions one may find in a large city, raising children, and more. While some of this information lacks depth, it is still more than is found in many books on the bookstore shelves -- and the illustrations in this book are excellent. The flaws in this book, unfortunately, are many -- and some cut deep. First, the authors have written the book from a fairly Wiccan point of view. There's nothing wrong with this, except that they sometimes say "Pagan" when they mean "Wiccan." Second, the writing style indicates that the book is aimed at the teenage goth crowd which will grate on the nerves of many Pagans who live in urban areas but are not teens or who are not goths. The biggest flaw, however, is superficial information. While this book seems to be aimed at beginners, it assumes quite a bit of knowledge that many beginners would not have. No book can contain everything, of course, but a book aimed at beginners should at least point the reader to specific other books that fill in the gaps. Finally, some parts of this book are just plain silly. For example, the urban triple goddess (Squat, Skor, and Skram) and the urban triple god (Slick, Screw, and Sarge) seem like a joke. I'm sure that if enough people believe in them, calling on them will produce results. However, they still seem silly. Screw, for example, is the God of One Night Stands. You pray to him when you want to get laid and make offerings to him by giving condoms to people you meet. If I'd have known this in college, I'd have never spent a night alone. Yeah. Right. In summary, The Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle is an interesting but flawed book. If you are having trouble seeing how to work magick into city life, you might want to take a look at this book at one of those nice bookstores where you can sit down and go through it carefully over a cup of coffee. Only you can decide if the book's useful information outweighs its flaws. It doesn't for me, but I'm not the beginner this book was written for. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktuppitcj.php [09] ========= ========= REVIEW: GOTHIC GRIMOIRE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Gothic Grimoire Author: Konstantinos Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2002 ISBN: 0738702552 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702552/thecauldron The night has been considered mysterious and dangerous since the dawn of humankind. Many members of the current generation of teens and young adults have turned a fascination for the night into a subculture that has spawned everything from a style of dress to roleplaying games to music. So I wasn't surprised to see a book tailoring Wicca to this subculture. The Gothic Grimoire is actually the second book from Konstantinos in this field. While Gothic Grimoire is listed as a companion volume to Nocturnal Witchcraft, it stands fairly well on its own. (This is good as I've never seen Nocturnal Witchcraft.) The first part of the book summarizes a "Nocturnal Tradition" of Wicca with a self-initiation ritual and a set of sabbat rituals customized for the night. There is also a brief discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of both solitary and group work. There's nothing really spectacular here, it's just yet another custom tradition of Wicca. At least the author makes no wild claims of ancient origins for his version of Wicca. The rest of the book deals with practical magick. While all the magick is given a nocturnal flavor, there's really nothing all that new or special here. However, a wide variety of magick, some of which would be more correctly considered psychic phenomena, is presented and explained in a clear and concise manner. There are chapters on telepathy, intuition, divination, astral travel, illusion, controlling negative thoughts, creating a magical servant to accomplish magickal goals, and banishing. There is also a chapter on specific rituals for aid in dealing with some of the problems of life. The final chapter deals with contacting the dead. The most interesting part of the book is probably the chapter on "The Nocturnal Servant" as it gives a fairly simple method of creating a magickal servant to accomplish a magickal end. This is a very general and useful spell form that is often ignored in books aimed at beginners. Gothic Grimoire will definitely appeal to the Wiccan teen and goth markets. It doesn't talk down to the reader or present (often silly) "teen" spells as some books aimed at younger readers do. However, there really isn't anything new in this book. It's just normal Neo-Wicca and magick given a "night" flavor. The author does do a good job with the flavoring, however. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkgg.php [10] ========= ========= UPCOMING REVIEWS AND RECENT RELEASES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= === === Received For Review === The following books and decks will be reviewed in future issues. This issue lists everything in my "yet to be reviewed" stack. Future installments will only list new material received for review. "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 I 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. Praise to the Moon by Ellen Hawke (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702781 First Glance Comments: This book explores the phases of the moon in a Wiccan context with rituals and Goddess lore. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702781/thecauldron Full Contact Magick by Kerr Cuhulian (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702544 First Glance Comments: The author of Wiccan Warrior writes about Wiccan magickal techniques that incorporate the Warrior archetype. Looks to be another dose of reality for those Wiccans who see their religion as nothing but peace and white light. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702544/thecauldron The Witches' Craft by Raven Grimassi (Llewellyn) ISBN: 073870265X First Glance Comments: Look, it's another Wicca 101 book by Grimassi. If I'm reading it right, he is attempting to prove the ancient origins of witchcraft along the way. Given my opinion of other Grimassi Wicca books, I'm not expecting much here. Let's hope I'm surprised. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870265X/thecauldron Visconti Tarot by Berti, Gonard, Atanassov (Lo Scarabeo/Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702935 First Glance Comments: This is a nice deck with lots of gold foil. Unfortunately, the pip cards are not fully illustrated. It's a modern reproduction of what is now believed to be the first tarot deck. Nice book included. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702935/thecauldron Tarot & Magic by Donald Michael Kraig (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738701858 First Glance Comments: A small book that briefly discusses a number of Tarot magick methods. It's Kraig, so there are a lot of good ideas, but not in as much detail as I would have hoped. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701858/thecauldron Comparative Tarot (Lo Scarabeo/Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702811 First Glance Comments: This deck has the images from four decks on each card. Lots of symbolism to draw on in readings so I like it. Decks depicted: Universal Tarot, Tarot of the Sphinx, Tarot of Origins, Tarot of Marseilles. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702811/thecauldron The Tarot of Durer by Giacinto Gaudenzi (Lo Scarabeo/Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738702455 First Glance Comments: A Tarot inspired by Albrecht Durer's engravings. It's lovely. The suits each have an animal which appears, sometimes not obviously, on many of the cards. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702455/thecauldron Tarot of the Journey to the Orient by Severino Baradi (Lo Scarabeo/Llewellyn) ISBN: 073870282X First Glance Comments: A deck with both western and eastern symbolism. The suits depict journeys from the West to the East. And interesting idea, but I'm not sure how will it will work for me in use. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870282X/thecauldron Positive Magic (Revised Edition) by Marion Weinstein (New Page Books) ISBN: 1564146375 First Glance Comments: While I have always thought Positive Magic was a bit on the "white light" side, it's been a book I could recommend strongly to newcomers. This revised edition looks like it may have made a very good book even better. I can't wait to read it. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146375/thecauldron Wicca for Couples by A.J. Drew (New Page Books) ISBN: 1564146200 First Glance Comments: The author argues that Wicca should be a religion for family and community instead of for covens and solitary Wiccans. This is a different premise and I will be interested in seeing how well the author can support it. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146200/thecauldron === === Recent Releases === === October 2002 Releases Spellbound, from Ancient Gods to Modern Merlins: A Time Tour of Myth and Magic by Dominic Alexander Hardcover ISBN: 0762103795 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0762103795/thecauldron Zodiac Spells: Easy Enchantments and Simple Spells for Your Sun Sign by Lexa Rosean Hardcover ISBN: 0312285442 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312285442/thecauldron The World of Wizards: Modern Magical Tools and Ancient Traditions by Anton Adams, Mina Adams Hardcover ISBN: 1586637568 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1586637568/thecauldron The Urban Primitive: Paganism in the Concrete Jungle by Raven Kaldera, et al Paperback ISBN: 0738702595 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702595/thecauldron Magical Paths by Jeff Saward Hardcover ISBN: 1840005734 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1840005734/thecauldron Positive Magic: Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives by Marion Weinstein Paperback ISBN: 1564146375 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146375/thecauldron Voodoo Rituals by Heike Owusu Paperback ISBN: 1402700350 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1402700350/thecauldron Scottish Witches and Wizards: True Accounts by H. M. Fleming Paperback ISBN: 1899874348 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1899874348/thecauldron Magikal Sex: A Witche's Guide to Beds, Knobs, and Broomsticks by Fiona Horne Hardcover ISBN: 0007141335 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007141335/thecauldron The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism by Shelly Rabinovitch, et al Hardcover ISBN: 0806524065 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806524065/thecauldron The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation by Raven Grimassi Paperback ISBN: 073870265X More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/073870265X/thecauldron Good Witch, Bad Witch: Sweet Spells and Dark Charms by Gilliam Kemp Paperback ISBN: 0821227998 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0821227998/thecauldron Raising Witches: Teaching the Wiccan Faith to Children by Ashleen O'Gaea Paperback ISBN: 1564146316 