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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #43 -- January 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] Poem: Aset's Challenge [03] Cauldron News [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] Aradia or the Gospel of Witches [05-2] Healing Ground [05-3] The Book of Wizardry [05-4] Vikings Tarot [05-5] Witchy Tarot [05-6] The New Book of Magical Names [05-7] Cooking by the Seasons [06] Received For Review (with Mini-Reviews) [07] Articles: [07-1] Thelema [07-2] Leaving the Past in the Past [08] Columns [08-1] TarotDeevah on the Tarot [08-2] Humor: A Pagan Televangelist [08-3] Software Watch: DOSBox [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] How To Care For The Caregivers [09-2] Advice On Avoiding Deadly Electrical Fires [09-3] Don't Let Winter Stop You From Grilling Outdoors [09-4] Tips for Saving More at the Store this Year [09-5] Elephant Birth Trumpets Conservation History [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++ Submission Deadline for next issue: January 15, 2004 +++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= Welcome to the first issue of Cauldron and Candle for 2004. I hope all our readers had a safe and joyful holiday season and are looking forward to 2004. I hope this new year will be a very good year for all our readers and their families and friends. As I mentioned in the Editorial Notes for the December 2003 issue, LyricFox and I certainly are looking forward to this year. After a much longer engagement than we had ever planned, LyricFox and I should be (barring disasters) moving a house in Waco from our current widely separated locations and getting married early this year, probably in February or March. This means that after over three years of regular monthly issues, this newsletter may have a few issues that are much shorter than normal and/or somewhat later than normal. In the worst case, we might even have to skip an issue or two. In the best case, of course, you might never notice because we will not miss a beat. It just depends on timing. If we end up having to do things around the end of a month, the newsletter is likely to suffer. We just can't predict when things will happen, but we ask you to forgive any problems this major transition in our lives may cause. 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. The Cauldron and Candle submission bin is fairly empty as I write this, so if you have been thinking about writing an article, now would really be a great time to put those thoughts into action. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= POEM: ASET'S CHALLENGE ========= by SatAsetNebetHet (dedicated to Aset) ========= Deny Me? You? Every time you make a choice You shape the molding of possibilities Every time you exert authority You are sitting on My throne Every time you use words You utilize My Magic, My Heka, My Words of Power Every time you connect to others You are sharing the gift of My Son Every time you mourn for those that have died You weep My tears for My slain husband Every time you wish to gain confidence You are asking for My strength This is Who I Am, Child. To deny Me, you deny My Gifts in yourself. [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Cauldron Delphi Message Board Top Poster -- December 2003 ===== The Cauldron's message board had 7185 posts in December. (We had a total of 82,766 messages posted in 2003.) Jezabel (BELLUSDOMINA) had the most posts of any non-staff member in December and snagged our monthly "top poster" award. Our Runner Up was Dragonoake (DRAGONOAKE). Loneash (LONEASH), Karen (STARGLADE), Haruka (HARUKATENOH6), and Gryochaos (GYROCHAOS) gave Dragonoake a good race for that runner up spot. ===== ===== New Staff Member: Jenett ===== The Cauldron is happy to announce our latest message board staff member: Jenett. She's a Traditional Wiccan (although not British Traditional) and has been one of our Threadstarters since we created the position at the beginning of 2003. ===== ===== Pointers for Proselytizers ===== Pagans often complain about proselytizers. Many of them employ methods which we consider to be rude and sometimes even invasive. In addition, we often see their efforts as futile and ill- advised. Sometimes the very act of proselytizing is considered rude, even if the proselytizer behaves politely. It was, therefore, a surprising change of pace when in November 2003 the forum hosts received an e-mail with some questions about proselytizing to Pagans. The writer was a Christian whose congregation had recently discovered what non-Christians generally thought of their proselytization methods, and they wished to find out how they could make those methods more appealing. The e-mail was posted on our message board for comments, as was a later e-mail with follow-up questions. This article is a summary of the thread. http://www.ecauldron.com/opedproselytize.php ===== ===== 200,000 Message Available on The Cauldron's Message Board ===== The Cauldron's DelphiForums message board message counter hit 200,000 messages in the middle of December. (The actual count is about 12,000 messages higher as messages had to be deleted to keep the total under 2000 messages in the early days of Delphi.) Congratulations to The Cauldron's members and staff. (Note: the number of messages you see listed on DelphiForums will depend on which folders you have full access to.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. === === Why are Most Pagans Politically Liberal? === In a PolSci course last semester we looked at how religion influences political positions. Paganism seems to be an anomaly. From looking at the tenets of Paganism, I'd expect most pagans to be conservatives. In practice, most pagans seem to be liberals. The more I look at the tenets of Paganism, the more convinced I become that the average pagan should lean strongly to conservative political positions. Since most pagans are liberal, I must be either missing something big or misinterpreting the tenets of Paganism. Can you tell me why you are liberal and what in your religion makes you so? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11889.1 === === Are There Too Many Tarot Decks? === Are Tarot decks getting out of hand? They have tarot decks for everything you can imagine. I once saw a Baseball Tarot deck. Are there too many decks? And given the large number of choices, how do you choose which Tarot deck is right for you? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11868.1 === === Garbage and Recycling === Hubby and I recycle everything I can think of that we can, and we reuse where I can think of some way to do so practically, but I still feel like we're throwing away an awful lot. (The one thing we don't do is compost, because I don't garden so what would we do with it? We live on the edge of the woods and do throw biodegradable food items such as rinds and peels out there, but there isn't as much of that sort of thing as I could wish.) So -- what do y'all do to reduce the waste you have to throw out? Do you have creative ways of reusing things? Do you just buy stuff that involves less wasteful packaging? Are there other strategies I'm missing here? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11842.1 === === Why Balance? === In the "What is Evil" thread, there have been a few comments about a balance being necessary -- in general, not just between good and evil. This brings up a couple of interesting questions in my mind: 1. Why? Why does there need to be a balance? What will happen if that balance is lost? 2. How? That is, is the balance something that is naturally maintained? Do we have to strive to maintain it ourselves? If the former, is there anything we can actually do which might throw that balance out of whack? Again, generalities here -- this would be a balance not just between good and evil, but between any number of pairs (or triples, or quads, etc.) of opposite properties. Zephyr referred to the yin/yang concept; that might be relevant here. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11796.1 === === Will Paganism Ever Be Set in Stone? === In another thread Mairenn said "Neo-Pagan religions, by and large, have simply not had uninterrupted millenia to etch their traditions in stone for the masses. Let us survive long enough and we too will be battling over whose Gods' revelation is right." Do you think this is true? Will Pagan religions become more like what we now thing of as established religions with fixed structure, dogma, heresies, and arguments over who has the "one true way"? Or do you think some or all Pagan religions will manage to stay different a few hundred years down the road? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11751.1 === === What is Evil? === Deep thought time. What is evil? Can it be defined in any meaningful terms, or is it something best illustrated by examples of "evil" traits a person or group (or whatever) might show? Does it even exist in this world? If so, is there a reason behind it, or is it something that just is? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11737.1 === === Books That Rocked Your world view === What books have you read that have changed how you view the world, or have had a major impact on it? Why? Would you recommend that book to others? I'm especially interested in books where that wasn't necessarily something you expected (i.e. not a religious book, but fiction, etc.) