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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #76 -- August 2006 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/mb/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ shopping: http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php http://www.ecauldron.com/doxysbazaar.php In this Issue: [00] Editorial Notes [01] Cauldron News * Ray (OCELOT) New Chat Contact * Legend of the Green Dragon Updates [02] Cauldron Discussions [03] Pagan Announcements * New Pagan Rights Yahoo Group [04] Book Reviews: * The Inner Temple of Magick * The Case for Ghosts [05] Articles * Commentary on The Cauldron and Its Rules * Is Your House Haunted? (And What To Do If It Is) * Rider Waite Smith Tarot - A Brief Introduction [06] Flamekeeping: A Universe of Knowledge [07] Software Gadgets: The Column * Wikipad -- Notepad with Wiki Features for Organization * Enigmail -- Email Encryption for Thunderbird * Font Frenzy -- Safely Clean Up Unused Fonts [08] Grimoire: Money Bag Spell [09] Pagan Webmaster: Convert RSS Feeds to Dynamic HTML Web Pages [10] Recipe: Glassmaster's Herring [11] Support The Cauldron [12] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ LOOKING FOR PAGAN SUPPLIES? Visit The Cauldron's Pagan Supply Store (An Affiliate of Pagan Shopping Online) http://www.ecauldron.com/esesf.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [00] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= Welcome to the first (and perhaps only) August 2006 issue of Cauldron and Candle. You are receiving this issue because you subscribed. To learn how to unsubscribe, see the last section of this newsletter. As in June, there was no second July issue last month. I simply got too busy in real life to put it together. August may be just as busy -- which is why we are calling our two issue a month schedule "experimental." I'd like to remind everyone of a couple of painless ways to support The Cauldron if you are in the market for web hosting or pagan supplies. Buy directly from our links: Dreamhost -- Pagan Friendly Web Hosting http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php Pagan Supplies http://www.ecauldron.com/esesf.php Randall Sapphire Editor and Publisher, Cauldron and Candle Co-Host, The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum [01] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== Ray (OCELOT) New Chat Contact ===== Ray (OCELOT) has volunteered to take over as contact person on our Flash Chats. He will be the staff member in charge of helping our chat hosts and members use our Flash Chat. ===== ===== Legend of the Green Dragon Updates ===== One of the features on the "Member's Only" menu of the Cauldron's message board (visible only after you log in to our message board) is our member's only Legend of the Green Dragon server. This is a web-based fantasy game where you attempt to become powerful enough to slay the huge green dragon that this terrifying the area. We have recently expanded the game with multiple towns, new village and forest features, and other expansions. If you haven't given LOTGD a try recently, now might be good time Note that logins to the Legend of the Green Dragon server are completely separate from those of the message board. You will have to create a new character to play. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ PAGAN-FRIENDLY WEB HOSTING * * Now with 20 GB Web Space & 1000 GB Bandwidth * * http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php Dreamhost offers high-quality, low cost web hosting with a dedication to free speech. Pagan sites are welcome! Read why we use Dreamhost for The Cauldron's web site: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/whydreamhost.php Starter Plan Features * 20000 megs web space * 1000 gigs/month bandwidth * 3000 email boxes (POP3/IMAP) * 75 ftp/shell accounts * host unlimited domains/subdomains * php4, php5, cgi, fastcgi, ssi * zend optimizer, ruby on rails * unlimited MySQL databases * announcement lists * discussion (aka mailing) lists * Jabber server * Crontab and Shell access * Web-based Control Panel * One-Click installs of the Wordpress blog & PhpBB forum * 1 free domain name * helpful tech support * and much more! All for $9.95 a month with a $49.95 setup fee. Pay for a year in advance and there is no setup fee. Pay two years in advance and the price drops to $7.95 a month. (And there is a 97 day money back guarantee!) Visit Dreamhost for Affordable, Pagan-Friendly Hosting http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 200 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting recent discussions. It's not too late to join in. Thanks to Feedburner, 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 Feedburner's free news delivery via the form at the end of the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web page. ===== ===== Pronunciation of Pagan Names and Terms? ===== When you started out, did anyone else here want to bang their head against the walls over how to pronounce things correctly? Every website I look up has the same thing going on, no one knows how to say gods' names that are Celtic ... because none of us are Celtic. Take Cernunnos. Is that Cer-noon-us? os? He's supposed to be Celtic, but some of these sites say the name is still Latin, because the Celts didn't have a written language {wouldn't they still have spoken his name out loud?}. But even with it being Latin, it's still a hard C. I think. Cerridwen? Cer-a-win? No one wants to pronounce a god's name wrong ... seems in bad form. How does one pronounce Ganesha? Gan-esha? Or Sekhmet? I can watch Stargate SG1 all day and they won't pronounce any of the hard Egyptian gods' names. I think the Greek and Roman gods are so common to us, because of movies and books, that we know how to pronounce them. But toss in Celtic or Egyptian or Hindu and some of us are clueless. So is there a good source for how to pronounce these names? or even Sabbat names. I think Lughnassad is Loo-nus-ah. But how does one say Lammas if that's too long? Hehe. I know I sound really stupid, but this just isn't a strong point for me. I don't want to say the words wrong. My husband is asking me alot of questions here lately ... I hate not being able to answer them. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1315.1 ===== ===== Reconstruction vs Modern Reality ===== How much change is allowed when adapting actual rituals and practices to the modern world will always generate an argument in a group of reconstructionists. Most agree that things that are illegal (human sacrifice) or generally considered wrong (treating women like chattel) have to go, but how far should one go to make one's reconstruction fit the modern world? For example, what if the historical record shows that the vast majority of the time a ritual wass done via method A. While not illegal or questionable, method A would certainly not be socially acceptable today. Method B was used to a much lesser extent by the ancients (and was probably not the "mainstream" way of doing the ritual), but it would be much more acceptable to modern society. Which method do you think should be used and why? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1291.1 ===== ===== Oils in Magic and Religion? ===== I use oils in both my magical and religious practices. Some I make myself (right down to growing the herbs, grinding the resins), and some I buy commercially. My favourite commercial source right now is BPAL and TAL (blackphoenixalchemylab and twilightalchemylab) and while the BPAL oils are primarily meant to be worn and enjoyed, I use them for other purposes as well. So, what I'd like to talk about is this: do you use oils at all? Do you make your own, or purchase them, and if the latter, what sources do you especially like? Do you use them to annoint candles, annoint yourself or icons in ritual, make candles with them, use them to dedicate/consecrate/purify items? Use them instead of or as incense? What role, if any, do oils play in your religious and/or magical practices? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1282.1 ===== ===== First Meeting with Coven Leader? ===== I have been a solitairy for a little over a year and finally felt like it was time to reach out for some guidance. I found a group nearby that is a very neat Tradition. It's native to my state and seems like a good fit. After some initial emails, I answered a very awesome questionnaire and I am about to meet this high priestess this week. At a public place. She seems very starightforward and down to earth but I am still a bit nervous. I feel like she knows alot about what I want although I am not sure beyond the basics she's already outlined what she is looking for. Should I treat it like a job interview? Should I have tons of questins? What should I expect? Any advice from people who have done this before? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1278.1 ===== ===== Pentacles and Offending People? ===== I just recently started wearing a pentacle necklace. I've noticed that when i wear it out, quite a few people become cold toward me. I don't wear it outside my shirt at work yet, mostly because I have a fear of reprisals here (it's a private firm, not public) but if it is out at a store, I find it much more likely that the cashier will be rude, no matter my sunny disposition. Have others found this to be the case on a large scale just from wearing jewelry with your religious symbols? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1241.1 ===== ===== The Ritual Blooper Reel ===== OK, so admit it. You're not perfect. None of us are. Sometime, at some point during a ritual, you've made a mistake. A funny one. A hilarious one. Everyone got a good laugh out of it and probably teased you for another year or two over it. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1222.1 ===== ===== Songs That Remind You of a Deity ===== Maybe I am weird, but when I hear certain songs on the radio, the song will make me think of a God or Goddess. I thought it would be fun to compile a list of such songs... unless I am the only freak this happens to. I'll go first: Jupiter - Thunderstuck by AC DC Pan - Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1210.1 ===== ===== Souvenirs From Your Ex-Religions ===== This is a question for people who were involved with a religion, monotheistic or otherwise: is there anything you miss about where you used to belong? For me, it's the music. There are a lot of Christian hymns, chants, and anthems that are simply beautiful. And also: do your gods allow you to use parts of your old religion in worshipping them? Are they offended that you would recycle or use someone else's stuff, or do they like the general reverent attitude behind what you're doing? I don't have any experience with this part, as I only left the church last month. But I'd love to hear everyone else's stories. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=1118.1 [03] ========= ========= PAGAN ANNOUNCEMENTS ========= ===== ===== New Pagan Rights Yahoo Group ===== by Fern Owl (Pamela Freeman) ===== The United States of America is a wonderful, glorious place or at least it could be. The basic tenents the country was founded upon are good and should be a model of what all countries strive to become. But there is an underside to the United States that is much less than perfect and completely undeserving of being emulated. It is the side that says one thing, yet does something else. Sadly it is the side our current President is on and the side many of the nations top Religious leaders are on. It's called religious intolerance and it threatens the very right to religious freedom the country was founded on. I do not want this to be an article bashing any one side or another. The Goddess has enough blessings for all of us and I fully believe everyone has the right to believe what ever they want to believe. According to the Constitution of the United States, everyone already has these right. But what we see and feel in the mundane world as Wiccans, Pagans and Native Peoples is so much different than what we are being told. It is time to bring reality, what we see, feel and hear on a daily basis, in line with what those in power are telling us. Slowly but surely the rights of Non Judeo/Christian/Muslim peoples are being erroded. Many of the leaders of these book religions would prefer we simply disappear from the face of the earth. They want to outlaw our herbs and make all forms of divination illegal. They laugh at our Magick and call us demons, devils and degenerates. Anyone with an Internet connection can visit Google or Yahoo can perform a word search on religious intolerance or Pagan discrimination and find article after article showing how and where it is happening. There are courses available free of charge on hundreds of Christian websites teaching their members ways to undermine our way of life, our Temples and even our rights as human beings. Any one that denies it is happening is lying to themself as well as whomever they are speaking to. Where our biggest problem comes in is because Pagans for the most part, do not like conflict. We would rather turn the other cheek than directly confront those that would force their beliefs on us. The world would be a better place if more people handled things this way. But sometimes things happen in such a way that by turning our cheek, we are giving our personal power to persons that would prefer we not exsist. So the big question becomes, are you going to continue to do nothing and allow it to get worse or are you going to try to do something about it? Stand_Up_For_Pagan_Rights has decided to do something about it. We seek to make changes in how all Pagan peoples are treated in all areas. We can only make changes if we get involved. We can do so using the systems our forefathers set in place to ensure this country was for ALL peoples, not just those on a specific religions roles. The system in already in place and we can do it without making demands, threats or using violence, if we band together. I urge you to join our group and be prepared to occasionally write a letter, make a phone call or sign a petition and perhaps tell a couple of friends about us. You do not have to get involved within anything else if you don't want to. There will be plenty of other things you can get involved with if you want to be more active, but 100,000 people doing these basic things will make a MAJOR difference. Just get involved and use the tools our founding forefathers put into place in this country to make changes. You can visit our yahoo group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stand_Up_For_Pagan_Rights/ Join with us before we are forced to go undercover again. Blessings be upon you and yours! [04] ========= ========= CAULDRON REVIEWS ========= Most of The Cauldron's book reviews are now written by Mike Gleason. If you would like to contact Mike with comments about his reviews (or about books you would like to have reviewed), you can email Mike at: gleason.mike@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com ===== ===== THE INNER TEMPLE OF MAGICK ===== The Inner Temple of Magick by Phillip Cooper Published 2004 by Spiral Publishing ISBN 0975540343 186 pages Trade Paperback $12.99 (U.S.) $15.93 (Canada) http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0975540343 I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book and, as I got started reading it, I still wasn't sure what I had gotten. Mr. Cooper's approach to magick is uniquely his own, as is his perception of life and its journey. I am not sure, even now, how much I agree with his premise and conclusions. Which is not to say that I disagree with this book, but rather that I haven' t made a final decision regarding it. Mr. Cooper definitely feels that his perceptions represent "truth," but that is an opinion shared by each and