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146316/thecauldron Book of Hours: Prayers to the Gods by Galen Gillotte Paperback ISBN: 0738702609 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702609/thecauldron === November 2002 Releases Celebrating Wiccan Spirituality: Spells, Sacred Rites, and Folklore for Each Day of the Year by Lady Sabrina Paperback ISBN: 156414593X More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156414593X/thecauldron Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook by Daniel Ogden Hardcover ISBN: 019513575X More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/019513575X/thecauldron Celtic Plant Magic: A Workbook for Alchemical Sex Rituals by Jon G. Hughes Paperback ISBN: 0892819243 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892819243/thecauldron The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development by Christopher Penczak Paperback ISBN: 0738702765 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702765/thecauldron Praise to the Moon: Magic & Myth of the Lunar Cycle by Elen Hawke Paperback ISBN: 0738702781 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738702781/thecauldron Esoteric Magic and the Cabala by Phillip Cooper Paperback ISBN: 1578632366 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578632366/thecauldron Merlyn's Magick: The Wizard's Secret Notebooks by Joshua Free Hardcover ISBN: 1890109517 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890109517/thecauldron Corporate Magick: Mystical Tools for Business Success by Bob Johnson Paperback ISBN: 080652393X More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080652393X/thecauldron Candle Magic (The Ultimate Full-Color Guide series) by Batia Shorek Paperback ISBN: 9654941473 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9654941473/thecauldron Witches of Fife: Witch Hunting in a Scottish Shire, 1560-1710 by Stuart Macdonald Paperback ISBN: 1862321469 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1862321469/thecauldron === December 2002 Releases Tarot & Magick by Donald Michael Kraig Paperback ISBN: 0738701858 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701858/thecauldron Soapmaking: A Magickal Guide by Alicia Grosso Paperback ISBN: 1564146480 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146480/thecauldron Cunning-Folk: Popular Magic in English History by Owen Davies Hardcover ISBN: 1852852976 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852852976/thecauldron Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: The Period of the Witch Trials by Bengt Ankarloo (Editor), Stuart Clark (Editor) Hardcover ISBN: 0812236173 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812236173/thecauldron Exorcising Our Demons: Magic, Witchcraft, and Visual Culture in Early Modern Europe (Studies in Medieval and Reformation Thought, V. 91) by Charles Zika Hardcover ISBN: 9004125604 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9004125604/thecauldron The Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period (Groningen Studies in Cultural Change, V. 1) by Jan N. Bremmer (Editor), Jan R. Veenstra (Editor) Hardcover ISBN: 9042912278 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9042912278/thecauldron Behind the Crystal Ball: Magic, Science, and the Occult from Antiquity Through the New Age Paperback ISBN: 0870816713 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870816713/thecauldron When Someone You Love Is Wiccan: A Guide to Witchcraft and Paganism for Concerned Friends, Nervous Parents, and Curious Co-Workers by Carl McColman Paperback ISBN: 1564146227 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146227/thecauldron Werewolves, Witches, and Wandering Spirits: Traditional Belief and Folklore in Early Modern Europe (Sixteenth Century Essays & Studies, V. 62) by Kathryn A. Edwards (Editor) Paperback ISBN: 1931112088 More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931112088/thecauldron [11] ========= ========= ARTICLE: SERVITOR CREATION ========= Inspired by Neil Gaiman's Sandman ========= by EverFool ========= This is an operation designed to create a servitor elemental/spirit/label of your choice. This operation is recommended only for those who are eclectics, Chaotes, or other magick practitioners with relatively loose paradigms. This is mostly because the operation requires as a mindset that is comfortable with magick based on fiction. The technique is inspired by the final graphic novel of the Sandman series, The Wake. You could read that novel to get a feel for how this works, but I suggest you only do this after you have read the rest of the series first! In any case, it is a simple ritual. If you wish to clear sacred space/call a circle etc, it may be best to do so in such a way that does not reflect a specific paradigm (eg, calling God-names reflects ceremonial magick, calling quarters reflects Wicca, etc). When I performed this operation, I simply walked in a circle three times and declared that I had purged all other influences from the zone. Once this is done, try to feel the energy of the ground below you. This may be more effective outside, but I performed this ritual indoors. Kneel or crouch down, and try to draw some energy up into your hands. A good image is clay. Now spend a few minutes "shaping" this into the form of a humanoid. Use your hands to perform the shaping, this will aid the visualization. You should eventually have a man figure, standing upright, with eyes closed. Don't imagine it activating just yet. I visualized the entity as being black, both as a reflection of the sandman comic, and also because of