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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #44 -- February 2004 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] Cauldron Challenge: February [03] Cauldron News [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] Prime Chaos [05-2] Incense [05-3] Dunwich's Guide to Gemstone Sorcery [05-4] Curse Tablets and Binding Spells [05-5] How to Write for the New Age Market [05-6] Hoodoo Mysteries [05-7] The Pocket Spell Creator [06] Received For Review (with Mini-Reviews) [07] Articles: [07-1] Making It Happen - An Inquiry Into Heka [07-2] The Faery Cure [08] Columns [08-1] TarotDeevah on the Tarot [08-2] Humor: The Triple Return Investment Guild [08-3] Poetry: Under The Moon [08-4] Software Watch: LeechGet [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] A Thorny Issue: Disappearing Cacti [09-2] Fund Supports Tiger Conservation Efforts [09-3] Mad Cow Disease: What You Should Know [09-4] Use Caution With Pain Relievers [09-5] Fourteen Foods That Can Change Your Life [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: February 15, 2004 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= I really hate to start off by begging for articles, but we are truly in need of your articles for future issues. As I write this, the submission bin is nearly empty of everything but reviews. If you have been thinking about writing an article, now would really be a great time to put those thoughts into action. If we do not get enough submissions, we will have to use more late 19th and early 20th century public domain material. This is your newsletter and we really do need your help to fill it with interesting articles. LyricFox and I are just now starting to look for a house. One of our dogs got sick which delayed things a bit. However, all our news is not bad. Elspeth is back on our message boards for the first time in over a year (see the Cauldron News section below for more info), we've added a new monthly "Cauldron Challenge," our 300th item was reviewed on our web site, and January was a very busy month on our message board. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= CAULDRON CHALLENGE: FEBRUARY ========= by Star ========= The Cauldron Challenge for February is to read one book that you've always meant to read, but never gotten around to. This can be any kind of book. Fiction, nonfiction, religious, secular -- heck, even a cookbook is fine. It's up to you. I encourage participants to post their choice in the February Challenge -- I find it's easier to hold myself to something like (rather than wandering off to something else) if I've told someone I'm going to do it. Also, as you read, you could post what you think of what you're reading, and maybe you could give us an overall impression when you're finished. (No spoilers for fiction, though, please.) http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12185.1 [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Top Poster -- January 2004 ===== The Cauldron's message board had 8031 posts in January. Karen (STARGLADE) had the most posts of any non-staff member in January and snagged our monthly "top poster" award. Our Runner Up was Dragonoake (DRAGONOAKE). Mary (JALILIFER), Loreley (LORELEYJ), Peregrine (MIRIAM11), and Haruka (HARUKATENOH6) gave Dragonoake a good race for that runner up spot. You can congratulate both Karen and Dragonoake in the discussion thread linked below. ===== ===== The Return of Elspeth! ===== One of our Co-Hosts, Elspeth Sapphire, has been away for ages due to illness. She visited the Cauldron from the first time in over a year on January 12th -- the first time she's felt able to do so in a long time -- and said: "It feels strange to be sitting in front of a computer again... after all, I haven't even tried since last March. ::sigh:: I would rather not repeat the past couple of years again.... Let it be enough to say that I am well enough to spend some time on line again and enough energy to do so. :)" You can read Elspeth's entire post and welcome her back in this thread. http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12038.1 ===== ===== New Staff Member: Mari ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is pleased to announce that Mari (ARIANCRAIDD on our message board) has accepted a position as a member of The Cauldron's message board staff. She's been a very active member of our message board for about two years and we are very happy to have her join our staff. ===== ===== Shop Earth Spirit Emporium via The Cauldron ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is now an Earth Spirit Emporium affiliate. Earth Spirit Emporium has a diverse selection of magickal and ritual supplies, including athames, books, candles, incense, essential oils, jewelry, spell kits, wind chimes, smudge sticks, tarot cards and boxes, wands, staffs, and a lot more. They have a large selection of Pagan-oriented merchandise. They've been in business for a number of years and have many satisfied customers. When you visit Earth Spirit Emporium from a link on our web site, a percentage any purchases you make while you are there comes back to The Cauldron to help support this site. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ===== ===== Long Time Member New Suite 101 Wicca/Witchcraft Host ===== Karen (DRAGONFAERIE on our message board) took over as host of the Wicca/Witchcraft area at Suite 101 in January. Her first two articles are available there and she plans a new article every couple of weeks. Drop by and see what she's up to. http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/5150 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 Do You Find Religiously Challenging? === What do you find challenging/hard to do in your current path? What things do you struggle with? If this wasn't the religion you grew up, what things did you find hard to change in your mindset when you changed religions? Do the things you find hard sort of surprise you, or do you think they're things a lot of other people in your path (or related paths) struggle with? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12244.1 === === When God was a Woman === I have to read a chapter from Merlin Stone's When God was a Woman for a religion class, and I was wondering what people think of the book in terms of its accuracy. Is it well-researched? Do her theories have a leg to stand on? I ask because I'm wary of any book that looks like it's putting forward an "ancient matriarchal society" theory, but I don't want to write off such a book completely, either (and I don't know what the book as a whole is like). I'd appreciate any opinions, information, and/or debunking you guys have to offer! * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12225.1 === === Is There One Best Wiccan Tradition? === I live in a large city. There a many different Wiccan groups of many different traditions. I'm new to Wicca and have no idea how to pick a tradition. Are some better than others? Is there one or two that are best? Why did you select the tradition you did? How should I pick or doesn't it really matter? I welcome all opinions and advice as I have far too many choices. Thank you. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12236.1 === === Training Pagan Clergy === Should Pagan clergy be required have a college degree and/or seminary training? Why or why not? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12205.1 === === Pagan Group Endurance Problems === When I look at the Christian churches in my area, I see groups that are around for years in most cases. Many have been around for decades (centuries in a few cases). Most Pagan groups, on the other hand, seem very ephemeral. A group that lasts a couple of years is a long-lived group. Why do Pagan groups often form and fade away so quickly? What (if anything) do you think should be done to help make our Pagan groups more permanent parts of our community? Can anything really be done? (Is this even a problem in your eyes?) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12206.1 === === How Do I Tell If I'm Really Pagan? === This probably sounds like a dumb question, but how do I tell if I'm really Pagan or just a confused seeker who made a wrong turn at Albuquerque? I've been looking for a religion for years, but none seem to fit. I sometimes feel that I try on religions the way I do clothes. I find the Pagan view of life very compelling, but I have the same problem I've had with other religions. I can't seem to really believe. Just when I think I believe, my mind seems to fill with doubts. Just when I think I hear the Lord and Lady calling, doubts kick in. Do they really exist? Are they really for me? Am I worthy to worship them? .... Or is my imagination just working overtime? Is there something wrong with me? I really want to believe. But I can't turn off my mind. I think too much and doubts are always there. I was expelled from Christianity when I was in college for thinking too much and doubting the Bible. Doubts have kept me searching since. Everyone else seems able to believe so easily. Why can't I? What makes you believe? How can anyone believe in Gods without any doubt whatever? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12171.1 === === Disappearing Items? === I have had many personal items disappear over a period of about three to four months. Although it has happened many times during the past, it would happen only once in a long while. Now it feels like every week things are going missing. These items of late were all very different from each other. A few examples of the missing items are a ring, a couple of stones, a favorite item of clothing, a special pen, a silk scarf, and a bracelet. I've gone through some of the possibilities - someone playing a joke, my being forgetful and moving it without remembering, but we have combed the house top to bottom, and have not found any of the items. Has anyone had this type of thing happen to them? If so, what or who did you find was connected to this, and what did you do? If not, does anyone know what could be happening to these things, or where I can find out anything about this type of thing? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12122.1 === === Pagan Aesthetics === I recently read a book called Modern Pagans, published by a group called REsearch. It's a collection of interviews with various members of the modern Pagan community in America and Britain, discussing some of the various traditions and religions in the Pagan umbrella, and also issues relating to them. Starhawk, Margot Adler and a few other big names contributed, as well as people I'd never heard of (like the Ravenhearts). Two questions that cropped up frequently were whether Pagans a) have a particular identifying "aesthetic" - clothing, jewelry, tattoos and piercings and so on; and b) whether Pagans had common attitudes toward e.g. politics, sex and society. The most common consensus was that Pagans don't tend to buy their clothes from Gap, and we're not all free loving hippies anymore... What do you think? Barring the odd pentagram the size of a hubcap (and I've seen a few...*shudder*), is there anything that marks us out from the crowd? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=12119.1 === === Do Cities Have Souls? === Do you think that cities (and other places) have souls or spirits? I don't know that this is exactly the right terminology, but after I've been in a city for even a short time I get a sense of a "personality" in much the same way that you get a sense for a human personality. While I typically don't believe in empathic abilities or the like, I sometimes get a sense of place that is almost overwhelming. Have any of you had similar experiences? If so, why do you think this happens? Is it actually related to spiritual energy of some sort? Or is it subtle cues from the environment affecting our reactions? Both? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11998.1 === === What Does Eclectic Mean to You? === I found this on another site, and it was offensive to me. It's an Eclectic Rede, written originally by Steve Storm (whoever that is): "Nine words the Eclectic Rede attest: Steal what works, fix what's broke, fake the rest." I'm offended by the word "steal", and I feel no need so far to "fix" anything I've found, and I certainly don't plan to "fake" anything, although I may create my own rituals or ceremonies. I'm eclectic, because I don't subscribe to any particular belief system, but that's the only reason. I keep reading about eclectics who make a real mess out of it, because they mix things that don't work well together. I guess that's why, in a way, I tried to research my deities and am researching rituals and trying to make it all "fit". What does eclectic mean to you? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11964.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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 or PayPal and help us pay the web site bills. Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: PRIME CHAOS ========= Reviewed by Everfool ========= Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic Author: Phil Hine Trade Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: New Falcon Publications Publication date: October 1999 ISBN: 1561841374 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561841374/thecauldron Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic is described as a companion book to Hine's earlier work, Condensed Chaos. Personally I did not regard this book as being particularly advanced, which makes me wonder how basic the information in the first book was. Regardless, this book will not teach you everything you need to know about Chaos Magic, so whether you get the basics online, or from another book, it would be best not to come to this book unprepared. This, really, is my main criticism of the book: It isn't so basic that it could be the first book on Chaos you read, but it isn't so deeply advanced that you should buy it if you have read other pieces (for the record I bought it because I wanted something to read on the train). The book is divided into four sections, the first essentially puts new twists on old concepts (I will return to this later), the second covers components of ritual, the third covers group work, and the fourth consists of a brief look at Discordianism and Cthulhu based magic. The first section is, in my opinion, the best. Among other concepts, it takes some concepts that Carroll (of Liber Null & Psychonaut) merely states, and offers realistic advice (for example, how to make paradigm shift a useful technique, rather than just a lazy game). He also tackles the subject of initiation, describing it as an ongoing process throughout life. The first section, however, falls down when he moves onto that old Chaote subject of Aeonics. While the idea originates with Crowley (as far as I know), it seems common in Chaos Magic to discuss the history of the world in terms of magickal periods. While I can see the attraction of this, the technique falls down on two main points. The first is that it focuses on Western magickal traditions, and ignores systems of magic which have remained shamanic until the present day. It also assumes that changes in agriculture etc bring inevitable changes to belief and magic (eg, that monotheism is inevitable with a changing culture). After all, it isn't like the author had access to parallel universes in order to compare progress. Or if he did, Hine isn't telling us. The second section, on ritual, is slightly more bog standard. While interesting to read at least once, it only contains one or two new ideas. Other than that, most basic books on magic will teach you ritual use just as well, even if most books will favour particular forms (whether Qabbalistic, Wiccan etc). Some ideas have been borrowed or adapted from Carroll's Liber Kaos - the basics of colour magic based on the Chaosphere can be found online (as indeed can most of the contents of Liber Kaos). This section is lifted by the author's awareness of other magic systems, and not merely to the superficial degree that seems present in Carroll's work - for example Hine gives a basic description of a sumbel, and presents several Voudoun (Hine's spelling) anecdotes. The third section covers group work, including considerations of how to organize, recruitment, booking rooms, dealing with trouble makers, and other such useful things. This section focuses more on the "mundane" side of things. If you already know how to run a group well, look elsewhere for group magic. If, on the other hand, you've never run a group before, you may find this handy. The advice appears to be quite sound, although I have never been part of a magical group before, so I cannot say with full authority! The final, and shortest, section briefly covers the basics of Erisisian/ Discordian magic ("Liber Nice") and Cthulhu Mythos magic ("Liber Nasty"). This section is certainly interesting, but it really is just a primer for these two paradigms (which both mingle with Chaos Magic to differing degrees). This is a shame, because both systems are fairly radical in their differences to "normal" magical techniques. If Hine had focused more upon this section, with more "original" contributions rather than a summary of the basics, the book would have been lifted, perhaps, beyond being a Chaos 102 book. In conclusion, Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic is a good book. It just isn't very special. Parts of the book do exceed the "average" rating, especially when Hine shows his familiarity with the wider occult and Pagan world. I'd also be lying if I said that there were no new ideas, or interesting thoughts. But it probably is not worth spending money on this book unless you can see it going for half price. If you know someone who owns the book, it is definitely worth borrowing, but it isn't an indispensable part of the magician's library. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkpcaicm.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: INCENSE ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents Author: Carl F. Neal Trade Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: September 2003 ISBN: 0738703362 US Retail Price: $15.