every author in the known universe. He stresses that everyone must find truth within themselves, and then proceeds to indicate what, in his opinion, you should be finding. That is the thing about human beings as unique individuals - no two people will share the same exact opinion. His assertion (which I happen to agree with) that magick should produce tangible results is sure to upset some practitioner; as well his assertion that it NOT wrong to use magick to achieve material gains (again a position with which I agree). So many traditions downplay materialism and focus only on "spiritual advancement" and followers of those belief systems will find little of value in this book. If you are reluctant to try new things; if you distrust viewpoints which conflict with the world "as we know it"; and if you think magick is all about discipline and hard work, you will probably want to pass this book by. If, on the other hand, you are willing to open yourself to alternate thought processes, you will probably benefit from this book. You may not become a "great magickian" (however YOU define that term), but you will learn other ways of perceiving the world, and that is a definite plus. There are numerous, individually unimportant, grammatical errors in this book. Were this a novel, I would simply leave it at that. However, Mr. Cooper is supposed to be teaching the reader how to accomplish anything they put their mind to. How about putting his mind to writing a book without a bunch of distracting errors (incorrect punctuation, twisted syntax, etc.)? Mr. Cooper's presentation, at times, seems to be composed of equal parts of Christianity and Church of All Worlds. He stresses the role of the "Divine Originator" in the creation of all that exists and then follows up with some vintage Norman Vincent Peale "Power of Positive Thinking." Some of the old "standards" of magick have been reworked - the Inner Temple has been transformed from a Greco-Roman temple to a medieval fortress complete with towers; the approach to the temple appears to owe at least a bit to Plato's description of the lost land of Atlantis; and there are other tweaks as well. I know that I am a nit-picker when it comes to the written word (I am as bad with the spoken word, but it is much easier to spot errors [and illustrate them] in writing), but it seems to me that an author who is attempting to teach readers to overcome self- imposed perceptions of reality would be more careful about correct syntax, punctuation, etc. I find it disconcerting to read (as on page 53) ".God is only in one place - heaven, and that only in Gods (sic) mind does there exist." This isn't the only time such carelessness occurs, but it is representative. There are, in my opinion, for too many sentence fragments trying to pass as complete thoughts. For instance: "Because of the sheer number of sleights, effects, and 'mental magick' that can be made to appear miraculous by virtue of its seeming impossibility." Because of that, WHAT? Such carelessness undermines the purpose and value of the entire work, as far as I am concerned. The sheer bulk of the difficulties outlined above made it difficult for me to evaluate the contents of this book in an objective manner. I kept finding myself being jarred from the flow of what I was reading by the dissonances. While I understand the use of symbols to program the subconscious mind as a basic step towards accomplishing magick; and while Mr. Cooper acknowledges that the subconscious can influence things both positively and negatively; the one factor that Mr. Cooper fails to mention is that the subconscious doesn't understand negatives. It is necessary to convey "I am rich" (if that is your desire) and not "I am no longer poor." The subconscious will interpret the latter statement as "I am poor," and act accordingly. I understand that the author's approach to magick is minimalist (i.e., things don't have to be perfect, as long as you are making a sincere effort; the magick comes not from the tools, but from the magickian, etc.), but sometimes I feel that it is too bare- bones (e.g., pick any direction and call it East). I have always worked in a minimalist way, and I have never found it too difficult to use an inexpensive compass to determine the directions. There are numerous asterisks used which, to my way of thinking, would seem to indicate the existence of explanatory material (either as footnotes, end of chapter notes, or at the back of the book in the "The Inner Temple of Magick Notes" section). Such material is NOT included anywhere I can find. I'm not sure whether they were written and failed to make it through the printing process, or if the author never got around to writing them in the first place. In any case, it is very disconcerting. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ NEED PAGAN OR MAGICKAL SUPPLIES? Shop Paganshopping.Com via The Cauldron's Pagan Supplies Store http://www.ecauldron.com/esesf.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===== ===== THE CASE FOR GHOSTS ===== The Case for Ghosts by J. Allan Danelek Published 2006 by Llewellyn ISBN: 0738708658 220 pages Trade Paperback $12.95 (U.S.) $15.95 (Canada) http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0738708658 Looking for a collection of spooky stories? Sorry about that, this book is not for you. Hoping for a how-to manual for your next ghost-busting experience? Once more you will be disappointed. Looking for a possible explanation of how and why ghosts may exist? Okay, now you've found a book for you. It doesn't have all the answers. In fact, it doesn't have ANY answers. It does have theories; basic details on how to document your experiences; and some really good food for thought. Mr. Danelek offers some intriguing thoughts on how consciousness arises; how it might survive physical death; how non-animate objects (aircraft, boats, automobiles, etc.) might manifest as "ghosts"; and just generally opens the field to investigation to multiple approaches. He offers a true skeptic's approach to the subject - he neither accepts the reality of ghosts unconditionally, nor does he reject the possibility categorically. His approach is basically that of "Convince me one way or the other." He is not a true believer, nor is he a debunker. He is an inquirer. Mr. Danelek is not a professional paranormal investigator, nor is he a professional debunker. He is a profession, however - a professional artist and writer. This lack of a position to defend allows him to look at both sides of the issue and offer common sense suggestions to both sides. He does pose some interesting questions about the current crop of "ghost hunters," especially those who appear on television. If ghost sightings "normally" (if you can use that term) occur in lighted rooms or during daylight hours, who do so many of these people shoot their investigations at night, using "night vision" equipment? It would seem more logical (although less "spooky") to do the hunting during the day when most incidents occur. He does offer some intriguing possibilities about how to improve the chances for encouraging a "ghostly" encounter. Mr. Danelek has some obvious biases and attitudes regarding the reason for "spiritual afterlife," but he makes no attempt to disguise them. He clearly identifies suppositions, suggestions, and other non-provable beliefs as just that when they are brought into the discussion. He is very careful to avoid categorical statements, while making a real effort to be fair in his presentation. Hew may not agree with a particular premise (the existence of a literal heaven or hell, for instance), but he is honest enough to admit that there is no scientifically verifiable proof one way or the other. There are a couple of pages of photographs illustrating common "sightings" which show up on film, and how to "fake up" a ghost photo. These pages are included simply as examples of what is out there, and have no intent of debunking photographic