the entity being shaped from "Earth". But it likely does not matter if you want a polka dot servitor! For those not familiar with Sandman, the series revolved around one member of the family known as "the Endless" - seven "people" who represented certain workings of the universe. The main figure of the series was Dream, but other members of the family were: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire and Despair (who were "twins"), and Delirium. Only a handful of these were present in The Wake to help create the servitor, but in this operation I tried to use the influence of all seven. First, make a "heart" sign upon the chest of the servitor. If you wish, you might declare that this represents the influence of Desire. The next mark comes from Despair, which is placed in the eyes. Despair made no sigil, so it is up to you whether you want to. It is ambiguous whether Destiny made a mark, and the same goes for Delirium. In both cases, however, it may apply to place their influence in the mind. Dream and Destruction were not present at the servitor creation. I declared the entire servitor to be the province of Dream, as it was not made of normal matter, and I decided that the hands were as good a place as any for the influence of Destruction. Finally, Death does not make a mark on the servitor, but "breathes" life into it. Thus, you may wish to exhale into the servitor, possibly while vibrating its name if you give it one. It isn't necessary to give it a name reflecting the task you intend to give it. You can call it "Bob" if you really want. Now imagine the eyes opening. When I performed the operation, the servitor reached its arms out for me instantly upon being completed. However, whether it moves or not will probably depend on the operator. Now tell the entity what task you want it to perform. As usual with servitors, try to keep it short and simple. You may also want to show a certain amount of gratitude and kindness to the servitor - after all, it is designed to have a certain extent of emotion and mind. Visualize it going off to its task, and then go about your normal activities. Whenever you see evidence that it has accomplished all or part of its task, thank it and ask it to continue, until you are fully satisfied with its work. What you do with the servitor once its task is completed, or it has run beyond the time limit you set it, is up to you. At the time of writing, my servitor is still performing its task, but I shall probably dissipate it back into the ether. (For those who are interested, I sent it out to provide job opportunities. It has had a couple of minor successes so far, but I am awaiting a better achievement still.) [12] ========= ========= ARTICLE: NIGHTMARE BANISHING DREAM PILLOW ========= by Faerie K. ========= This nightmare banishing dream pillow was pretty much built "on the run" while chatting with a friend of mine who had been suffering from terrible nightmares for a few nights, leading up to her waking up screaming and feeling like she couldn't breath. After listening her needs, this is what I wrote to her: === === Materials === * Black cloth. (Here, black is used to denote strength, protection, calmness, darkness). Natural fibers are best, not only because the pillow will be rather close to your head. Cotton is a good choice. * Sewing equipment, either plain old thread and needle or a machine * Embroidery threads or fabric paint * Herbs === === Starting Out === The dream pillow has "two layers". The inner one will be the pillow itself, with the herbs. The outer one is the "pillow case" for this inner pillow. To begin with, you'll need to choose symbols that will be embroidered or painted on the outer pillow, the pillow case, as well as colors for the symbols. The symbols should denote Strength and Protection, the symbols used and their colors should arise from your own personal symbology and correspondences -- they should speak to *you*. You can add other symbols according to your own needs and insights. The pillow's final size should be 11" x 11cm. This strange mixture of measurement units is because the idea is to use the number 11. Here, 11 denotes both the pentagram and the hexagram, it's the number of the Goddess and also refers to one's Great Work. The purpose is to banish disturbing nightmares and these nightmares can indeed interfere with one's Great Work, especially when they're making you too tired to live. Cut four pieces of the fabric, large enough for you to be able to get that 11" x 11cm pillow from. Put two of the pieces aside for a while and start working with the other two -- the pillow case. Embroider or paint the symbols you chose with your chosen colors on both of the pieces (right side of the fabric). If you painted the symbols, let the paint dry completely before starting to sew and if you're using fabric paints, iron the paint as per instructions. Then sew the pieces together with the right sides in. Leave the other 'short end' unsewed. This is where you will slip the the inner pillow inside the pillowcase. Turn the allowances on this short end in and sew in place. You can attach ribbons to the sides of the opening in order to tie it and keep the inner pillow in place. You can also sew the opening closed when the pillow is ready, but ribbons make it much easier to change the inner pillow if needed. The next step is sewing the inner pillow. Make it a little bit smaller than the pillow case. Sew the sides, right sides of the fabric in, leaving a couple of inches on one side for turning the pillow seams in and then stuffing it. Turn the seams in. === === The Herbs === For this nightmare