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703362/thecauldron Incense is an important part of many religious and magickal rituals, as well as having many mundane uses such as covering the smell of a burnt culinary disaster. Many people have questions about how the most common type of commercial stick incenses are made and might like to try their hand at making their own, more traditional, incenses if only they knew how. Carl Neal's Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents provides that knowledge is a relatively understandable format. In his introduction, Neal explains the history of incense and why he believes one might want to make one's own. For example, if you are allergic to incense, you might actually be allergic to some of the chemicals that sometimes end up in commercial incenses and might be able to burn more homemade incense -- where you control the ingredients -- with fewer problems. The first chapter discusses the various forms incense can come in -- and the advantages and disadvantages of each. The second chapter talks about the many types of aromatics, bases, and binders that can be used in making incense. The third charter explains how to use the various forms of incense and the various types of "incense burners" available. After this introduction to incense, Neal devotes the rest of the book to making incense. There are chapters on selecting and buying raw materials, the tools and work areas needed, the actual process of making incense, and a large selection of incense recipes (as well as information on experimenting to develop your own recipes). The final chapter is on troubleshooting. It's arranged like those charts in the back of many owner's manuals for electronic productions where the symptoms of the problem are listed in one column and advice for correcting the problem in another. This small section alone is probably worth the price of the book for the beginning incense maker. A number of appendixes round out the book. In addition to the expected one on ingredients and locating materials, there are appendixes on the ritual use or incense, and possible philosophical/ethical issues in incense making. The final appendix on the Japanese art of listening to incense was the most interesting to me. The book concludes with a glossary, short bibliography, and an index. Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents is an impressive book on an subject that has not been done to death in other books. While Neal will not win any awards for writing, the information in the book is relatively clear and fairly easy to follow despite not being arranged to best effect in some chapters. If you are interesting in making your own incense, or just what to know more about incense and how it is made, you'll want a copy of this book. Despite a few rough edges in the writing department, this book has the "smell" of a how-to classic. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkicauoms.php [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: DUNWICH'S GUIDE TO GEMSTONE SORCERY ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Dunwich's Guide to Gemstone Sorcery: Using Stones for Spells, Amulets, Rituals, and Divination Author: Gerina Dunwich Trade Paperback, 221 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: July 2003 ISBN: 1564146723 US Retail Price: $14.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146723/thecauldron The back cover of Dunwich's Guide to Gemstone Sorcery: Using Stones for Spells, Amulets, Rituals, and Divination claims that this book "provides you with everything you need to know for transforming yourself into a sorcerer or sorceress of gemstone magick". Why are people paid to write nonsense like that on the back of books? This thin book certainly does not tell you "everything you need to know" about gemstone magick. This type of marketing hype may turn some serious seekers away from this book, It would be a shame if it does as Dunwich has written a very nice introduction to the lore and magickal use of precious and semi- precious stones. After a short introductory chapter on the author's experiences with gemstones, Dunwich moves right into the practical with instructions on preparing stones, using stones with altars, on the magickal uses of stones for people who design their own spells, and a good number of spells and rituals using gemstones in the next two chapters. The fourth chapter is an alphabetic list of stones and their uses in amulets throughout history and around the world. Next is a short chapter on healing with gemstones, complete with short rituals. This is followed by information on creating gemstone elixirs and potions for healing purposes. The seventh chapter talks about birthstones and other ways stones are associated with astrology. The next chapter is a whirlwind introduction to a number of different methods of using gemstones in divination. Chapter nine talks about cursed gemstones using the Hope Diamond and the Koh-i-Noor. This leads into the final chapter on the folklore of gemstones. The book does not end with the last chapter, however, as there are about 50 pages of additional material. There are six appendixes: a daily calendar of stones, stone correspondences, two on the stones associated with Pagan deities, gemstones and the Tree of Life, and gemstones of the Wiccan Sabbats. Theses appendixes are followed by a list of places to get stones, a bibliography, and an index. If you are looking for all the information in the book on a specific stone, the index makes it easy to find. While Dunwich's Guide to Gemstone Sorcery: Using Stones for Spells, Amulets, Rituals, and Divination doesn't live up to its back cover marketing hype, Dunwich has written a decent and readable introduction to gemstone lore and magick. If you don't have anything else on your shelf on the subject, this book would be a nice basic reference on the subject. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkdgtgs.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: CURSE TABLETS AND BINDING SPELLS ========= Reviewed by Loreley ========= Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World Author: John G. Gager Trade Paperback, 296 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication date: August 1999 ISBN: 0195134826 US Retail Price: $21.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195134826/thecauldron Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from The Ancient World, by John G. Gager, deals with the wide Mediterranean phenomenon of using defixiones: binding spells carved on lead tablets and usually buried in cemeteries. The major part of the book deals with Greek and Roman defixiones, but there are examples (total of over a 100) from all over the Mediterranean including Syria, Palestine, Spain and France. There are even some examples from the temple to Sulis Minerva in Bath, England. I really loved this book. First of all, it gives over a 100 examples of ancient binding spells. This provides a very interesting perspective into the social and religious life of people in ancient times. It also shows how cultures and religions influenced each other. In one binding tablet you can find an appeal to Hermes and Persephone, Jewish mystical names, secret names of Egyptian Seth and some stuff in Latin. I also got some practical ideas from it. Some of the spells formulas have been extremely inspiring. But what I loved most about the book was the approach of the author regarding the use of these defixiones. There are quite lovely explanations of how magic worked in ancient times, and why. It's nice for a change to see a historian that doesn't dismiss magic, and instead tries to build a solid theory around it. I have to say, that despite my enthusiasm, Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from The Ancient World is actually a "dry" academic book. But what I can I say, I am known for my affection for this kind of book. I sort of grew tired of all the "pagan- labeled" books and I'm moving further in my reading to more in- depth stuff. And honestly, if you're into the subject Mediterranean witchcraft/magic, this book is a treasure. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkctabsftaw.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: HOW TO WRITE FOR THE NEW AGE MARKET ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= How to Write for the New Age Market Author: Richard Webster Trade Paperback, 196 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: May 2003 ISBN: 0738703443 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703443/thecauldron Richard Webster is well qualified to write his latest book How to Write for the New Age Market. He's written over 20 books in the New Age field and before beginning his career as a new age writer, he was an editor and had books published in other fields. While this book does seem a bit biased toward Llewellyn procedures at times, Webster's experience is with Llewellyn and they are one of the world's top publishers of New Age books. Don't let the "New Age" name fool you, in the publishing business it covers much more than what most Pagans think of as "New Age" -- including Pagan religions. Webster starts at the beginning (coming up with a marketable idea) and shows how to go from idea stage to published book. Research, writing, preparing an outline and sample chapter, understanding how the acquisitions process works at a publisher, working with editors, and promoting your book once it is published are all covered. Webster's style is clear, but entertaining. He doesn't make writing a book sound like any less work than it is, but he doesn't make it sound impossible either. There is a lot of practical advice throughout this book. While I'm not a writer, I've known many professional writers in other genres over the years, and what Webster says in this book is the same type of sound advice that I've heard them give to new writers in the past, just targeted at the New Age market. While reading this book will not turn you into a writer, if you have the talent and something worthwhile to say, it will help you write and sell a New Age or Pagan book to a publisher. If you are interested in writing a book for the New Age market, you really should read this book. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr03.php#htwftnam [05-6] ========= ========= REVIEW: HOODOO MYSTERIES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Hoodoo Mysteries: Folk Magic, Mysticism & Rituals Author: Ray Malbrough Trade Paperback, 240 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: November 2003 ISBN: 0738703508 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703508/thecauldron Hoodoo Mysteries: Folk Magic, Mysticism & Rituals discusses Louisiana Hoodoo. According to the author, Hoodoo is a Black American variation on the magickal (but not the religious) practices of Vodoun, which makes considerable, but unorthodox, use of Catholic Saints in its rituals. This book seems to provide quite a bit of information on the practice of Hoodoo, although in some places it seems to be talking about Vodoun instead of Hoodoo. When I showed this book to people more knowledgeable about Hoodoo than I am, they were not impressed with its accuracy. One said that it was at least 70% "pure invention" on Malbrough's part, so if you are interested in authentic Hoodoo information, this book may not provide it. That said, the book is readable and presents a magick system that should work even if my advisors are correct and the book isn't presenting authentic Hoodoo. Background information, divination methods, and some rituals and magickal procedures are provided. A great deal of time is spent trying to tie Hoodoo into the Qabala and astrology, things that appear somewhat alien to the system as a whole. If you are looking for a magic system other than classic witchcraft, this may be an interesting book. However, if you are looking for authentic information on Hoodoo, this book apparently is not the place to start. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr04.php#hm [05-7] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE POCKET SPELL CREATOR ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Pocket Spell Creator: Magickal References at Your Fingertips Author: Kerri Connor Pocket Paperback, 160 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: September 2003 ISBN: 1564147150 US Retail Price: $9.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564147150/thecauldron The Pocket Spell Creator: Magickal References at Your Fingertips is a small book of spell correspondences intended to be put in a pocket and carried around. This is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, it's a bit wide to fit in the average pocket -- at least on my clothes. That quibble aside, this book is actually quite handy for the average practitioner of witchcraft. It lists the correspondences or elements, moon phases, days of the week, colors, crystals and stones, foods, herbs and plants, and oils in a concise and easy to read format. An index makes it easy to look up a particular item to see what its correspondences are. In addition to correspondences, this book includes very brief chapters on the various types of spells and on magickal ethics and procedures. The ethics are basically those of Wicca. The book concludes with two long chapters. The first gives a large number of simple oil, incense, and bath salts recipes (actually just ingredient lists). The second gives a number of short incantations one can use for spells. A few make me want to gag, but most are okay. Aside from being too big for my pockets, the only real problem I see with this book is its price. At a suggested retail price of US$9.99, it seems a bit expensive for its size. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr03.php#tpsc ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and other 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 ========= For the first time in many months, I received no new books to review during an entire month. While this was a blessing in that it allowed me to catch up on my backlog of reviews, it means this section of the newsletter is very short as I have no new books or Tarot decks to report on. [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= MAKING IT HAPPEN - AN INQUIRY INTO HEKA ========= by Irish Jade ========= Making It Happen - An Inquiry Into Heka Ancient Egyptian culture had no distinction between the magical and mundane worlds, believing that the two were fully intertwined and inseparable. One of the ways they believed they could influence the world (both theirs and the gods) was through the use of heka. Heka to them was a great power, primarily accessed through speaking or writing to ask the netjerw for healing, protection, or support. "... [an] expression of the divine creativeness through thought and speech..." -- Egyptian Religion, by Siegfried Morenz Heka comes from the Coptic word hik, which was translated into the Greek 'mageia', and the Latin 'magia', both of which were defined as 'illegal sorcery'. This is why today, heka is mistakenly translated into English as 'magic'. Yet heka is a neutral word, directing the self with purpose of regaining ma'at when something has gone wrong. Heka was first recorded when translating the coffin texts of Egyptian tombs. The passage found on them described an existing force that the gods utilized to create, to destroy, and to change both their and the human world. "... to me belonged the universe before you gods had come into being. You have come afterwards because I am Heka..." -- Coffin Text, Spell 261 The force of heka itself consists of four parts: heka, rw, seshaw, and pekhret. Heka itself, which is described as, "a primeval potency that empowered the creator god at the beginning of time", and is often depicted as existing, "before duality had yet come into being". The other components are rw (sacred texts), seshaw (magical rituals or treatments), and pekhret (medicinal prescriptions). Heka is one of the three creative powers of the Sun god Ra, which were necessary for Creation to come about. Thus heka was the divine energy or the life force, the other two were hu, divine utterance, and sia, divine knowledge. Like ma'at, heka was later personified into a netjer (a god), and is depicted as a man standing in front of the naos where the Sun god is seen, in the sunboat, and sometimes holding different ritual objects. A Greek word, naos means "inner sanctuary" of a temple. The most famous one was constructed by Pharaoh Nectanebo I in the 4th century BCE, at Saft. It was dedicated to Isis, and the inner part of the temple was called "Naos of the Decades". This naos was later moved to a temple in Canopus. Such temples were used to record detailed charts of stars, using a system that divided the sky into segments called decans. Decan stars were used to accurately measure the passage of time and to mark feasts and holidays regularly on the calendar. These fell under the rw part of heka. Heka appears in the Book of the Coming Forth By Day, sometimes called the Book of the Dead, translated from the Papyrus of Ani (1240 BCE). Behold, it is not this Pepi who hath said these things to you, O ye gods, it is Heka who hath said these things to you, O ye gods, and this Meri-Ra is the support which is under Heka; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven. -- Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge I am one with Atum when he still floated alone in Nun, the waters of chaos, before any of his strength had gone into creating the cosmos. I am Atum at his most inexhaustible - the potence and potential of all that is to be. This is my magic protection and it's older and greater than all the gods together! As these passages suggest, the concept of heka, like ma'at, existed before any of the netjerw came into being. Yet even after the concept became personified, heka continued to play an important part in the development of the other netjerw. Aset bore the title "Weret-Hekau", meaning 'great of heka [magic]', as in myth she managed to trick Ra into revealing his secret name to her. The powerful goddess Sekhmet also carried this title. The best definition of heka I have found is 'lifeforce in action', meaning that one's whole self is dedicated to correcting something that is not ma'at. It consists more than just saying a prayer or reading a passage, but totally and utterly committing to returning things to a proper order. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= The Fairy Cure ========= by Patrick Kennedy ========= from Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts [1891] ========= We have related the adventures of a woman in the Duffrey, who had been called on at a late hour to assist the lady of a fairy chief in a trying situation. The person about whom we are going to speak was also a sage-femme and in that capacity was summoned by a dark rider to aid his lady, who was on the point of adding to the Sighe population of the country. For nearly a year before that time, Nora's daughter, Judy, had been confined to her bed by a sore leg, which neither she, nor the neighbouring doctor, nor the fairy-man [1], could "make any hand of." The calling up of the old woman, the ride behind the Fir Dhorocha, and the dismounting at the door of an illuminated palace, all took place as mentioned in the tale above alluded to. In, the hall she was surprised to see an old neighbour, who had long been spirited away from the, haunts of his youth and manhood, to the joyless, though showy life of the Sighe caverns. He at once took an Opportunity, when the "Dark man" was not observing him, to impress on Nora the necessity of taking no refreshment of any kind while under the roof of the fairy castle, and of refusing money or any other consideration in any form. The only exception he made was in favour of cures for diseases inflicted by evil spirits or by fairies. She found the lady of the castle in a bed with pillows and quilts of silk, and in a short time (for Nora was a handy woman) there was a beautiful little girl lying on the breast of the delighted mother. All the fine ladies that were scattered through the large room, now gathered round, and congratulated their queen, and paid many compliments to the lucky-handed Nora. "I am so pleased with you," said the lady, "that I shall be glad to see you take as much gold, and silver, and jewels, out of the next room, as you can carry." Nora stepped in out of curiosity and saw piles of gold and silver coins, and baskets of diamonds and pearls, lying about on, every side, but she remembered the caution, and came out empty-handed. "I'm much obleeged to you, my lady," said she, "but if I took them guineas, and crowns, and jewels home, no one would ever call on me again to help his wife, and I'd be sittin' wud me hands acrass and doin' nothin' but dhrinkin' tay and makin' curtchies (courtesies), an' I'd be dead before a year 'ud be gone by." "Oh dear! "said the lady, "what an odd person you are! At any rate, sit down at that table, and help yourself to food and drink." "Oh, ma'am, is it them jellies, an' custhards, an' pasthry you'd like to see me at? Lord love you! I would'nt know the way to me mouth wud the likes; an' I swore again dhrinkin' after a time I was overtaken wud the liccor when I ought to be mindin' a poor neighbour's wife." "Well, this is too bad. Will you even condescend to wear this shawl for my sake?" "Ach, me lady, would you have the dirty little gorsoons roaring after me, an' may be pelting me with stones, when I'd be going through the village?" "Well, but what should hinder you from living in this castle all your life with me, eating and drinking, and wearing the best of everything?" "Musha, ma'am, I'd only be the laughin' stock o' the fine ladies and gentlemen. I'd have no ould neighbour to have a shanachus (gossip) wud, and what 'ud the craythurs of women do for me in me own place, when their time 'ud be come?" "Alas! alas! is there any way in which I can show you how grateful I am for your help and your skill?" "Musha, indeed is there, ma'am. My girshach, Jude, is lying under a sore leg for a twelvemonth, an' I'm sure that the lord or yourself can make her as sound as a bell if you only say the word." "Ask me anything but that, and you shall have it." "Oh, lady, dear, that's giving me everything but the thing I want." "You don't know the offence your daughter gave to us, I am sure, or you would not ask me to cure her." "Judy offend you, ma'am! Oh, it's impossible!" "Not at all; and this is the way it happened. "You know that all the fairy court enjoy their lives in the night only, and we frequently go through the country, and hold our feasts where the kitchen, and especially the hearth, is swept up clean. About a twelvemonth ago, myself and my ladies were passing your cabin, and one of the company liked the appearance of the neat thatch, and the whitewashed walls, and the clean pavement outside the door, so much, that she persuaded us all to go in. We found the cheerful turf fire shining oh the well-swept hearth and floor, and the clean pewter and delft plates on the dresser, and the white table. We were so well pleased, that we sat down on the hearth, and laid our tea-tray, and began to drink our tea as comfortably as could be. You know we can be any size we please, and there was a score of us settled before the fire. "We were vexed enough when we saw your daughter come up out of your bedroom, and make towards the fire. Her feet, I acknowledge, were white and clean, but one of them would cover two or three of us, the size we were that night. On she came stalking, and just as I was raising my cup of tea to my lips, down came the soft flat sole on it, and spilled the tea all over me. I was very much annoyed, and I caught the thing that came next to my hand, and hurled it at her. It was the tea-pot, and the point of the spout is in the small of her leg from that night till now." "Oh, lady, darlint! how can you hold spite to the poor slob of a girl, that knew no more of you being there, nor of offending you, that she did of the night she was born? " " Well, well; now that is all past and gone I believe you are right. At all events, you have done so much for me, that I cannot refuse you anything. Take this ointment, and rub it where you will see the purple mark, and I hope that your thoughts of me may be pleasant." Just then, a messenger came to say that the lord was at the hail door waiting for Nora, for the cocks would be soon a-crowing. So she took leave of the lady, and mounted behind the dark man. The horse's back seemed as hard and as thin as a hazel stick, but it bore her safely to her home. She was in a sleepy state all the time she was returning, but at last she woke up, and found herself standing by her own door. She got into bed as fast as she could, and when she woke next morning, she fancied it was all a dream. She put her hand in her pocket, and there, for a certainty, was the box of ointment. She stripped the clothes off her daughter's leg, rubbed some of the stuff on it, and in a few seconds she saw the skin bursting, and a tiny spout of a tea-pot working itself out. Poor Judy was awake by this, and wondering what ease she felt in her leg. I warrant she was rejoiced at the story her mother told her. She soon received health and strength, and never neglected to leave her kitchen so nice when she was going to hed, that Rich Darner himself might eat his dinner off the floor. She took good care never to let her feet stray over it again after bed-time, for fear of giving offence to her unseen visitors. === Notes [1] The worthy who possessed skill in curing all maladies inflicted "by the Good People," sympathetic ointments and charmed draughts being the chief articles in his pharmacopoeia. [08] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [08-1] ========= ========= TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === Spiral Tarot === by Kay Steventon Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1997 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 1572810971 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/spiralpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572810971/thecauldron The art in this deck is quite wonderful for the most part. I especially like the colors. I'd decorate my house with these colors. I never could get a hold of this deck, though, despite trying. I can't even put my finger on it. Lots of people use it and rave about it, so I suspect it's just that I didn't "connect" with mine. The deck is done in the Rider-Waite style, except that pages are called princesses. All cards are illustrated. Symbolism is abundant. Cards contain many glyphs or symbols, some of which I do not recognize. The little white booklet explains none of the symbols. The cards measure about 2.75 by 4 inches and handle well. The card stock is ideal. The cards seem to be durable, although I haven't really tested their durability. Despite my not being able to connect with this deck, I recommend it for others. I believe that beginners will find it readable and will grow with the deck as well. I also recommend the deck for collectors and more advanced readers. === === The Stairs of Gold (Tavaglione Tarot) === by Giorgio M.S. Tavaglione Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1979 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0913866903 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/sogpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0913866903/thecauldron This deck goes by many names, including: Stairs of Gold Tarot, Tavaglione's Stairs of Gold, Tarocco Tavaglione and Tavaglione Tarot. At first glance, it appears to be a Marseilles' style deck, but it is so much more. This deck combines many systems (hermetecism, Kaballa, astrology, etc) into a fantastic tarot deck. While I'm not overly impressed with the art (a deck called Stairs of Gold should be guilded, right?), the abundance of symbolism