evidence in general. This book is well-written and fairly presented. It offers a great deal of food for thought. And it is reasonably priced. What more can you expect from a book on a controversial subject? [05] ========= ========= ARTICLES ========= ===== ===== COMMENTARY ON THE CAULDRON AND ITS RULES ===== by Koimichra ===== [These are taken from the first few messages in a new thread on our message board located at: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncsocial.php?m=1210.1 ] === === Message #1210.1 === The Message Board Rules can be found here: http://www.ecauldron.com/cmrules.php If you have any questions about the rules, anything you're unsure about, please feel free to ask them in this thread, and the staff will do our best to answer them. A partial quote of my post to Rabbit, which kicked off this rules thread: At TC, we prefer to leave discussions intact, including with any offensive or even rule-breaking bits. We'd rather moderate the poster than censor the posts, if that makes sense. Most of our rules aren't meant to head off particular topics of discussion or particular viewpoints; they're meant to require individuals to behave with good manners. People are invited to say basically anything they want to, no matter how offensive or outlandish, as long as they're polite about it. They may get totally shouted down by the rest of the membership, but at least it'll be a marginally not-rude shoutdown. :) To sum them up in a single sentence, The Cauldron aims to foster debate about ideas (not personalities) in an at-least-marginally respectful fashion. Some people find this very difficult to live with, because they're used to message boards where ideas are restricted and people with strong opinions are shut down or made to be "nicer." We don't do that. As long as posters can follow basic rules of marginally polite discourse, the discussion itself can get extremely heated without the staff feeling any need to moderate. Some people consider almost any strong opinion (that differs from theirs!) to be a "personal attack." We don't. This means sometimes people flounce off in high dudgeon because TC lets other people disagree with them, but it means we have a pretty high level of discussion and debate here that, by and large, remains respectful and even friendly even in the face of vehement disagreements. (Just for example, Bob and I disagree probably as much as is humanly possible on gun control and capital punishment and have done so heatedly in threads, but we like each other quite a bit regardless. Moreover, I've LEARNED quite a bit from him about the opposing position and it's really made me respect the opposing position more and take their arguments much more seriously. I think (I hope!) he would say the same.) If you have questions about a SPECIFIC situation that has already occurred, please take those to e-mail. But if you have GENERAL questions about the rules (or hypothetical questions), we're happy to answer them! === === Message #1210.2 === A couple of questions that come up a lot: === When can I edit a post? When you need to fix a typo, or change something minor for clarity, or fix formatting (as I did in the post just above this where I did the html wrong)! If you do so quickly before anybody's really had a chance to read it, you can add something or remove it. Generally when this occurs, people mark the post "edited to add:" (or "ETA:") or something like "rambling question answered later in the thread removed." WHEN IN DOUBT, DO NOT EDIT. If you are in a particularly heated thread, editing for other than typos, minor clarity, or formatting is strongly discouraged. One option is to make a second post making your correction or clarification, then adding to the original one something like "Edited to add: further clarification in post 113". === When can I post a link? When it's germane (i.e., related or important) to the thread. If someone asks, "Where can I buy an athame online?" it's absolutely appropriate to post links to online stores that carry athames. === What if it's my own store? If you're an active poster, and someone in the thread specifically asks about athames, and you make athames, feel free to post a link. What we frown on is posters who join only to promote a commercial interest, or who start threads at random saying "Come shop at my store." That sort of post has to be cleared in advance with the staff or it will be considered spam. If you're not sure about the propriety of posting a link, feel free to ask the staff. That's a quick and easy question for us to answer. === Not Safe for Work? Just as a note, many Cauldronites read TC from work, so if you post a link that isn't safe for work, do us the favor of noting that! Also, if you post a "tinyurl" or "shorl" link or something similar that truncates the link, it's polite to let posters know if they're pulling up multimedia content (some posters can't and their computers or browsers will crash) or going to a site that may offend some. === So-and-So Insulted Me! Copy the post, the thread title, and the post number, and e-mail the staff if you feel rules have been broken. Do not address rules violations in public. Staff e-mails are available on the start page of the message board. === My English Isn't Very Good. We don't care. :) We urge all posters to attempt to use standard English without excessive abbreviations or netspeak, largely because we have such an international membership with varying levels of English competence. Our hope is that if all fluent English users use standard English, users who are not fluent will have an easier time understanding posts, and users who are fluent won't be exhausted by 25 posts full of netspeak when they get to a post from a user who is genuinely non-fluent, not just lazy. Plus, almost everyone who protests to us that they're non-fluent is perfectly fine and totally intelligible. All you not-Americans have such a higher standard of what constitutes foreign language competence than we Americans do! If you are a non-native speaker, or if you suffer from dyslexia or a similar disability that impacts your reading or writing of English, it's helpful if you put that in your profile. If we see that your country of origin is, say, Uganda, we'll know that any awkward English is merely a translation issue. We've had a couple posters in the past who put in their sigs "I'm dyslexic, please forgive spelling errors," or something similar. That's another option. === === Message #1210.3 === === Why Isn't Moderating Always Consistent? Three reasons: 1) We're human. Some days I may have a horrible cold and have been cut off in traffic and be much less tolerant of a minor rules infraction I might let slide on a day when everything is going right. I don't do it on purpose; I try to be fair, but I'm just as subject to life as anybody else. 2) We're different people. Some things I see as a rules violation, Star might pass over, and vice versa. 3) Some issues are situational. Sometimes in a heated thread, we jump more quickly on things we might let slide in a more relaxed thread. Sometimes, because language is slippery, we know what a long-time poster "means" when he or she misspeaks, whereas with a newbie we have to take the words at face value. Some rules calls issues are just REALLY close to the border and are always a judgment call. And sometimes, if a poster has a history as a troublemaker, we're quicker to jump on those borderline calls. === What If I Think You Are Being Unfair? You are always free to argue rules calls in e-mail to the staff. Do not argue with them on the board. Staff e-mails are listed on the start-page. You can climb up the ladder of command, from board staff, to board coordinators (Star, and HeartShadow and Koimichra (me) assistants to her), to hosts (Randall, Lyric, and the currently-absent Elspeth). When we've made an error (or someone up the chain of command feels someone below has made an error), we usually apologize and retract. Perceptions of Unfairness typically have three causes: 1) We missed it or misread it. Sometimes really long posts make staff's eyes glaze over, or we just miss something being insulting. (Insults directed at you are so much easier to find, aren't they?) This happens most often when the board is particularly busy and when part of staff is on vacation, so we're struggling to keep up. 2) Randall thus decrees it. This board is a benevolent dictatorship. Randall makes the rules, and Randall makes the final call. He freely admits that occasionally, life is unfair. 