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11731.1 === === Fasting: The Whys and Hows === I believe we've discussed fasting as a tool in practicing one's religion, etc. before, but one thing I don't remember hearing is... How? More specifically, if you fast, how far do you take it? Do you stop eating and drinking entirely? Allow yourself liquids? Just cut out certain things? Also, what about time factors? How long do you continue this practice? Do you fast 24/7 when you're doing this, or just certain hours (perhaps between sunrise and sunset)? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11677.1 === === Poll: What's Threatening Your Marriage? === This poll is half in fun, half serious. Certain parts of the right-wing in the US often claim that homosexual unions threaten traditional marriage. While I personally agree with what I think is the underlying impulse there (that marriage is important for a stable society, providing a stable environment for the raising of children and orderly disposition of property after death), I find myself totally puzzled as to how the lovely gay couple down the block being married is a threat to my own marriage. Another poster and I were kicking around some other things that might threaten marriage, and here's a few for you to pick from. What, in the modern world, do you think threatens your marriage? (Or that of your parents, or friends, or of your life-time stable romantic relationship?) If more than one fits, pick the one you think is closest ... and then tell us why you think that's the biggest threat to marriage! * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11654.1 === === How Do You Meditate? === How do you like to meditate? I've had a lot of people lately tell me "oh, sit there, count breaths, empty your mind" yada yada yada. They don't seem to understand 2 basic concepts. 1) I sit all day at work. I can't empty my mind when my legs are falling asleep and my back and butt are hurting. It's not comfy, no matter what cushion or chair or position or anything. 2) Tai Chi works. When I'm doing the movements, I am both "empty" and completely in the moment. When I'm done, I'm always surprised at how long I've been moving, because my time sense is put on hold. I can feel the pure flow of chi and am both connected to and also detached from everything. For some reason, people I explain this to don't call it meditation, they can only see meditation as sit on your rear and go blank. So how do you meditate? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/messages?msg=11604.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DONATE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE If you like The Cauldron and have a few extra dollars, please donate via the Amazon Honor System and help us pay the web site bills. http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: ARADIA OR THE GOSPEL OF WITCHES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Aradia or the Gospel of Witches Editor: Charles G. Leland Trade Paperback, 160 pages Publisher: New Page Books Publication date: August 2003 ISBN: 1564146790 US Retail Price: $10.99 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564146790/thecauldron Charles Leland's Aradia or the Gospel of Witches was published in 1899. Like Sir James Frazer, Leland was one of the nineteenth century's armchair folklorists. While much of their work is discounted today, Leland's Aradia was a major influence on early Wicca. For example, the traditional Charge of the Goddess was taken from it. According to Leland (as recorded in the appendix to this book), the majority of the text of Aradia was collected for him by an Italian woman named Maddalena who he paid to collect folklore for him. He says he first heard of the work in 1886 and she was finally able to provide him with a copy in 1897. This means the true origin of the work is unknown. While Maddalena could have obtained it from Italian witches, she could have had it written to please Leland or the like. (Some even say Leland may have written it himself as a Marxist screed.) This is why Aradia is consider unreliable by scholars today. Reliable or not, Aradia has played a sizeable role in modern Wicca and it well worth reading by anyone interested in Wicca. A few Wiccan traditions are even heavily based on the text. While the text is long out of copyright and is available many places on the Internet, a book is much easier to read. Unfortunately, A.J. Drew's introduction and commentary add nothing to the work. They make no attempt to place the work in the context of its time and place. They make no attempt to explain the possible origins of the work. They do not clarify or expand on the original. As far as I can tell, all they do is give Drew a place to expound his often unorthodox Wiccan beliefs and to present his personal interpretations of the actual meaning of selected points in the book. While Drew's notes to Aradia are not nearly as bad as the Scofield Notes to the Bible, they could have been left out of this book without any loss of value. If you are looking for a nicely printed and bound copy of Leland's Aradia or the Gospel of Witches, this book will easily fulfill your needs. Just don't buy the book for the commentary. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bkaradia2.php [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: HEALING GROUND ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Healing Ground: A Visionary Union of Earth and Spirit Photography: Trish Tuley Poetry: Myra Dutton Trade Paperback, 138 pages Publisher: Celestial Arts Publication date: September 2003 ISBN: 1587612011 US Retail Price: $24.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587612011/thecauldron Healing Ground: A Visionary Union of Earth and Spirit is an art book. I normally don't receive art books for review. This is fortunate because I can't tell good art from bad art. I only know what I like -- and I like this book. It is an over-sized volume of nature photography and poetry. Tuley's photographs, mainly landscapes, are beautiful depictions of the grandeur of the unspoiled wilderness -- as well as being a subtle expression of its fragility. Dutton's evocative poetry is a perfect complement to the illustrations. So perfect in many cases, that it is hard to believe that Tuley and Dutton worked independently and then correlated their respective material to create this work as they state in their introduction. Tuley's photography has won awards and is often used by environmental groups. Even a casual look though this book demonstrates why. Each of her photographs -- from soaring mountains jutting up against pristine skies to grasslands and fields of flowers -- speaks strongly for the need to preserve such places. Dutton's poetry has a very Pagan feel and, as I mentioned above, seems written especially for the picture it accompanies. This review cannot begin to do justice to the photos in this book, so you owe it to yourself to at least flip through this book at a book store. However, be aware that it may be hard to put down. Healing Ground captures the beauty of the Earth and in doing so, soothes the weary soul. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr02.php#hg [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE BOOK OF WIZARDRY ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The Book of Wizardry: The Apprentice's Guide to the Secrets of the Wizard's Guild Author: Cornelius Rumstuckle Trade Paperback, 325 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: April 2003 ISBN: 0738701653 US Retail Price: $12.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701653/thecauldron The Book of Wizardry: The Apprentice's Guide to the Secrets of the Wizard's Guild was obviously written to take advantage of the Harry Potter phenomena. It is some very basic instructions in magick for children in 22 lessons and a long "choose your own adventure" quest. The book is supposedly written by Cornelius Rumstuckle, the ancient head of the Wizard's Guild. From the copyright notice, however, I believe this book is actually written by J.H. Brennan. The first half of the book is 22 short lessons in magick. Although told in a fictional style and both simplified and with projects designed for children, the information on magickal theory and basic technique is generally sound. Subjects like the elements, tools, divination, and visualization are covered. The second half of the book is a "choose your own adventure" that will allow the successful child to "join" the Wizard's Guild. Using some of the information from the lessons will help avoid problems during this adventure. I've seen a couple of objections to this book. First, that it will support the Religious Right's position that Harry Potter is about witchcraft and Satanism. My answer is that I really don't think we should care. As Pagans we have the same right to fun ways to teach our children as they do. Second, that this book mixes too much fantasy with its teaching. This objection is stronger, but I really don't think most children with have problems with it. This is especially true if they are working through the book with their parents around. If you'd like to introduce your Harry Potter fan child to magick in a fun way, take a look at The Book of Wizardry. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bktbow.php [05-4] ========= ========= REVIEW: VIKINGS TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Vikings Tarot Artist: Sergio Tisselli Deck Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: August 2003 ISBN: 0738704156 US Retail Price: $19.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtviking.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738704156/thecauldron Vikings Tarot is a Viking-themed Tarot deck. This deck was painted by Sergio Tisselli is in a soft and diffused style. Many of the pictures are somewhat indistinct, as if seen through an invisible fog. To be honest, I don't care much for the art style selected. I'd have preferred bolder and clearer illustrations -- and much more symbolism on the cards. That said, some of cards are brilliantly evocative of the Viking era and full of symbolism. At the other end of the scale, there are a few cards so indistinct that I could not tell what the illustration is supposed to depict without cheating and looking in the booklet. The Major Arcana depict the Aesir and places associated with them such as Asgard. The suits of Minor Arcana depict giants (wands), the Vanir (cups), dwarves and elves (pentacles), and humans (swords). According to the key in the accompanying booklet, each card in the Minor Arcana depicts a specific event or person from mythology. The deck seems to be fairly standard in interpretation and in basic symbolism, although the art style makes it harder to pick up and read than it needs to be. This deck comes with a small 64 page booklet filled with tiny text. Only one-fifth of the booklet is in English (the other languages are Italian, Spanish, French, and German). This booklet provides background information on the deck as well as a brief description and meaning for each of the cards. Each of the Major Arcana receives a five to eight line description and a couple of lines of interpretation keywords, while each Minor Arcana card only receives a one or two line descriptive title and three keywords or phrases to aid interpretation. One non-standard tarot spread is described. The Vikings Tarot is an interesting attempt at a Viking-themed Tarot deck. With better illustrations it would probably be a much more successful deck. This isn't a deck to give to a beginner as he will probably find it frustrating to learn to read. A more experienced reader will have fewer problems, but will have to study the deck before trying to seriously read with it. A collector who has an interest in Norse mythology will find this deck worth considering. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtviking.php [05-5] ========= ========= REVIEW: WITCHY TAROT ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Witchy Tarot Artist: Antonella Platano Deck Publisher: Llewellyn (Lo Scarabeo) Publication date: December 2003 ISBN: 0738704458 US Retail Price: $14.95 View Sample Cards: http://www.ecauldron.com/images/samtrtwt.jpg Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738704458/thecauldron When I first saw illustrations for the Witchy Tarot in the Llewellyn catalog I was both stunned and disappointed. I was stunned by the lovely artwork and disappointed that it had been "wasted" on a deck which from the text description was aimed directly at the teen girl market. Now that I have the deck in hand, I'm still stunned by the artwork. Antonella Platano has produced excellent illustrations for this deck. The art is as evocative of the theme as is it beautiful. Those who collect Tarot decks for their artwork will definitely want to look at this deck. Almost all the cards in this deck feature teen witches. There are a few exceptions with males or older women, but the vast majority are teen witches. Generally gorgeous teen witches. Note that these are witches, not necessarily Wiccans. The Major Arcana have the traditional symbolism, but are also divided into three groups (plus the Devil card) depicting the tools, animals, and plants that are associated with witches. While the symbolic meanings of the Minor Arcana are similar to those of the standard Tarot deck, the suits are Cauldrons (cups), Boulders (pentacles), Flames (wands), and Broomsticks (swords). The court cards have been replaced with Celebration (page), Moon (knight), Goddess (queen) and Trial (king). Each Minor Arcana card is well-illustrated with a specific scene. The Witchy Tarot is accompanied by a 12 page foldout booklet that describes the deck, the basic meaning of the cards, and gives a special thirteen card "Circle of Witches" layout for use with this deck. Actually, there are two of these: one in English and one in Spanish. While this is more than enough information for an experienced reader, it's not nearly enough for a beginner. Fortunately, the card interpretations are fairly standard so most beginner books on the Tarot will be usable with this deck. I expected to find the Witchy Tarot of limited appeal -- and it probably is. However, it is not as limited as I expected it to be due to its excellent artwork and interesting use of symbolism. While it is definitely aimed at the "young adult female" market, this is a deck that will appeal to those outside its niche. Collectors will probably want it for its art. Others may simply find it a fun deck to read with. Those who read for teens may find it particularly useful. It's well worth a look if you have the chance, especially as it is priced a bit lower than the average Lewellyn/Lo Scarabeo deck. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/trtwt.php [05-6] ========= ========= REVIEW: THE NEW BOOK OF MAGICAL NAMES ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= The New Book of Magical Names Author: Phoenix McFarland Trade Paperback, 415 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2003 ISBN: 0738703958 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703958/thecauldron The New Book of Magical Names is the second edition of The Complete Book of Magickal Names. The first edition of this book was published in 1996 and was listed in the New York Times "Reader's Guide to the Best 10,000 Books in Print." This book is 415 pages of lists of names, information on those names, and background material on naming methods and popular names throughout history. Did you know that during the Puritan era in England (1500-1640 c.e.) some were given first names like "Search the Scriptures," "Hate Evil," or even "Jesus Christ Came Into the World to Save"? The majority of the book is lists of names, often with their origins and/or meanings. These lists are divided into many categories, names from nature, names from books and films, names from other cultures, names from foods, names from places, names from mythology, and many more. Over 7000 names are listed -- and indexed, both alphabetically and by category. This book isn't just for Pagans. It's for anyone who needs help naming a child, a pet, or even a club or religious group and wants to look beyond the more common English names. If you are having trouble finding the perfect name, this book can probably help you -- and entertain you as it does. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr03.php#tnbomn [05-7] ========= ========= REVIEW: COOKING BY THE SEASONS ========= Reviewed by Randall Sapphire ========= Cooking by the Seasons: Simple Vegetarian Feasts Author: Karri Ann Allrich Trade Paperback, 208 pages Publisher: Llewellyn Publication date: July 2003 ISBN: 0738703230 US Retail Price: $14.95 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738703230/thecauldron Cooking by the Seasons: Simple Vegetarian Feasts was previously titled Recipes from a Vegetarian Goddess. This is another Pagan- themed cookbook by Karri Allrich, featuring over 100 vegetarian recipes. The recipes are divided into categories within the four seasons of the year. While complete menus are provided for each of the Wiccan sabbats and the introductory notes to each recipe often make Wiccan references, this is primarily a cookbook. You will not find detailed information on Wicca or Paganism here. While I'm personally not a big fan of vegetarian meals, there really are some tasty sounding recipes in this book. Do dishes like Corn Mother Relish, Golden Potato Soup, Roasted Acorn Squash Risotto, Summer Garden Couscous, Paradise Pizza, Maple Ice Cream, Winter Solstice Pumpkin Soup make you hungry? These are just a small sample of the many recipes in this book. Fortunately, this book has an excellent pair of indexes as the arrangement of recipes in this book, with major categories repeated for each season, could otherwise make it hard to find the recipe you are looking for. If you like to cook vegetarian, this cookbook is for you. This review is available on our web site at http://www.ecauldron.com/bookmr03.php#cbts ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and many more stores at The Cauldron Shopping Mall. Every purchase from our one of our mall links helps support The Cauldron and this newsletter. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [06] ========= ========= RECEIVED FOR REVIEW ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= The following books and decks have been received for review in December 2003 and may be reviewed more fully in future issues. "First Glance Comments" included with these listings are exactly what they seem to be: my first impression of the item from a quick glance through the book or deck. Be aware that these views could change drastically after a more complete examination. If you are waiting for a particular review, remember that reviews appear on our web site as they are finished -- often a good while before they are published in the newsletter. Witching Stones by M.A. Madigan and P.M. Richards (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738701947 First Glance Comments: This is a divination kit based on 35 symbols associated with Wicca (tools, the moons, the seasons, etc.). The symbols are on plastic "stones" which can be stored in a carrying pouch (included). The book accompanying this set explains the meanings of the symbols and gives several divination layouts. The symbols can also be used as a portable set of tools for casting spells. Fifteen spells designed for the stones are included. The system looks interesting on first glance. I've seen books that suggest using Wiccan symbols for divination, but this is the first example of a complete system I've seen. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738701947/thecauldron Handfasting and Wedding Rituals by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein (Llewellyn) ISBN: 0738704709 First Glance Comments: Handfasting and wedding ceremonies are some of the most important ceremonies in the average Pagan's life, yet there hasn't been much available in print to give couples and clergy ideas and guidance in planning a Pagan wedding ceremony. This book appears from a first glance to be an answer to a major need. It gives suggestions for planning, writing vows and rituals, and handling interfaith marriages and non-traditional couples. Sixteen full rituals are included and there are many more partial rituals. While certainly not perfect, this book appears to be well worth the price. More Info from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738704709/thecauldron [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= THELEMA ========= by David Withun ========= "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." *LAW* Something is happening to the world; it is changing, suddenly and swiftly, and in big ways. There are weapons developed only within the last 50 years capable of destroying whole cities, nations, even the entire planet, all at once. The governments and politics which have ruled the world for all of recorded history are crumbling and falling apart. The religions and philosophies that the majority of human beings have adhered to for the past thousand years or more are proving grossly inadequate in the face of modern scientific discovery and the existential void left by the industrial revolution. What's going on? Those who adhere to Judeo-Christian religious thought tell us that we're living in the End Times. Astrologers and New Agers inform us that we have just recently entered the Age of Aquarius. Everyone sees the change, so everyone puts forward their own opinion as to the cause thereof. And each is right, in their own way. We have entered a New Aeon, and this Aeon is very different from those which preceded it. In the Aeon of Isis we had our caring, ever-vigilant Mother to look after our growth. In the Aeon of Osiris we had our loving, but stern, Father to watch that we did not get out of line and to supply the necessary training for our coming adulthood. In this Aeon, that of Horus, we have moved out of our parents' house. We are still children, but we no longer have our parents to look after us. We are on our own. It is uncertain when the Aeon of Isis began, but we can be relatively certain that it reached its climax around 2400 BCE. Much of this period is characterized by goddess worship, matriarchal government and an agricultural-based system of attaining food. The woman and her magic were feared and respected. Upon attaining a certain age, she would bleed with the cycling of the moon and sometimes this bleeding would stop for nine moons, at the end of which a brand new life would emerge from her body. This mysterious process made woman very powerful, having the power of the goddess, earth, herself: to create new life. Man's place in this process was eventually found out. It was discovered that without the semen provided by men, children could not be produced by women. And soon women lost their former power. Thus began the Aeon of Osiris, about 200 BCE. Having figured out where babies come from, a new question arose, at the other end of the spectrum of life: where do people go when they die? This problem became the obsession of human beings during the Aeon of Osiris. The belief in an afterlife and how to get there comprises the central theme of nearly all of the religions that developed during this period, which are the majority of those still practiced today. And most of these looked to nature for the answer: rebirth. The sun is born every morning and dies in the west, only to be reborn again in the east. Plants and animals die and new life rises up from their remains. Having found the solution to this riddle, it was time for a new one to arise. We now knew what happened at the beginning and end of life, but what of the in between time? Why are we here? The Aeon of Osiris came to a close on April 8, 1904 ev (era vulgaris). This was the day that Aleister Crowley received the first chapter of The Book of the Law from a praeter-natural being who called himself Aiwass. Aiwass gave Crowley the second and third chapters on the 9th and 10th days of April, completing The Book of the Law, which gives the formula for the New Aeon: "Do what thou wilt." *LIBERTY* For the current Aeon, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." To those of us whose minds have been conditioned to submission by the Aeon of Osiris, which are the vast majority of us, this may at first seem repulsive and a formula for chaos. Certainly each person cannot do whatever they want to do! But in actuality this statement has nearly the same meaning as Jesus' prayer "Thy will be done." "Do what thou wilt" does not mean "do what you like." It is a statement of freedom, absolutely, but not an advocation of chaos. The theory behind the statement is elucidated in the third verse of The Book of the Law: "Every man and every woman is a star." Every star is original and unique, with its own chemical makeup which no other shares. Every star also has its own unique orbit. "Do what thou wilt" urges us to find our own makeup and orbit. "Do what thou wilt" is the answer to the existential question we all ask at some point in our life: "Who am I and why am I here?" In order to answer the second, and more important, part of the question, one first must find the solution to the first part. They must find out who they are -- who they really are. Everything that we are right now is the result of social conditioning. We are not ourselves, but what others have decided we are. For an example, take the extreme case of the Hindu caste system. A boy is born to farming parents, and so it is his fate to grow crops and sell them for the rest of his life. This is not what he wants and he is terrible at it. His awful farming skills result in a bad harvest, causing the starving deaths of the people who depended upon him for sustenance. Now, let's say that this boy is instead born into a family that encourages him to follow his true calling, as a police officer. He then saves the lives of the very people he could have killed had he been forced to be a farmer. This is the true nature of "do what thou wilt." As M.L. von Franz writes in Man and His Symbols, every person, really deep down, knows what he should do. Thelema and its Law only help a person to peel off and drill through the layers of who we think we are, what people have forced us to be, so that we can be who we really are. *LOVE* Just as the Law of Thelema is "do what thou wilt," the other central thesis of Thelema is "Love is the law, love under will." Love is the uniting of opposites, which is the nature of the Law of Thelema, and is also referred to as the Great Work. The Great Work consists of uniting, in religious terms, the will of the individual with the Will of God, or, in the terms of Jungian psychology, the conscious with the unconscious self. It is the self-discovery of a person. This is really the point of all psychology as well as Thelema. All of the circumstances which have formed a person are exposed and examined in order to find out the reason behind their conflicts with themselves and others. In Jungian psychology, they try to discover what their unconscious is telling them and to follow the directions coming from within. The theory behind Thelema is that if each person would do this there would be no conflict whatsoever because we would all be guided by God or the unconscious or whatever Force(s) or Being(s) it may be which is behind these instructions. *LIFE* Psychologists and Thelemites both have the same goal. Where they differ is in the methods used to achieve this goal. Whereas psychologists use dream symbol interpretation and therapy sessions, Thelemites take a slightly more active approach, using ritual and ceremony. One of the first tasks that a Probationer of the A:.A:. is advised to do is to write as much as they can remember of their history. In order to figure out who one is and where one is going, one must first know where