and use of many systems more than makes up for what the art lacks. Each card includes: the number of the card, Sanskrit letter, number of the Tarot Leaf, Hebrew letter, Kabbalistic letter, elemental association, Isatin letter, zodiacal correspondence (including constellations or planets), Tree of Life OTZ CHIM, and keyword. The little white booklet is also wonderful, filled with so much information. Cards measure about 2.75 by 5.25 inches, and are quite long for my small hands. Card stock is good, although a little thin for my tastes. I have no reason to doubt their durability, as I have handled my deck quite a bit with no apparent wearing. I recommend this deck for anyone looking to learn and incorporate new systems into their tarot reading. This deck covers all of the most common systems (except runes) and several lesser known ones. Beginners would benefit from this as well. === === Starter Tarot Deck === Artwork by George R. Bennett Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1997, 1998 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880793570 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/starterpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880793570/thecauldron This deck is similar to Quick and Easy Tarot in that interpretations are printed on the cards, both upright and reversals. I really cannot comment on whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. This is not how I learned tarot, and I have heard both positive and negative reactions to this method. The art, order and naming of the deck tends to follow the Tarot de Marseilles style, except that pips are illustrated. Justice is VIII and Strength is XI. It is colored in a variety of pastels throughout the deck. Cards measure about 2.5 by 4.75 inches, which is a little long for my small hands. It is not impossible to handle, it just took me some getting used to. The card stock is a little thin, but I don't have reason to doubt their durability. I don't use my deck, so I can't say for sure; however, other decks of this same thickness have stood up to excessive use quite well. Since I don't have an opinion on the validity of this method of learning tarot, I can't really recommend or not recommend this deck. It may work well for beginners. I suspect that it would work well for some beginners, would be detrimental to some beginners and that some would have a more neutral reaction. This is the nature of people. === === Tarot of the Ages === Illustrated by Mario Garzio Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1988 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880793449 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/agespics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880793449/thecauldron I love multi-cultural decks! This is a wonderful (in my opinion) multi-cultural tarot deck. Major arcana are represented by Egyptians, batons by Africans, cups by Central Americans, swords by North Europeans (Vikings mostly) and coins by Indians (from India, not Native Americans). Most people in this deck are partially nude or scantily clad, even the Vikings. I'm not modest or prudish, but those Vikings are going to freeze to death! Surely, they have furs to put on?! All cards are illustrated, even the pips, following Rider Waite style. However, the order of the majors is in the Tarot de Marseilles style. Justice is VIII and Strength is XI. The Fool is numbered XXI, and the Universe (World) is XXII. Personally, I prefer a Fool numbered 0. Also, this fool is being attacked by a wild cat, which I don't get at all. Cards measure slightly under 2.5 by 4.5 inches and handle well. Card stock is perfect in my opinion. The cards are quite durable and hold up to regular use well. Despite its little oddities, I recommend this deck for one and all. Beginners will find it friendly, and more advanced users will find it meaty enough. Collectors, of course, will want one. ===== ===== 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] ========= ========= THE TRIPLE RETURN INVESTMENT GUILD ========= Humor by an unknown author ========= Dear Friend: Allow me to introduce myself. I am John Cooper, president of The Triple Return Investment (TRI) Guild, and I am writing to show you an amazing investment opportunity which is about to sweep the nation. I assure you that this is not a chain letter. I am repulsed by such things. You are not required to send this letter to anyone, and I am not in any way asking you to send money to me. In fact, you may have already received money from me! The only reason I am sending you this letter is because I want you to be rich! Now please, read on. What is TRI? TRI is an investment tool, nothing more. Anyone using TRI’s simple step by step methods combined with some small amount of money and a little know-how can eventually become very, very rich. Does this sound too good to be true? Well, believe it, because that’s the first step to TRI’s success. If you believe TRI will work, and you follow its extremely simple directions, you will become a millionaire. The Triple Return Investment plan is not a pyramid scheme, nor is it another form of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). Those forms of investment are based solely on greed, and fail under simple mathematical principles. I also assure you that TRI is not, I repeat NOT a cult of any kind. The members of my guild practice their own beliefs, and are not influenced spiritually by TRI’s success. TRI is completely legal, and some consider it to be charitable. I am confident that if you try TRI for a month you will be amazed at the results. How does TRI work? TRI does not rely on current trends in the economic states of any market. That is because TRI’s principles are much more ancient than the stock markets, mutual funds, or even the concept of money itself! TRI uses ancient powers, powers that have even directed the courses and primal philosophies of good and evil. These ancient powers, combined with a pinch of belief from your side make TRI work for you. TRI will not ever harm you or anyone close to you; in fact if used correctly it will bestow blessings in abundance. Begin investing now! How do I start an investment? Tracking down sources and starting your investment is accomplished in three easy steps. Please bear with me, and try to open your mind to new ideas. Here is step number one: Find a witch. OK, after you finish snickering or laughing or rolling on the floor, let me explain how abundant witches are. Modern Witchcraft, or Wicca, is currently practiced by over one million people in the United States alone, and that is a very conservative estimate. It is highly likely that you have a friend or coworker who is - unbeknownst to you - a witch. Chances are somewhat good that you have an acquaintance who you know is a witch; and for all I know you could be a witch yourself, in which case finding another won't be that much of a problem. So, open your eyes and go looking for witches. After you find your witch, make darn sure that he/she is a real practitioner of Wicca, or the TRI may not work. Step number two: Give the witch twenty dollars. It’s that simple. Don't disguise the money in a birthday card, or give it as a gift that celebrates anything. If you need to explain yourself, attach the twenty dollars to this letter. Step number three: Let TRI work for you. According to most Wiccan beliefs, "The Rule of Three" states that whatever you send out to others, be it material or emotional or spiritual, will eventually return to you threefold. Your money, therefore, will return to you (or someone you love), with an additional increase of 200%! This is the heart of TRI, and this is a deal you cannot pass up. Once your sixty dollars has returned to you, you will be ready to use some or all of it to invest in that same witch, or split it between other witches you may have found. It is important to realize, however, that the return on your investment will not necessarily come from the witches you give money to. The person who receives your twenty dollars is not under any obligation whatsoever. So keep your eyes open, your patience intact, your faith alive, and watch the money roll in. That’s all there is to it. In truth, if you believe The Rule of Three well enough, you may invest in anyone. But a witch carries some of that belief power that you're looking for, so my advice is to invest in witches while you're still a little unsure of yourself. And never give the gift as part of another sentiment (anniversary, retirement, Christmas, etc.) because then it will just count as a gift for the occasion. Always think of it as an investment. Remember: exploiting The Rule of Three loophole is your key to financial success! Triple Return Investment does not make any mistakes! You put your money into the system, and bam!