banishing pillow, I selected herbs from the following group of herbs: Lavender, mugwort, hyacinth flowers, anise, cedar, rosemary, valerian, hops, marjoram, dittany of Greece, garlic, thyme. Do take your allergies into consideration and don't use anything that might trigger your allergies! Use approximately 50% lavender, with a dash of rosemary and anise. With others, make a nice and even blend. Remember, you should be able to sleep on that pillow! Mix the herbs gently, without using iron/metal bowls or servers. It is best not to use: Sage, as it may cause haunting feelings in your dream. Tansy, as it can *cause* nightmares. Artemisia or laurel, as they can cause dreams with fears. You might want to remove these from your sleeping quarters as well. Use the herbs as herbs, not as oils. While some instructions do mention oils in dream pillows, oils can have too strong a scent and they may stain. Fill the inner pillow. It is supposed to be rather flat, not round. Sew the hole you left for filling and put the inner pillow inside the pillowcase you made earlier. Tie the ribbons or sew the pillowcase shut. === === Other Notes === While preparing the pillow, concentrate your thoughts on what the pillow is meant to do. That is, the whole preparing process is good old fashioned Witchcraft and the pillow itself a kind of spell wrapped in cloth. === === Then to Banish the Nightmares === You're not supposed to just lay your head down to sleep after making the pillow. You should be preparing yourself for the forthcoming night, sleeping and dreaming. Before falling asleep, perform a banishing ritual of the type you are most familiar with. The purpose of this is to sleep inside a 'circle', within cleansed space. If you can, perform the ritual in your mind instead of going around or on your bed. That is, your mind is doing all the necessary work, while your body is resting on the bed. Include the whole of your bed and a little bit of its surroundings to the area you are cleansing. If your bed is next to a wall, pull it out a little bit so that there's some space between the wall and the bed. Otherwise you might be taking a little bit of your next door neighbor's apartment inside your circle. After the banishing, relax your whole body and -- sweet dreams! === === End Notes === While I'm writing this English translation, my friend has slept two nights after making her pillow and doing the banishings. She said she has had no nightmares at all (although she can't really remember her dreams, nightmares were absent) and she's had more than double her normal sleep. Hopefully, somebody else could find this useful as well! [13] ========= ========= COLUMN: TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === Celtic Tree Oracle === by Liz and Lolin Murray Illustrated by Vanessa Card An Eddison/Sadd Edition Copyright 1988 by Edison/Sadd Editions Limited ISBN 0312020325 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/ctopics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312020325/thecauldron This is not a tarot deck, rather it is an oracle deck. The deck consists of 25 cards, each depicting a mostly trees. 13 of the cards are numbered and 12 are not. I wish more of the trees were featured in spring; however, many are depicted in winter ... without leaves. The cards measure about 2.5 by 3.75 inches and handle very easily. Card stock is very good, and cards are slightly glossy. I cannot comment on their durability, as I have never used mine. I have no reason to doubt them. I cannot recommend or not recommend this deck, as I have never tried mine. As a collector, I am pleased to have them. === === Chinese Tarot === by Jui Gouliang Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1989 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN: 0880793732 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/chinesepics.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880793732/thecauldron I know nothing about Chinese symbolism, legend, folklore or history; however, I can read with this deck. I find it colorful, inspirational, workable, and a joy to use. I'm a bit of an escapist, so I really enjoy diving into the unknown. The deck follows traditional Rider-Waite style rather closely, with only a few changes (other than the obvious Chinese theme). In the majors, the Heirophant has been replaced with the Heavenly Master, the Hanged Man with the Hanging Ghost, Judgement with Confucius, and the World with the Universe. Suits are staves, cups, swords and coins. Courts are king, queen, knight and page. I noted something of interest about the pages. They are older than is traditionally shown, some of them even graying. The card stock is sturdy, but not stiff. The cards are about 2.5 by 4.5 inches and are easily handled. I got my deck second hand, and it did not come with an instructional booklet. I suspect (but am not sure) that a new deck would have the little white booklet. I wish mine did. I thoroughly enjoy this deck and recommend it for those interested in Chinese culture, theme deck lovers, collectors, and intermediate to advanced readers. I almost recommend it for beginners, but am unsure about the effect the culture-shock might have. === === Connolly Tarot === by Eileen and Paul Connolly Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1990 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN: 0880794372 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/connollypics.