they have been. A person has to find out as many factors as they can that may have influenced who they are. Many of the other early practices are oriented toward self- control. If one has any hope of achieving the Great Work, he must learn not to cave to any influence, even of his own psyche. The adorations and "saying will" before meals demonstrate social courage, the will not to give in even to the powerful force of society. It takes a lot of a person to be able to stop in the middle of a crowd at noon and loudly say adorations to the sun or to sit before a stunned dinner guest as you pronounce your will to eat. It also takes quite a bit of a person to take an oath forbidding himself a certain action or thought, as prescribed in Liber III, and to actually carry out the punishment should one violate his oath. This is especially difficult when the oath is taken to oneself and not to another. We may be our own harshest critic, but rarely are we willing to actually correct our faults. In order to be oneself, to accomplish one's True Will, to be truly free, all bonds must be broken, whether social or personal, and all addictions must be overcome. This is the point of these practices. Once one has mastered himself in this way and mastered Magick through various other prescribed practices, he will be ready for the accomplishment of the Great Work. One ritual which Crowley wrote for this climactic attainment is given in Liber DCCC. It is a summoning of one's Holy Guardian Angel to finally unite with the individual involved. In this way does a Thelemite finally reach his goal of accomplishing the Great Work. *LIGHT* While it has never been a requirement on a Thelemite to join any organization, Crowley knew that the accomplishment of such a huge task as the Great Work could hardly be asked of even the above average individual to do on his own, and so he set up several organizations to assist the aspirant. The A:.A:. and O.T.O. are the only ones that exist to this day. The O.T.O., or Ordo Templi Orientis, is a fraternal organization which Crowley came to the head of in 1912. It functions much like the lodges of modern Freemasonry. It is the "outer order" for Thelemites. The O.T.O. gives Thelemites a chance for fellowship and performs several public and semi-public rituals, the most important of which is the beautiful vehicle for conveying Thelemic religious expression called the Gnostic Mass. The A:.A:. is the "inner order" for Thelemites. It is an organization dedicated to assisting the individual in his own personal accomplishment of the Great Work. Its purpose is to test the individual in his spiritual attainment and to guide him to tasks which may be of his benefit. ===== ===== Suggested Reading: ===== === Books by Aleister Crowley: Magick Without Tears Liber Aleph Book Four Magick in Theory and Practice The Equinox, Vol. III No. 10 === Books not by Aleister Crowley: The Magick of Thelema - Lon Milo Duquette Man and His Symbols - Carl G. Jung Masks of God (four book series) - Joseph Campbell Beyond Good and Evil - Friedrich Nietzsche Ritual and Dogma of Ceremonial Magick - Eliphas Levi ===== ===== Links ===== Library of Thelemic Libri http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/index.htm Ordo Templi Orientis homepage http://www.oto-usa.org/ Aleister Crowley Foundation http://www.thelemicgoldendawn.org/acf/ Online Versions of The Equinox http://www.the-equinox.org/ Beast Bay, Thelemic Discussions http://www.beastbay.com "Love is the law, love under will." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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] ========= ========= LEAVING THE PAST IN THE PAST ========= Copyright (c) 2001 Jonobie Ford ========= http://jford.kence.org/religion/ ========= If you've been in the Neopagan community very long at all, you'll have seen at least a half a dozen essays asserting that "Christians stole/borrowed/used all these traditions/holidays/customs from the Pagans." A good number of these are historically questionable assertions; some of them have merit. But mostly, they only serve to fuel ugly fires of Christian bashing. I'm angry that a community which is known for eclecticism and borrowing is hypocritical enough to complain that ancient Christians did the same thing. After all, here we are in the 21th century, and many of us have a theology that contains elements from many different periods and religions, possibly even Deities from several different periods and religions, and rituals and traditions that have been influenced from everything from Western occult to shamanism to modern culture and everything in between. And yet, there are complaints that Christians, who were once also a new religion, took ideas from a variety of sources and fit them together with their own ideas to form a theology, liturgy, and history that made sense to them. How is this different from what we're doing at this exact moment? I know, there are Christians who don't believe their own history. And there are Pagans who still believe that most ancient societies were matriarchal or that their religion has an unbroken line to the past. None of these ideas is really any less silly than the other. Let's have some understanding that foolishness exists everywhere, not just in Christianity. I'd bet there are some pretty inaccurate ideas running around in Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, too -- just most of us don't know about it because we don't have as much contact with them. My pastor at my UU church once made an interesting remark about fundamentalist Christianity. He said that people leave fundamentalist Christianity because something in their "perfect and orderly world" cracks and breaks so badly that it can't be repaired. For whatever reason, people suddenly realize that the world does not revolve around them, that God does not hold them in the center of His palm, or that they are no more chosen than anyone else on this Earth. It's a terribly frightening realization, and tends to cause a great deal of anger towards this religion that they believe lied to them. I think we have a lot of people who are still trying to deal with this anger in the Pagan community. We have a number of refugees from Christianity; people who feel betrayed by that religion, for whatever reason, and are trying to wrestle with throwing off the old theology while converting to their new religion. This "throwing off" and breaking with old thought patterns is notoriously painful and violent - much like a teenager rebelling to assert independence and freedom from parents. Since we've grown so fast, we have a much higher number of newcomers than Elders, which means that the voices of anger sometimes drown out the voices of tolerance and reason. Without many Elders, it also means that many of our newcomers are trying to get past their anger, and into a new religion, without much guidance from those who have already passed through these fires. Sadly, this anger often manifests by either trying to prove Paganism's superiority or by railing against Christians. Often this "proof" of Paganism's superiority manifests in claims that it is older. Older isn't always better, and sometimes it's decidedly worse. Even the most Reconstructionist-oriented Pagans need to modify what they know about older religions and cultures to fit modern sensibilities and culture. The difference between Reconstructed religions and one that has a living tradition, such as Christianity, is that Reconstructionists are making all their modifications at once. Living traditions have organically grown and changed to fit the times. While it's intellectually interesting that Christianity shares a great number of parallels with other mythology of the time, from a spiritual perspective, it doesn't matter. It just proves that there is meaning beyond the mythology; after all, we've all spoken it, each in our own religions' language. Who cares who got there first? Religion isn't a race; it's about finding and speaking your Truth. People before us have found their Truth and spoken it in their own ways; people after us will do the same. We should concentrate on joining them. [08] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [08-1] ========= ========= TAROTDEEVAH ON THE TAROT ========= by TarotDeevah ========= === === Sacred Rose Tarot === by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman Made in Switzerland by AG Muller Distributed by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1982 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880790121 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/srpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880790121/thecauldron This is one of those decks that just gives me the creeps. The art would be OK, except that most of the characters have hollow eyes, either completely black or completely white. There are no pupils or irises at all. It makes them all look like "creatures" rather than people. It's quite unsettling to have those non-eyes staring at you. :::shiver::: Sacred Rose Tarot mostly follows Rider-Waite style, except that Justice is VIII and Strength is XI. All of the cards, including the pips, are illustrated. Suits are wands, cups, swords and pentacles. Some of the swords are quite brutal. Court cards are page, knight, queen and king. The cards measure approximately 2.75 by 4.75 inches. This is a