-- a return on your investment which is nothing short of miraculous. Here’s one of the best parts about TRI--everyone involved ends up richer! Think of your first investment: the witch gets twenty dollars, and a week later (sometimes that very day) you get sixty! It will come from an unexpected (sometimes multiple) source--perhaps you will be cleaning your room, and under the bed will be a crisp twenty. Then, a few days later, you'll win the football pool at your work; another fifty! (Nobody said you wouldn't get more!) TRI doesn't care how you get your return on your investment, it will just happen. As you get richer and invest more, be prepared to be surprised! Maybe you'll win the lottery, maybe you'll find a bag of money outside your door, or a stock you bought and forgot about might skyrocket. The possibilities are endless, and The Rule of Three encompasses everything! Here’s how my first investment paid off: I sent my twenty to a witch through the mail. The following week I had to go on a business trip to California that would last 17 days. For each of fifteen of those days I expected to be given a per-diem allowance of 38 dollars, which was what I had been allotted every time I traveled for the last several years. The day before I left for California I was told that the per-diem had increased to 42 dollars. That’s a four dollar-per-day increase over 15 days-- exactly 60 dollars! Food costs had not gone up that much in California, so I could pocket the extra dough. That convinced me to continue with TRI, and I'm glad I did. If you are a witch who is using the TRI program, you may want to research spells to direct the awesome power of The Rule of Three. I have heard that this tactic accelerates the return on your initial investment. You may be surprised to hear that I am not a witch. It’s true, I'm not here to take any of your money, and I don't know much about Wicca at all. But to aid my investments I often write the words "Rule of Three" on my bills before investing them. I put the twenty dollar bills in envelopes and add in some cinquefoil, malachite, or vervain (simple herbs and minerals which you can purchase in almost any herb shop). I heard from some of my new witch friends that these might help. All I know is they can't hurt, and I'm telling you now--I am becoming a very rich person. Life is good when you can relax and let other people’s powers work for you! All I'm asking is that right now, this very day, you send twenty bucks to a witch--you will be absolutely amazed when sixty comes back! So, to those of you who would like to participate in this extraordinary offer, I wish you happy witch hunting, the best of returns. Blessed Be, John W. Cooper President, The TRI Guild PS - Please feel free to copy this letter and show it to anyone who might be interested. Thank you. [08-3] ========= ========= POETRY: UNDER THE MOON ========= by W. B. Yeats (From In the Seven woods, 1903) ========= I have no happiness in dreaming of Brycelinde; Nor Avalon the grass green hollow, nor Joyous Isle, Where one found Lancelot crazed and hid him for a while, Nor Ulad when Naoise had thrown a sail upon the wind, Nor lands that seem too dim to be burdens on the heart, Land-under-Wave, where out of the moon's light and the sun's Seven old sisters wind the threads of the long lived ones, Land-of-the-Tower, where Aengus has thrown the gates apart, And Wood-of-Wonders, where one kills an ox at dawn To find it when night falls laid on a golden bier: Therein are many queens like Branwen, and Guinivere; And Niam, and Laban, and Fand, who could change to an otter or fawn And the wood-woman whose love was changed to a blue-eyed hawk; And whether I go in my dreams by woodland, or dun, or shore, Or on the unpeopled waves with kings to pull at the oar, I hear the harp string praise them or hear their mournful talk. Because of a story I heard under the thin horn Of the third moon, that hung between the night and the day, To dream of women whose beauty was folded in dismay, Even in an old story, is a burden not to be borne. [08-4] ========= ========= SOFTWARE WATCH: LEECHGET ========= By Randall Sapphire ========= As my clients really like free software, I'm a regular visitor to web sites that list free software. I regularly download and test anything that looks good. I've used a shareware download manager, GetRight, for many years. As the latest version has been giving me problems, I decided to look around and see what else is available. As browser file download abilities have increased over the years, a download manager is nice, but is no longer the necessity it once was. Therefore I decided to confine my search to free download managers. I quickly discovered that most freeware download managers either do not work all that well or are loaded with adware and spyware. I did find one solid exception: LeechGet. LeechGet is an easy to use, powerful download manager capable of splitting a file into multiple parts and downloading those parts simultaneous (if the server will allow this) which often makes downloads faster on slow or overloaded servers. LeechGet has many other features such as a automatic downloading, download timer, automatic hang-up and shutdown to perform unattended downloads or uploads. It also can set download speed limits so that you always have enough bandwidth left to continue browsing the web. LeechGet integrates directly with Internet Explorer (and can integrate with Mozilla and Opera via a plugin for those browsers). The personal edition of LeechGet (no support from the author and can only download eight files simultaneously) is free for personal use and does not contain adware or spyware. A commercial edition without these minor limitations is available 17 Euros. For the first time in five or six years, GetRight is not on my hard drive. LeechGet is smaller and more stable and earned its place. As I write this, the current version of LeechGet is 2004 1.1. The installer is about a 2.5 meg download. You can read more about it and download it at: http://www.leechget.net/ [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] ========= ========= A Thorny Issue: Disappearing Cacti ========= Who would think that prickly cacti could be so popular? But the demand for these thorny plants is so high that they are rapidly disappearing from some of their former stomping grounds. Unfortunately, the demand is expressed through their illegal harvest. In fact, poaching has become such a common practice in the Southwest that in some areas, only a few cacti remain. National parks, such as Big Bend National Park in Texas, provide crucial habitat to some of these endangered plants. One cactus, in fact, exists nowhere else. Only about 1,000 individuals of the Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus remain and all existing populations are found within an arid, 30-mile subtropical area at Big Bend, the subject of a recently released State of the Parks® report issued by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). NPCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the U.S. National Park System. The report points out that Big Bend encompasses more than 801,000 acres and is recognized for its rich biodiversity. Several federally threatened and endangered species find refuge in the park, including the Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus. "If this one population disappears, [the species] will be extinct," said Joe Sirotnak, a botanist/ecologist at Big Bend. Illegal collection of the cactus is the primary reason the species is endangered. "They're popular because they're rare and beautiful," said Sirotnak. The short, round cactus is a reddish-maroon, becoming greener during summer. It typically grows between 10 and 12 inches tall. Luminous pinkish flowers begin to bloom on the cactus in March, and greenish-red fruits adorn the flowers. The flowers and their fruit are important food sources for pollinating insects in the park. The cactus' numbers also have dwindled because their habitat is disappearing. Changes in climatic conditions, especially the shift toward a drier regime, may also be affecting the cactus' ability to reproduce. Staff at Big Bend are monitoring two populations of the cactus and working to establish an experimental population in the park. Park staff are researching the species' population genetics, breeding systems, pollination biology, and habitat requirements. Obtain more information about NPCA, Big Bend, and the State of the Parks report by logging on to http://www.npca.org/ or calling 1-800-628-7275. [09-2] ========= ========= Fund Supports Tiger Conservation Efforts ========= The tiger -- whether in zoos, on stage, or in the wild -- has long been a source of fascination for people the world over. However, the wild tiger has become an endangered species in recent years. A decade ago, prominent conservationists predicted that due to forces as diverse as poaching, ecological change and industrial development, wild tigers would be extinct by the year 2000. Fortunately, an organization has stepped forward to support tiger conservation by educating global communities on why tigers are more valuable alive than dead. The Save The Tiger Fund -- a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and ExxonMobil -- is dedicated to supporting the conservation of the world's remaining wild tigers. The Fund invests in a variety of projects to increase international cooperation and communication, build local and global partnerships and leadership, and deliver effective on-the- ground conservation of tigers in landscapes increasingly dominated by humans. Some of these conservation efforts are built around innovative responses that address economic issues. For