3) Someone does not understand how the board works. Rules here are very different at many other boards. We allow a level of heated discussion that is not present at very many other moderated boards. Often people arguing about moderator calls appear unclear about what, exactly, constitutes a rules violation at TC; they often seem confused about why one example IS a violation and another ISN'T. We are always happy to try to explain this. These situations, however, are probably where we get most of our flounce-offs, from people who either can't or won't understand how the rules on this board work. They also often insist that we're the worst message board ever, and our rules are stupid and/or illegal. This board isn't for everyone, and it doesn't try to be. But we DO try to be fair and consistent, and my opinion (after 6? 7? year here) is that it usually is. People who've disagreed typically seem unwilling to accept a set of rules different from what they're used to. That's okay, and we encourage people uncomfortable at TC to find a board they like better. === === Message #1210.4 === === I'm a N00b and You All Seem So Smart! I'm Scared to Post! That's so flattering that you think we're smart! We like you already! But we were all n00bs once (me more than most!) and we've ALL posted basic questions, silly comments, or lame links now and again. TC is a venerable board with a surprisingly large number of long-time members; I personally have been here since 1999. It's not that I never post anything stupid; it's that you probably missed many of my stupid posts because I was posting them four years before you got here. We truly enjoy fresh perspectives and new members. I do personally encourage people to spend at least a day or two reading the board and finding out how discussion works here (as it is different from many other boards); if your first post is about how the Dolphins told you that the aliens from Tau Ceti are actually the Egyptian Gods, well, you're going to have a looooooot of very direct questions asked of you! (Heck, if that's your 10,000th post, you're going to have a lot of very direct questions asked!) But every single one of us has been a n00b and a learner at some point, and I don't think any of us have forgotten it. None of us sprang full-formed from TC's brow. And the perspectives of someone still learning can help even those considered "elders" to re-evaluate and rethink what they know, and often to think entirely new thoughts. ===== ===== IS YOUR HOUSE HAUNTED? (AND WHAT TO DO IF IT IS) ===== by Natalie Lynn ===== You'd think sharing your home with a ghost would be full of the dramatic events we often see in movies or on tv, but that isn't always the case. Certainly those big moments can happen, but often the presence of spirits is more subtle and the realization that we are "haunted" comes about more slowly, over time. When paranormal activity isn't "in your face" obvious, it can take months, even years, of odd or unusual experiences to realize that something extraordinary is happening. If strange events are occurring at home, it's very likely they will need to be repeated several times before anyone begins to question what is happening. So, if you have some unexplained moments nagging at you and you've been wondering if things aren't exactly "normal" at your house, check the list below to see if you have experienced some of the milder signs of paranormal activity. Subtle Signs of Paranormal Activity: 1) Things missing and then being returned to the original (or an unusual) location. 2) The slight feeling of being watched when no one is there. 3) Seeing a smoky mist that's there one minute and gone the next. 4) Doors and windows open when you thought you closed them and vice versa. 5) Some unexplained knocking and rapping noises. 6) Unusual cold spots in rooms. 7) Anomalies showing up in photographs that weren't visible when the photo was taken. 8) Lights, tvs, radios, etc. being turned off or on by themselves. If you or your family members are experiencing any of these events on a regular basis you should first check and recheck for logical explanations. For example, if an item keeps turning up missing or a door/window keeps opening, check with other family members to make sure they aren't your "ghost." If you have no other plausible explanations, don't panic. Activity of this nature is generally non threatening and many people actually learn to enjoy sharing their home with this type of energy. Now, on to the more high profile and energetic type of spirit activity. If you are experiencing this type of haunting behavior, chances are you already know you have something unusual or even "ghostly" going on. But, just in case you are deeply in denial, you can check the list below for verification that you are, indeed, "with ghost." Not so Subtle Signs of Paranormal Activity: 1) Seeing orbs. These can be pinpoints of light or larger, quickly coming and going. Sometimes they can be seen out of the corner of your eye, sometimes they can be seen straight on. Note: Orbs don't always indicate the presence of a ghost but they certainly can. 2) Moving, shadowy shapes, sometimes seen out of the corner of your eye, sometimes seen directly in your line of vision. 3) Feelings of being touched, hair pulled, or tugged on when no one is nearby. 4) Things moving on their own or appearing to be thrown in plain sight. 5) Seeing doors or windows open or close by themselves. 6) Hearing voices, hearing your name called when no one is nearby. 7) Hearing music, or an instrument playing by itself. 8) Feelings of discomfort, nausea, or unease in areas of the home. A strong feeling of being watched. 9) This one is obvious, seeing an apparition or a person appear and disappear. While some of this activity could be interpreted as playful and non threatening, others may be experienced as very negative and intimidating. If that is happening to you and you want the ghost or presence to leave, here are some things you can try: First, take ownership of your home. Ghosts of a dark nature like to frighten you and feed off of your fear so, as calmly as possible, tell it you want it to leave and why. You could say: "This is my house and I don't like it when you--fill in the blank--, so please leave this house immediately." The more firm and less afraid you are, the better. Ghosts rarely have any significant power in our world and they rely upon the fear they can generate in you as one of their biggest weapons so try not to provide it for them. If you have told the ghost to leave several times (it could take a few tries) and it still hasn't left, you may either have a ghost that doesn't know that it is dead or a ghost that needs something before if can leave. Try telling the ghost that it is no longer physical and needs to move on, toward the light. Still not gone? Try asking it what it needs and see if you can discern an answer. Admittedly, not everyone can communicate with ghosts so if you are stuck here, maybe it is time to seek outside help from a ghost investigator or psychic. Not only can they document your ghost's presence and validate your experiences, they may also be able to communicate with your ghost and get it to move on. Sharing your home with a ghost can be many things--fun, uncomfortable, frightening, interesting, or exciting--depending on your outlook and the type of spirit present. While some people are quite happy about it, there are probably just as many, if not more, who are not. No matter which way you feel, it's important to look, beyond your fear or excitement, at what is actually happening in your home. If, upon inspection, you discover an unwanted presence, try using the previously mentioned removal suggestions since they have been found to be fairly effective. If that doesn't work, try to educate yourself about the ghost, the house and various removal techniques, as much as possible. Since knowledge is power, using this knowledge can boost your confidence, lessen your fear, and provide you with the information you will need to restore your home back to the welcoming and safe environment you want it to be. === === About the Author === Copyright Natalie Lynn, 2006. Natalie Lynn is a founding member of The Traverse City Paranormal Society. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ PAGAN FRIENDLY WEB HOSTING AT DREAMHOST http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php Dreamhost offers high-quality, low cost web hosting with a dedication to free speech. Pagan sites are welcome! Read why we use Dreamhost for The Cauldron's web site: http://www.ecauldron.com/web/whydreamhost.php $9.95/Month Plan Features: 20000 megs web space -- 1000 gigs/month bandwidth -- 3000 email boxes (POP3/IMAP) -- 75 ftp/shell accounts -- host unlimited domains/subdomains -- php4, php5, cgi, fastcgi, ssi, zend optimizer, ruby on rails -- unlimited MySQL databases -- announcement lists -- discussion lists -- Jabber server -- Crontab and Shell access -- Web-based Control Panel -- One-Click installs of the Wordpress, PhpBB, and many more -- One FREE domain name -- 1 free domain name -- helpful tech support -- much more! Visit Dreamhost for Affordable, Pagan-Friendly Hosting http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ===== ===== RIDER WAITE SMITH TAROT - A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ===== by Lori Hampson ===== The Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck is probably the most popular and well known of all the many Tarot decks available today. The name comes from William Rider & Son - the original publishers, Arthur Edward Waite - the academic and mystic who commissioned the creation of the Tarot deck, and Pamela Colman Smith - the talented but often ignored artist who drew the images of the Rider-Waite (as it is often referred to) Tarot deck. Waite and Smith were both members of the Order of the Golden Dawn, a famous but short-lived occult group of the 19th Century. The RWS Tarot deck was published in 1909 and was the first widely available deck with illustrated Minor Arcana cards. The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana, also known as "pips" now had a wealth of symbolism depicted in the illustrations - as did the 22 cards of the Major Arcana. Up until then the numbered Minor Arcana cards of a Tarot deck would show just 4 cups, or 6 Wands or 8 Swords. The RWS Tarot with its illustrated "pips", together with the evocative images of the Major Arcana ultimately revolutionised the Tarot world. When Waite designed his Tarot deck he kept the basic sequence of the cards although he switched the numbering of the Strength and Justice cards in the Major Arcana. There is some discussion about who actually designed the Minor Arcana cards - did Waite conceive them and give Smith full instructions or did he just tell her his ideas and allow her some free rein with her artistic talents to create the images? Each card carries Pamela Colman Smith's monogram, usually in one of the bottom corners. Tragically, the original printing plates were destroyed in the London blitz and publication came to an end. In 1971, US Games inc. began publishing a copyrighted facsimile version of the deck. These days there are many, many decks which follow the basic template of the RWS Tarot deck. There are RWS versions that have been re-coloured but which retain the original line drawings. Versions that have been redrawn, generally, have the same basic figures and settings on the cards with similar symbolism. A RWS type of deck is usually recommended for beginners as the basic visual scenes can be more easily associated with keywords for easier recollection and understandings of the meanings for each card. However, there are also many experienced readers whose favourite reading deck is a RWS or variant. The majority of beginner and novice books use illustrations of the RWS deck for learning purposes. One thing is for sure, if Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith had not collaborated and created the RWS Tarot deck - Tarot decks would be quite different to what we are used to today. === === About the Author === Tarot reader, Lori Hampson, offers advice and guidance for all life's challenges through her website. Please visit http://www.tarotforlifeguidance.co.uk for further insights and information on readings and Tarot in general. [06] ========= ========= FLAMEKEEPING ========= A Universe of Knowledge ========= by HeartShadow ========= HeartShadow is following her own religious path. She calls it FlameKeeping. This regular column will present articles on FlameKeeping, many taken from HeartShadow's FlameKeeping blog at: http://flamekeeping.blogspot.com/ ===== ===== A Universe of Knowledge ===== Of all the creatures on the planet, we are (so far as we know) the only ones that exist aware of time and choices, able to chose one thing over another. To learn, not simply through direct cause and effect, but from being told from one to another. What makes us no longer the creatures that once lived in caves, but instead the society we are, is that very ability to transfer knowledge from one person to another. With that, we can learn from each other's experiences instead of simply repeating our own. This knowledge is more than simply what we store in books and in our heads. Knowledge by its very nature is meant to be shared, passed from one to another. Concepts are shared both deliberately through direct communication, and indirectly through shared knowledge base, individual minds distilling the same concepts from the data available. As we are part of the Divine, so are our thoughts shared by the Divine and rippled back outwards throughout humanity. Our thoughts are both our own and of the Divine, distilled and learned and shared. When we learn a new skill, a new piece of knowledge, that knowledge or skill gets strengthened throughout humanity, reinforced as worthwhile. Knowledge cannot be stopped or hoarded, because understanding ripples throughout our species, one to another as we can understand. Knowledge and learning are holy, precious gifts from the Divine that we can return unto it, sharing knowledge with ourselves and each other. It is transmission of knowledge and the discovery of new things and new ways to understand things that helps us grow, that makes us better than we were the day before and gives us hope for the future. We are creatures of knowledge, learning, and beauty. What we learn and share, what we create, betters the Universe and betters ourselves, radiating inwards and outwards. It is through learning and sharing knowledge that we better ourselves and the Universe. === === Questions === * Why is learning important? Why isn't it an absolute good? * What is the difference between information gathered firsthand and that obtained by other sources? Is there one? * How does knowledge pass between ourselves and the Divine? [07] ========= ========= SOFTWARE GADGETS: THE COLUMN ========= Interesting Items From The Software Gadgets Blog ========= http://softwaregadgets.gridspace.net/ ========= The Software Gadgets Blog aims to present a different "software gadget" every weekday. A software gadget is a program or addon that is both interesting and useful -- and often free. This column highlights three of the programs listed recently. Many more were listed and you'll find more gadgets like these added every week at