little large for me, but certainly not above average as tarot decks go. The stock is durable ... just right if you ask me. I suspect they will hold up to regular use well, but I don't use mine much at all. I recommend this deck for those who can get past those eyes. Symbolism is adequate ... enough for beginners. I recommend the deck for collectors, as it is an interesting addition. === === Santa Fe Tarot === Illustrations by Holly Huber Written by Tracy LeCocq Published by US Games Systems, Inc. Copyright 1993 by US Games Systems, Inc. ISBN 0880797002 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/sfpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880797002/thecauldron This is an interesting tarot deck. It follows Rider-Waite style, but has been modified to fit a Native American theme. I know very little about Native American culture, mythology or art, so I'm not qualified to comment on its accuracy. The names and order of the major arcana remains the same as Rider-Waite, but suits have changed. I find it odd to keep the majors and court cards true to Rider-Waite, since I doubt very much Native Americans had heirophants or knights or pages. Suits are rainbows (wands), water (cups), lightening (swords) and buffalos (pentacles). Court cards are page, knight, queen and king. The style of the illustrations remind me of cave drawings. The cards measure about 2.75 by 3.75 inches, which is a little large for me, but not as far as tarot decks generally go. The card stock is perfect in my opinion. They are very durable, but easily handled. I recommend this deck for those looking for a Native American theme, naturally. As far as Native American decks go, it's one of my favorites. I also recommend this deck for theme-deck lovers and collectors. Beginners may find it difficult to grasp unless they are knowledgeable in Native American symbolism. === === Shakespearean Tarot === by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki Illustrations by Paul Hardy Published for Caxton Editions by Diamond Books First published by Aquarian Press (1993) Copyright 1993 by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki ISBN 0261669737 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/shakespearpics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0261669737/thecauldron I find this to be a most charming deck. Each card features a quote from a Shakespearean play and the title of the play. Being a Shakespeare fan, this deck really makes me think. I don't always agree with the quote chosen for each card, and sometimes I'm sure of another quote that would fit even better; however, I like that this deck causes me to try to think of them. The deck loosely follows the Rider Waite style, but modifications have been made. The heirophant has become the high priest. The suits have been changed to: sceptres (wands), orbs (cups), swords and crowns (pentacles). Court cards are king, queen, lord (knight) and lady (page). My only complaint is that once the deck and book set is opened, you'll need to find a box or bag for the cards. They do not come in their own box. The cards measure about 2.5 by 4.5 inches and handle quite easily, even for my smallish hands. Card stock is a little thin, but not flimsy. These cards may not be as durable as others, due to their size and stock. I haven't had my deck long enough to say for sure, but that's the impression I get. I recommend this deck for all Shakespeare fans, beginner through advanced. Also, collectors will want to add it to their collection. I am very pleased with mine! === === Shapeshifter Tarot === by DJ Conway and Sirona Knight Illustrations by Lisa Hunt Published by Llewellyn Publications Copyright 1998 by DJ Conway, Sirona Knight and Lisa Hunt ISBN 1567183840 See Cards From This Deck: http://angelfire.com/la2/tarotdeevah/tarot/sspics.JPG Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567183840/thecauldron This is quite a lovely deck. The art is breathtaking and inspiring. It is a new system of tarot, too far removed to be called a Rider-Waite style or a Tarot de Marseilles style. Like with Osho Zen, I have a difficult time calling it a true tarot deck, although this one is closer to tarot than Osho Zen in my opinion. Despite that, much like Osho Zen, I absolutely love it. There are 25 major arcana cards, which are: 0-Initiation, 1- Sorcerer, 2-Sorceress, 3-the Mother, 4-the Father, 5-Knowledge, 6-the Lovers, 7-Power, 8-Courage, 9-the Seer, 10-the Circle, 11- Nature, 12-the Shapeshifter, 13-Rebirth, 14-Balance, 15-Choice, 16-the Serpent, 17-the Star, 18-the Moon, 19-the Sun, 20- Transcendence, 21-the Double, 22-the Journey, 23-the Dreamer, and 24-Oneness. Suits are wands, cups, swords and pentacles. In this deck, wands are air and swords are fire, which some may find difficult. There are no wands in the suit of wands, no swords in the suit of swords, etc. Instead, each card in the minor arcana looks more like one of the major arcana. Keywords are printed on the cards, giving them a title rather than a number of pentacles or cups. Court cards are seeker (page), warrior (knight), God (queen) and Goddess (king). Associating the masculine God with the queen and the Feminine Goddess with the king may be difficult for some. Despite its difficulties, I find this deck very readable. The cards measure about 2.75 by 4.5 inches and handle well. The card stock is ideal and holds up to the regular shuffling I put it through. This is a deck I use quite a bit. I recommend this deck for those looking for a slightly feminine deck or Goddess-based deck that doesn't go overboard. This deck has a decidedly feminine feel, but not at the expense of men. I also recommend this deck for those who associate wands with air and swords with fire. This is the best deck using that association that I've seen to date. The deck may be difficult for beginners, but I recommend it for them as well. This deck is ideal for inspiring new readers. Collectors will find it a must, as will theme-deck lovers. ===== ===== 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] ========= ========= A PAGAN TELEVANGELIST ========= Humor by an unknown author ========= Howdy folks. I'm Billy Bob DreamDancer, and I'd like to invite ya'll to join me and my lovely wife Tammy Faye Moonbeam when we present our new spiritual TV show, the 3Fold Club. We will be premiering Thursday night, August 24th at 8:00 PST on UPN 666. Join in song with us as our chorus of skyclad priestess initiates thrills you with plagiarized Christian tunes, set forth in pagan words. Share the joy as I heal the sick, right before your very eyes, as a 57th degree Reiki practitioner, not some plebeian (*cough*real* couch*) 3rd degree so called Master. Can I have a Blessed Be brothers and sisters!!!!! As a special introductory offer, Christians are welcome to join us and have their souls saved by our special guest Jesus (Hernandez) in a show of interfaith unity. So Mote it be!!!! Now, I must ask your help in this brothers and sisters. The Lady told me in a dream last week, that She would call me home to the Summerlands if I don't raise the collective consciousness, in the amount of $10 million. Help me to help you!!! Besides, Tammy Faye Moonbeam needs your support too. She spends hundreds of dollars each and every day on Henna. It's an addiction, so says the Shamanistic Healers at the Betty Ford Clinic. Please send cash as our Lady does not want us to detract from our spiritual path by worrying about checks and book keeping. I'd also like to extend an invitation to you to come on down and join us at our new religious theme park, WiccanWorld. Take a ride on our Sacred Space roller coaster, the tallest in North America. Thrill yourself when you ride our Wheel of the Year over 150 feet into the air. Try to hold onto your seats as you experience the Spiral Dance bobsled ride. If you'd like advance registration or would like to purchase tickets to our show, please send cash only to: Billy Bob DreamDancer 1313 Opossumtown Road, trailer lot #13 (see, our lucky number!!) Mahsistersmahwife, NC 60606 Don't worry about filling out any forms when you send your cash. I'm a Natural Witch, and I'll know all about you just by psychically feeling your envelope. Amen and Blessed Be!!! [08-3] ========= ========= SOFTWARE WATCH: DOSBOX ========= By Randall Sapphire ========= While I'm not much of a computer game player, one of the few games I really enjoyed, Master of Magic, stopped working when I upgraded to a new computer with Windows XP at the beginning of 2003. Master of Magic (MoM) is an old DOS game from the early 1990s, sort of a fantasy version of Civilization where you are a wizard trying to balance building up your cities, researching magic, and building armies with the aim of becoming the only wizard left on the map. I did a lot of research on the net and while some people reported that they could get MoM running under Windows XP, most could not -- and I was in that majority that could not. Enter DOSBox. DOSBox is a free, open source DOS emulator, designed for games, that now runs under Windows and several other operating systems. With the latest version of DOSBox (0.60), Master of Magic and several other old DOS games run nicely in a window on my Windows XP desktop. If you have old DOS games you'd like to run on a newer computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, DOSBox is a very nice program that may allow your old favorites to run. Which old games work with DOSBox? The DOSBox web site maintains a database of reports of how well various old games work. The two main problems with DOSBox are that it slow and only "real mode" is fully emulated (some "newer" DOS games run in "protected mode"). The DOSBox documentation reports that programs run in DOSBox on a 1.7 Gigahertz Pentium IV PC run at roughly at the speed they would a 25MHz 386 PC. This means that most First Person Shooter games like Duke Nukem 3D are too slow to be playable. Turn-based games do much better, although even Master of Magic was too slow for enjoyable play until I read the documentation and learned how to adjust the emulation speed (this info is near the end of the readme file). You can download DOSBox or find out more information about it on the DOSBox web site: http://dosbox.sourceforge.