example, in several areas poachers are being rehabilitated and provided with new careers as tiger guards. In Siberia this effort, along with the enactment of laws to stop the international trade in tiger parts and products, has helped to reduce the poaching of the Siberian tiger by 60 percent. While Western contributions to tiger conservation have been valuable in terms of scientific expertise and financial investments, long-term success hinges on the cultivation of local leadership within these tiger-range countries, which is more sustainable, more responsive, and ultimately more powerful to affect real change. Since its launch, the Save The Tiger Fund has supported 226 projects that aid in development of this kind of leadership with more than $11 million. Public contributions account for more than $1.6 million of this funding. Thousands of individuals, from school children to business professionals, have joined in the effort to save the tiger. ExxonMobil first began funding tiger preservation in 1992 in the Russian Far East and has invested more than $11 million to date in tiger range countries. Through its foundation, it supports responsible environmental protection efforts around the world, including the preservation of endangered species with programs such as the Save The Tiger Fund. To learn more, visit the Web sites at http://www.5tigers.org/ and http://www.nfwf.org/ [09-3] ========= ========= Mad Cow Disease: What You Should Know ========= Recent reports about "Mad Cow Disease" have left some people with questions about the safety of beef and milk products. For more than a decade the U.S. has had in place an aggressive surveillance, detection and response program for BSE. In December 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated additional steps to enhance the current protection system. To further address fears and concerns, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) is offering answers to some common questions: Q. What is "Mad Cow Disease," and when was it first discovered? A. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or "Mad Cow Disease" is a rare, chronic degenerative disease affecting the brain and central nervous system of cattle. BSE is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the nervous system, with the brain tissue of affected animals appearing sponge-like under microscopic examination. Cattle with BSE lose their coordination, experience changes in behavior and develop a variety of central nervous system abnormalities. The incubation period in cattle is two to eight years. Once clinical symptoms develop, death occurs in several weeks or months, unless the afflicted animal is destroyed. BSE first appeared in British cattle in the mid-1980s. There have been numerous cases detected in other countries. A complete list is available from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA. Q. Along with eating beef, are drinking milk and consuming dairy products safe? A. Yes. BSE has been detected only in the brain, central nervous system and in part of the intestine of affected cattle. No BSE infectivity has been detected in milk or muscle tissue, which is what we eat as beef. In fact, extensive testing has revealed that milk, including milk from cows infected with BSE, does not contain the infective agent. Thus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), milk and milk products, such as yogurt, ice cream, or cheese, even in countries with high incidence of BSE, can be safely consumed. Q. Do I need to change my eating habits? A. Based on what is currently known about the human form of BSE and how it may be transmitted to humans, National Institutes of Health researchers and the Secretary of Agriculture agree that there is no reason to change dietary habits. [09-4] ========= ========= Use Caution With Pain Relievers ========= Pain relievers, when used correctly, are safe and effective. Millions of people use these medicines every day. Not using them according to the label directions can have serious consequences. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants consumers to benefit from these medicines and not be hurt by them. You should know the active ingredients and directions of all your medicines before you use them. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines list all their active ingredients on the package. For prescription drugs, the leaflet that comes with your prescription lists the active ingredients contained in the medicine. Many OTC medicines sold for different uses have the same active ingredient. Also, active ingredients in OTC medicines can be ingredients in prescription medicines. For example, a cold-and- cough remedy may have the same active ingredient as a headache remedy or a prescription pain reliever. There are basically two types of OTC pain relievers. Some contain acetaminophen and others contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines are used to relieve the minor aches and pains associated with headaches, colds, flu, arthritis, toothaches, and menstrual cramps. These medicines are also used to treat migraine headaches, and to reduce fever. Acetaminophen is a very common pain reliever and fever reducer. Taking too much of this active ingredient can lead to liver damage. The risk for liver damage may be increased if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks while using acetaminophen- containing medicines. NSAIDs are common pain relievers and fever reducers. Examples of OTC NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen. Your risk for stomach bleeding may increase if you are over 60, taking prescription blood thinners, have previous stomach ulcers or other bleeding problems. If you have any of these factors, you should talk to your doctor before using NSAIDS. NSAIDs can also cause reversible damage to the kidneys. ÊThe risk of kidney damage may increase in people who are over 60, people who have high blood pressure, heart disease or pre-existing kidney disease, and people who are taking a diuretic. The FDA recommends that you talk with your healthcare professional if you have questions about using an OTC medicine before using it in combination with other medicines-either OTC or prescription medicine. You can learn more about what medicines are right for you by reading the label carefully and talking to your healthcare professional or pharmacist. For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/ or call 1-888- INFO-FDA. [09-5] ========= ========= Fourteen Foods That Can Change Your Life ========= The key to preventing and possibly reversing disease may already be in your fridge. That's the easy-to-swallow prescription found in Superfoods RX by Steven Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews ($24.95, HarperCollins). [ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060535679/thecauldron ] After analyzing the most disease-preventing, anti-aging diets in the world, scientists have found that 14 nutrients consistently turn up. Based on years of research, Pratt pulls it all together in one source. Superfoods RX outlines 21st Century nutrition-foods that are high in micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients) instead of macro-nutrients (fats, carbs, protein): * Beans lower cholesterol, combat heart disease and stabilize blood sugar. * Blueberries lower the risk of heart disease and cancer and help maintain healthy skin. * Broccoli boosts the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts and builds bones. * Oats lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and Type II diabetes. * Oranges support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke and diabetes. * Pumpkin helps lower the risk of various cancers and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy, youthful skin. * Wild Salmon lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. * Soy helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis, helps relieve menopause symptoms. * Spinach decreases the chance of cardiovascular disease, a host of cancers and cataracts. * Tea boosts the immune system, helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis. * Tomatoes lower the likelihood of cancer, raise the skin's sun protection factor and play a role in preventing cataracts. * Turkey is a healthy source of protein, low in fat, and provides multiple nutrients. * Walnuts reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer. * Yogurt promotes strong bones and a healthy heart, and is a great source of calcium. Dr. Pratt shows readers how to incorporate these foods into everyday meals with recipes designed by Chef Michael Stroot of The Golden Door. [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 300 book and divination deck reviews), and a monthly email newsletter. To continue to provide and expand these services, The Cauldron needs lots of volunteer help from our members and supporters. Here are some of the things members and supporters can do to help The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum thrive: ===== ===== Actively Participate In Our Message Board ===== While our 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) 2004 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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