the Software Gadgets Blog at: http://softwaregadgets.gridspace.net/ ===== ===== WIKIPAD -- NOTEPAD WITH WIKI FEATURES FOR ORGANIZATION ===== Simple editors like Windows Notepad are great for jotting down ideas and storing them in files. However, it is easy to lose try of all those note files and how they relate to each other. A Wiki is an online application that lets people create a linked set of web pages easily. Some time ago, Jason Horman came up with the idea of writing a notepad-like application with the features of a Wiki. He made the program open source in mid-2005 and Michael Butscher took over as the main developer in 2005. Don't let the name confuse you. Wikipad is a single user program you run on your computer, not a script ran on a web server for a group of people to use. Here's how the designers describe this application: "WikidPad is a wiki-like notebook for storing your thoughts, ideas, todo lists, contacts, or anything else you can think of to write down. What makes WikidPad different from other notepad applications is the ease with which you can cross-link your information. Links in a wiki are created by typing in WikiWords. A WikiWord is any mixed case word (also called CamelCase) typed into the editor. TodoList or JohnDoe are example WikiWords." Some of Wikipad's features: * On the fly WikiWord linking, as you type * WikiWord auto-completion * Easy WikiWord navigation * Wiki text styling * WikiWord History * Wiki document attributes * Dynamic views * Tree/Outline view with over 100 icons * Todo lists * Incremental search * Search and Replace * Autosave * Export to HTML * All your data is stored in plain text * URL and file linking * Intuitive keybindings * Help Wiki included Rating: 4.0 Operating System: Windows License: Open Source Price: Free Web Site: http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/ ===== ===== ENIGMAIL -- EMAIL ENCRYPTION FOR THUNDERBIRD ===== It seems like everyone wants to be able to read your email these days: the company you work for, the government, etc. If you value your privacy, you can make it much harder for people to read your email by encrypting it. GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) is a powerful freeware encryption program, but it is a command line program and very hard to use. The Enigmail extension for Thunderbird makes it easy to use GnuPG to encrypt, decrypt and sign emails. Here are some of the main features of Enigmail from the extension's web site: * Encrypt/sign mail when sending, decrypt/authenticate received mail * Support for inline-PGP (RFC 2440) and PGP/MIME (RFC 3156) * Per-Account based encryption and signing defaults * Per-Recipient rules for automated key selection, and enabling/disabling encryption and signing * OpenPGP key management interface * Automatically encrypt attachments for inline PGP messages * Powerful GUI for easy configuration and management * User Preferences for advanced configuration * Integrated OpenPGP PhotoID Viewer * Supports OpenPGP key retrieval via proxy servers * Integrates with GnuPG The Enigmail web site even explains in detail how to set up and configure GnuPG -- the hardest part of the process. Once Enigmail is installed on your system, you'll need to get your friends and associates to use it (or an equivalent program for their mail client). Then you will be able to email each other without fear of others being able to read your email. Government spy agencies may have the computing power to break the GnuPG code and read a message, but chances are good that your neighborhood hacker trying to listen in our your cable connection or your boss does not. Rating: 4.0 Operating System: Windows (and others) License: Freeware Price: Free Version: 0.94.0 Web Site: http://enigmail.mozdev.org/index.html ===== ===== FONT FRENZY -- SAFELY CLEAN UP UNUSED FONTS ===== Programs love to install new fonts to your system. Unfortunately, each font adds a tiny bit to your system footprint making your system slightly more of a memory hog and take slightly longer to boot. Each font only adds a tiny amount to "Windows Bloat," but given how many programs love to install a pack of fonts -- many that you will never use -- one can have a lot of fonts on one's system without even realizing it. Font Frenzy can help you resolve this situation. It is a font viewer on steriods. It will view and print fonts like every other font viewer available. It will allow you to easily add and remove fonts. What sets it apart from other freeware font viewer is that it can create a snapshot of all the fonts currently installed on your system and quickly restore your system to that point. This means you can take a snapshot of your current (overloaded) font folder, remove all the fonts you don't think you need to reduce "Windows Bloat," but if you discover you were wrong and removed the wrong fonts, you can quickly restore to your snapshot. Here is the freatures list from the Font Frenzy web site: * Save a snapshot of your fonts folder that you can use as a restore point. * Re-install fonts quickly and easily from a previous snapshot. * View your font list at any point-size using a customizable test phrase. * Easily print your font list for reference. * View a sample of each font in a pop-up window including every upper- and lower-case character and numbers. * User-friendly font manager allows you to add new fonts, delete, or unload and store selected fonts. * View all fonts from a specified folder While Font Frenzy is freeware, registration is required to use the program beyond a trial period of 40 days. Registration is free, but it is a slight hassle. Rating: 4.0 Operating System: Windows License: Freeware Price: Free Version: 1.1 Web Site: http://www.fontfrenzy.org/ [08] ========= ========= From the Spell Grimoire: ========= MONEY BAG SPELL ========= Supplies: * a small green talisman bag * three silver coins * a green candle * cinnamon sticks * cedar chips Directions: Set the cauldron on your pentacle. Place a small dish inside your cauldron with a small amount of cinnamon sticks and cedar chips on it. On the right side of the cauldron, lay your wand. On the left side of the cauldron, have ready a green candle. Once all is ready, calm yourself with a short meditation. In your mind's eye, imagine yourself surrounded by money; coins of silver and gold, gems, etc. Once you have a clear image of this in your mind, open your eyes and light the taper. Tap each coin (one after the other) as you say the following chant: Glistening silver, coin of the Moon, Shiny and round, bring me a boon. Draw to my hands more of your kind. Multiply, grow, like the image in my mind. Place the coins in the cauldron with the herbs. Stir the air clockwise over the cauldron. Chant: Earth elementals, cunning and bright, With me share your treasures here on this night. Share with me riches of silver and gold, Success, prosperity, all I can hold. After this, allow the candle to burn almost all the way down. Pinch it out once about a half inch of wax is left to it. Put the coins in the talisman bag, along with a few pieces of the cinnamon sticks, cedar chips, and the remaining candle wax. Wear this talisman for nine days. On the ninth night, repeat the spell using fresh herbs and a new candle. === === About This Spell === This spell is taken from The Cauldron's Spell Grimoire, a collection of basic spells available on The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's web site. You'll find more spells at: http://www.ecauldron.com/spells/index.php [09] ========= ========= Pagan Webmaster: ========= CONVERT RSS FEEDS TO DYNAMIC HTML WEB PAGES ========= by S. Housley ========= Many webmasters have realized the benefit of using RSS to dynamically update websites. This means that the website content automatically changes when the RSS feed is updated. This allows for webmasters to serve dynamic content or a mixture of static and dynamic content on their website. === === Syndication === Often, publishers, interested