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] ========= ========= How To Care For The Caregivers ========= Some 50 million adults provide care for an older or chronically ill family member at home. Providing such care can be richly rewarding at times, yet considerably burdensome at others. Sometimes the stress on family caregivers can leave them feeling overwhelmed. Caring for an ill relative is never easy. Challenges can range from the physical (lifting an elderly relative in and out of a chair), to the financial (inability to work outside the home) and to the social (canceled vacations or other plans). In some cases, caregivers may experience physical illness, depression, grief, and changes in their own relationships as a result of the care they provide. Friends and other family members can play a critical role in caring for the caregiver by watching for signs of stress and making sure that strained caregivers get the help they need. Some of the signs that a caregiver may be heading for burn-out include: * overt sadness * being short-tempered * sleeplessness or fatigue * worried about finances * concern over loss of privacy or social contacts * feeling heavily overwhelmed and confined by the caregiving tasks These feelings can combine to compromise the caregiver's health- as well as the health of the person receiving care. The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, based at New York University, has developed a 13-item questionnaire that can be used to quickly identify family caregivers who should seek help and support. It focuses on some of the symptoms mentioned above. It can be found at: http://www.hartfordign.org/publications/trythis/issue14.pdf If you see friends or family members exhibiting some of these signs and symptoms, talk to them about getting help and support. Encourage them to: * Use available resources such as offers of help from friends, family, and neighbors * Use community support programs such as respite care programs * Reach out to a health care professional who can help evaluate them, their loved-one's condition and suggest care plans * Visit these Web sites for more information: The National Family Caregivers Association (http://www.nfcacares.org/) offers many helpful tips on coping with various aspects of caregiving. The Web site of Today's Caregiver magazine, http://www.caregiver.com/, also provides helpful articles and a discussion forum. The Alzheimer's Association (http://www.alz.org/) Mathy Mezey, RN, EdD, FAAN is the Director of the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at the Division of Nursing, The Steinhardt School of Education, New York University. http:/www.hartfordign.org/ [09-2] ========= ========= Advice On Avoiding Deadly Electrical Fires ========= Fire safety is no accident. About 40,000 residential electrical fires and 350 deaths occur each year, the majority of which are caused by faulty appliances, extension cords, power strips, and hidden hazards with electrical circuits. In addition to making sure that all appliances, plugs, and cords are in good working order, consumers can add an extra layer of protection by installing a new fire safety device: an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is at the forefront of the fight to reduce electrical fires, and recommends that parents and homeowners inspect and protect against hazards potentially lurking behind their walls. "Electrical fires, especially those caused by faulty wiring, are among the most deadly because the fire can start behind the wall and spread throughout much of the home before being detected," warned ESFI executive director Michael G. Clendenin. "AFCIs offer a protection from those fires we've never had before." AFCIs provide a more advanced defense against electrical fires, by detecting and stopping electrical arcs. An arc can occur when an electrical wire is punctured or overheats and is a sign that an electrical fire may soon start. AFCIs have special technology that makes it more sensitive to dangers along an electrical circuit that cannot be detected by most breakers and fuses. Though electrical products are being made safer, homeowners should still heed the following advice to avoid potentially fatal electrical fires: * Look for telltale signs of electrical problems such as dimming of lights, frequent circuit breaker trips or blown fuses. * Ask a qualified electrician if your home would benefit from AFCI protection, especially during inspections of older homes or upgrades to electrical systems. * Limit the use of extension cords, use them only temporarily, and never with space heaters or air conditioners. * Use light bulbs that are the proper wattage for the fixture. * Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every floor outside sleeping areas and in every bedroom, and are in good working order. For additional electrical safety information, visit the Foundation's Web site at http://www.electrical-safety.org/ or call 703-841-3229. [09-3] ========= ========= Don't Let Winter Stop You From Grilling Outdoors ========= From burgers and fish to turkeys and roasts, Americans are increasingly grilling year-round. When it comes to defining their grilling season, 54 percent of grill owners say they grill all year long, an increase from 49 percent a year ago, according to a recent survey. "Thirty-nine percent of the survey respondents say they grill outside even when it's below freezing," said Shaun Chinsky, of Weber-Stephen Products Co., which sponsored the 15th Annual Weber GrillWatch Survey. "Savvy backyard cooks recognize that winter shouldn't stop them from enjoying that unique flavor of seared and smoked food that only outdoor grilling creates." Whether cooking for a Super Bowl Sunday party, on a ski trip, or for a family holiday gathering, Chinsky suggests following these tips to ensure a successful winter grilling experience: Grill in an Open Space. Never grill in closed quarters that can trap deadly carbon monoxide. Use open spaces like a deck off the kitchen, where the grill is a safe distance from anything flammable. Be Flexible. Cold weather grilling is when you should be more flexible with your serving time, since it may be necessary to add to the total amount of cooking time. Make Sure It's Done. Always use a meat thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the food you're cooking. Keep it Simple. Almost anything is faster when cooked on the grill-best bets for cold weather grilling are foods that don't require much attention. Steaks, burgers or fish that need only one quick flip or large meats that can cook unattended without repeated basting will work well. Not only do you eliminate multiple trips outside to the grill, but you also don't have to keep opening the lid and lose the heat that has built up. Maintain Consistent Heat. If it's snowing, brush the snow off the grill before cooking. Snow on the grill reduces the temperature in the grill. Try not to lift the lid any more than necessary, because cold gusts blowing into the grill will lower the cooking heat. Take Advantage of the Hot Grill. Use it for side dishes, like vegetables or potatoes, to get flavor unmatched indoors. Try cooking winter's bounty of squash and root vegetables. Grill them whole or cut in half and always use the indirect grilling method, which intensifies the flavor of the vegetables, caramelizing and browning these hearty winter vegetables. Use a Heated Platter. It's a good idea to put the grilled food onto a heated platter. Don't put the meat on a cold plate that's been sitting outside next to the grill. [09-4] ========= ========= Tips for Saving More at the Store this Year ========= How well do you plan your excursions to the grocery store? By using common sense and your computer, you can save time and money. Try these savvy shopping strategies. 1. Use coupons as a trusted source for savings. Coupons are a great way to save on your favorite brands. Newspaper circulars offer traditional coupons, and now the Internet makes finding coupons fast, easy and free. Try coolsavings.com, ivillage.com or your favorite manufacturer's Web site. 2. Home Economics 101. Think through menus and housekeeping "to do's" in advance. Web sites like allrecipes.com and homemadesimple.com will inspire your creativity and keep you focused on your shopping trip. 3. Prepare a list prior to grocery shopping. Don't forget your shopping list-it will save you money. More than 40 percent of people purchase on impulse when shopping if they do not have a list with them, according to greedyfools.com. 4. Never grocery shop when you're hungry. The hungrier you are, the more you will crave food that may not be on your list or in your budget. Shop after a meal, or better yet, after you exercise. 