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880794372/thecauldron I use this deck a lot when reading for clients. The colors are vivid, and the images inspiring. It closely follows traditional Rider-Waite style, with only a few exceptions. Death has become Transition and the Devil has become Materialism. I find that those two minor changes go a long way in eliminating unnecessary fear in clients, not to mention that I actually find the terms more "correct." The suits are wands, cups, swords and pentacles. These cards are durable, sturdy but not stiff, and handle regular use very well. They measure about 2.75 by 4.75 inches, slightly large for me to handle with ease, but still quite manageable. It didn't take long for them to fit perfectly. =) I recommend this deck for anyone and everyone. They can be used for clients of all walks of life. There isn't overt pagan symbolism (not any that a client would recognize as pagan, anyway). The only nude is a very tastefully done Lovers, where the woman's breasts are exposed. This deck would be ideal to learn on, so I recommend it for beginners as well. === === Contact Cards === by Kim Carlsberg & Darryl Anka Published by Bear & Company Copyright 1996 by Kim Carlsberg & Darryl Anka ISBN 1879181320 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/ccpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879181320/thecauldron What an odd deck! I wouldn't call this a tarot deck, and neither do its creators. The deck consists of 60 cards in 5 suits: aliens, ships, stars, planets and crop circles. As far as I can tell, there are no elemental associations or symbolism present. Each card must be memorized. They do not "inspire" the reader (at least not me) at all. Cards are 3.5 inches square. They handle well, even with my small hands. Card stock is very good, and cards are highly glossed. I suspect they are durable, but I've never used my cards. I recommend this deck for the collector and for UFO buffs. ===== ===== 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: 25 REASONS WHY IT ROCKS TO BE WICCAN ========= Author Unknown ========= 1. No confessing unless you want to. 2. BELTANE!!! 3. You can't go to any other church nekkid, can you? 4. You can bring up the topic of Aleister Crowley in a mixed crowd, and be guaranteed an evening of entertainment. 5. You get to claim bagging rights on your past incarnations. 6. You get all the drama, pageantry, chanting, and incense of Catholicism, without the guilt 7. Sex is holy. 8. Aphrodite, baby! 9. Accidental Maypole bondage is all part of the scene! 10. You're not only allowed to manipulate the odds, you're expected to! 11. You can make people nervous just by having a black cat. 12. If you're male, you get to scoff at the blunts who don't know whether to call you a warlock or a manwitch. 13. You can tell someone the difference between upright and inverse pentacles... 14. And no one really busts you out if you make it all up! 15. You can bring a deck of cards to a party and suddenly you're everyone's best friend. 16. You get to pick your own name. 17. If your name sounds like you were on peyote when you chose it, you're still probably in good company. 18. No one is bothered if you decide to change your circle name every other week. 19. You have more fun with Jehovah's Witnesses than anybody. 20. You also have more fun at family gatherings when the topic of where Christmas REALLY came from arises. 21. Your medicant skills can have your apoplectic uncle up and breathing again after the aforementioned conversation, with nothing more than your aunt's common cooking herbs. 22. You may not like your fat thighs much, but you always know a Goddess who's WAY fatter! 23. You understand the language of cats, birds, trees, wind, faeries, or whatever. 24. If you just pretend to understand the above-mentioned language, other pagans won't bust you out. 25. You have more fun at Halloween than anyone else in the world! [15] ========= ========= DRAGON CLAN WITCHCRAFT COURSE: DECEMBER LESSON INDEX ========= OFFERED ON THE CAULDRON'S DELPHI FORUM ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is offering an online witchcraft course in the Dragon Clan tradition on our Delphi message board. This course is taught by Jet. While this course formally began on Monday, May 20, 2002, interested members can join the course at any time as the course material is in numbered messages in the Online Witchcraft Course folder on our Delphi message board. You simply start with the messages with the lowest numbers in the subject line and work your way through at your own pace. The final set of lessons, listed below, we posted in December 2002. 8.0 Wheel of Spirit 8.1 Meditations 8.11 The Censer and Spirit http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7694.1 8.12 Meditation on the Censer http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7695.1 8.13 The Witches' Ladder http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7696.1 8.2 Making an Elemental Chart http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7697.1 8.3 Reflection before Initiation http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7699.1 8.4 Ordeal: Drink Down the Moon http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7700.1 8.5 Wheel Measure http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=7701.1 [16] ========= ========= 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. 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. 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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) 2002 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. 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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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