5. Keep your eyes peeled. Food manufacturers compete for the best shelf space, so look high and low. For every one type of product, there are a variety of brands with varying prices including generic brands, which often offer the best value. 6. Save with the "Blinky Machines." The dispensers perched on store shelves make it easy to spot great coupons and save on your favorite brands. 7. Give yourself a time limit. Get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. Experts say that for every extra minute you shop, you spend 50 cents more. 8. Shop at the right time. Mornings are less crowded-making it easier to satisfy your need for speed. And, shop when double and triple coupons are offered. 9. Cut down your trips to the grocery store. Make a monthly trip to a discount grocery store for staples and packaged goods. Then, shop weekly for milk, fruit and veggies. You'll buy less produce that often goes to waste. 10. Keep score. Track what you're paying for groceries each week. Using a computer program like Quicken you can create categories in your online checkbook and track your purchases with ease. With the money you save using these helpful tactics, consider helping another in need. Visit http://www.secondharvest.org/ or http://www.cutouthunger.org/ for more information on how you can feed the hungry in your own community. These helpful tips are brought to you by coolsavings.com [09-5] ========= ========= Elephant Birth Trumpets Conservation History ========= On December 5, 2003, at 9:25 a.m., the birth of Riccardo, a 232- pound newborn, male, Asian elephant was good news for elephant lovers everywhere and people dedicated to helping conserve this magnificent species. The birth was also historic news for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC), marking a monumental first for the scientific research and breeding facility. Riccardo is the first offspring from two elephants born into the care of Ringling Bros., making him the first second-generation calf at the Center, which opened in 1995 in Central Florida. "While each Asian elephant birth is a cause for celebration, we are particularly thrilled with Riccardo's arrival," stated Kenneth Feld, CEO and Chairman of Feld Entertainment, Inc. "The second- generation birth represents unprecedented success in the strides toward conservation of the species, creating a more diverse gene pool and additional opportunities to share our work and the knowledge gained at the CEC worldwide. We are living up to our credo, 'Endangered Species? Not if we can help it.'" Since the 1990s, more than a third of the viable Asian elephants born in North America were born into the care of Ringling Bros. Currently, fewer than 40,000 Asian elephants are left in the world, so each new calf takes the Asian elephant one step further from extinction. The CEC was founded by Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, to keep Asian elephants alive for future generations. Built in 1995, the 200-acre state-of-the-art facility was designed for the reproduction, research and retirement of the Asian elephant. Knowledge gained there is shared throughout the world, especially throughout North America and Southeast Asia. For more information about the CEC, visit the Web site at http://www.elephantcenter.com/ [10] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP ========= The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum was founded in December 1997 to provide a friendly but serious discussion area for Pagans on the Internet. We've grown a bit over the years. We now have an active message area, a large web site with around 700 pages of information (including over 250 book and divination deck reviews), and a monthly email newsletter. To continue to provide and expand these services, The Cauldron needs lots of volunteer help from our members and supporters. Here are some of the things members and supporters can do to help The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum thrive: ===== ===== Actively Participate In Our Message Board ===== While our Delphi message board welcomes readers, we encourage members to actively participate by posting their comments and views in our discussions. One of the easiest ways to help The Cauldron is to actively participate in our message board. The staff especially appreciates members who start new topics for discussion based on their own questions, opinions, or interests. http://forums.delphiforums.com/CUSTOM7999/start ===== ===== Articles! Essays! Tutorials! ===== We are in constant need of original, well-written and accurate articles, essays, tutorials, and other written items for both our web site and for our Cauldron and Candle newsletter. There's no real limit on length for web site articles. Here are a few areas in which we always need articles: * information on the beliefs and theology of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * information on holidays and festivals of the various Pagan religions, especially non-Wiccan religions * recipes for oils, incenses, and food for the various Pagan holidays * magick, spells, and ritual information * herbal information * positive articles on dealing with other faiths * information on historical pagan cultures * editorial/opinion pieces Non-Wiccan material is stressed not because we don't want Wiccan material but because good non-Wiccan material has been hard to find. We have a web form you can use to submit an article for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php ===== ===== Book Reviews ===== While The Cauldron receives some review copies from a couple of Pagan publishers, there are many books that can only be reviewed on our web site if a member has a copy and writes a good, objective review. The Cauldron is interested in reviews on the more academic books used by reconstructionist Pagan religions as well as on the books one finds on the Pagan/New Age shelf in the bookstore. We have a web form you can use to submit a book review for consideration: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php ===== ===== Graphic Assistance ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum is purposely a low graphics site as we value page download speed over flashy graphics. However, we are always willing to talk with artists who have ideas for well-designed small graphics (small in both physical dimensions and file size) that might enhance a specific article or page. ===== ===== Invite Your Friends ===== If you have friends or acquaintances who you believe would find The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum useful, please tell them about our site. If you are active in our message board and have friends who might enjoy them or have information to contribute, please invite them. ===== ===== Link To The Cauldron ===== If you have a web site where linking to The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would be appropriate, simply providing a link to this web site is a big help. Our Link to this Site page explains how you can do this if you need help or want some simple graphic buttons to use: http://www.ecauldron.com/linktous.php ===== ===== Donations ===== As The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum uses as many free services as possible, our need for money to operate our site is currently lower than our need for the many items we list above. However, if you have a few dollars to spare, we would be honored to have your help in paying for our web site. You can donate by using either PayPal or the Amazon Honor System links below (we get about 85% of what you donate). Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ===== ===== Amazon Purchases ===== The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum also receives a small percentage (usually 5%) from most items purchased from Amazon.com when you go to Amazon.com from one of the links to Amazon on our web site. If you purchase a lot of books, CDs, and other items from Amazon.com as many members do, going to Amazon.com through one of our links when you are going to make a purchase there is a painless way to help fund this web site. http://www.ecauldron.com/amazon.php ===== ===== Have Questions or Suggestions? ===== If you have specific questions, proposals or other ideas we haven't mentioned here, please email them to rssapphire00@ecauldron.GETRIDOFEME.com. (Unfortunately, Randall has to answer general "Tell me more?" type questions with a request for a more specific question. He's not trying to be rude, he just can't think of anything general and useful to say that isn't said here.) [11] ========= ========= NEWSLETTER INFORMATION ========= (Including how to subscribe and unsubscribe) ========= Cauldron and Candle is a free publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. The Cauldron intends to publish this newsletter once a month and often actually succeeds in doing so. We tried to publish it twice a month for a while, but real life interfered too often. This issue of Cauldron and Candle as a whole is copyright (c) 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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