in expanding their base, will allow other webmasters to republish the contents of an RSS feed. Content providers that allow for syndication, receive additional exposure, and the webmasters serving the content, will generally see web traffic increase as a result of the new content. RSS feeds can be syndicated or displayed using a variety of different methods. Depending on the web host, server configuration, and the intent of the publishers, a variety of different syndication tools exist. In most cases, providers convert RSS feeds to HTML in order to display the feeds contents. The following are some of the more popular methods to convert RSS feeds as web based content. === === Hosted Services === The easiest of solution is not server dependent, a third party host displays the contents of the feed. The downside to using a hosted service is that you are relying on a third party. If the third party's website has problems, your content will not be displayed. Additionally, webmasters often cannot customize the way the contents are displayed on hosted servers and there is no real search engine benefit to third party hosting. examples - FeedBurner.com - http://www.feedburner.com and RSS2HTML - http://www.rss2html.com === === Scripts === Using scripts to display RSS feeds on a website is probably the most effective solution. In addition, the webmaster using ASP or PHP scripts to convert their feeds, maintain the control of the "look and feel" of the content displayed. Webmasters also realize the benefit of hosting the feed on a domain that is within the webmasters control. Using ASP or PHP will allow search engines to spider the actual contents of the RSS feed as if it is part of the actual HTML. Pay particular attention to solutions that cache the RSS feed. If your RSS feed is popular this will save significant bandwidth. === PHP PHP is a popular scripting language that is often used to dynamically update web pages. PHP support is available on most web servers that run on a Unix Operating System. example - rss2html.php - http://www.feedforall.com/free-php- script.htm === ASP ASP or active server pages is a scripting language similar to PHP but support is more often found on Windows web servers. Example - rss2html.asp - http://www.bytescout.com/how_to_display_rss_using_asp.html === Javascript Javascript is easy to use, and many sites will produce the code that needs to be inserted into the HTML web page, making implementation very easy for webmasters. The downside to the majority of the javascript solutions is that the webpage calls the script each time, and the actual contents of the feed is not able to be spidered or indexed by search engines. So while javascript is easy to use, there is very little benefit to the webmaster. Search engines will not detect any new content or keywords contained in the contents of the feed, so their is little optimization benefit to displaying RSS feeds using javascript. Additionally, while it is unusual, occasionally website visitors will have the javascript turned off in their browser, if that is the case they will be unable to view the contents of the feed. Example - FeedRoll Pro - http://www.feedrollpro.com === === Advanced Scripts === === Merging Scripts Webmasters will often find value in merging multiple RSS feeds in to a single feed. This is particularly useful when attempting to aggregate news on a specific topic. The script allows you to produce an RSS feed by taking the latest items from multiple feeds. Example - RSSmesh - http://www.feedforall.com/rssmesh.htm === Filtering: Newsmastering Due to the enormous and ever-increasing information flow we are all submitted to, the only way to improve our ability to access and use the information that is really important to us, must take place by scaling up one notch our ability to filter, aggregate, and access relevant content. Example - Newsmaster kit - http://www.masternewmedia.org/reports/newsmasterstoolkit/ === Prepublish Scripts On occasion, webmasters will choose to build a large amount of content, and gradually release it over time. FutureRSS is a PHP script that when used properly will only display feed items that publish dates have passed. FutureRSS - http://www.feedforall.com/future-rss.htm A number of flexible solutions exists for webmasters to create, filter, and display content contained in an RSS feed. Using these simple solutions, webmasters can dynamically maintain webpages with unique content. === === About the Author === Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company. [10] ========= ========= From the Cauldron Cookbook: ========= Glassmaster's Herring ========= submitted by Faerie ========= === Ingredients 2 herrings (600g each) Marinade: 1 dl vinegar 1 dl sugar 2 dl water 10 white peppercorns 10 allspices (Jamaican pepper) 2 bayleaves 5 cloves For the jar: 1 carrot 1-2 red onion, chopped A piece of horseradish or ginger === Directions Gut the herrings and let them soak in plenty of water overnight (this goes for salt herring!). If the herrings have been only lightly salted, just rinsing them will do. Bring the marinade ingredients to boil and let cool. Rinse the herrings and dry them. Fillet the herrings, remove the skin and cut the herrings to about 2cm wide pieces. Put the herring pieces in a glass jar in alternate layers with sliced onions and carrot. Pour the cooled marinade over the fish and vegetables. Refrigerate. This appetizer is ready to be served in 2-3 days and will keep refridgerated a couple of weeks. === === About This Recipe === This recipe is taken from the Cauldron Cookbook, a growing collection of recipes submitted by members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum. You'll find more recipes at: http://www.ecauldron.com/cookbook/index.php [11] ========= ========= 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 new 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://www.ecauldron.net/mb/ ===== ===== 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/bnbarticleform.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/bnbbkreviewform.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/zamazon.php If you are a regular user of the US version of Amazon, you can help The Cauldron by replacing the URL of your ebay bookmark in your browser with the above link so that TC gets credit every time you visit Amazon.com. To do this in Internet Explorer or Firefox, find Amazon in your bookmark list. RIGHT click on it and select Properties from the popup menu which will appear. A dialog box describing your bookmark will appear. You'll see the standard Amazon url -- probably http://www.amazon.com/ -- in an edit box (labeled "Location" in FireFox and "URL" in IE). Erase that url completely and replace with one listed above, then click on OK. If you use Amazon UK, you can use this address http://www.ecauldron.com/zamazonuk.php If you use Amazon Canada, you can use this addess: http://www.ecauldron.com/zamazonca.php ===== ===== Ebay Purchases ===== Are you an Ebay user? Ebay has a new program that pays affiliates a small percent of the winning bid if the winning bidder enters ebay from an affiliate link (some like how our Amazon.com affiliate program works). So if you visit the US version ebay via the following link, the Cauldron will get credit for your bids: http://www.ecauldron.com/zebay.php If you are a regular user of the US version of ebay, you can help The Cauldron by replacing the URL of your ebay bookmark in your browser with the above link so that TC gets credit every time you visit ebay. To do this in Internet Explorer or Firefox, find ebay in your bookmark list. RIGHT click on it and select Properties from the popup menu which will appear. A dialog box describing your bookmark will appear. You'll see the standard ebay url -- probably http://www.ebay.com/ -- in an edit box (labeled "Location" in FireFox and "URL" in IE). Erase that url completely and replace with one listed above, then click on OK. ===== ===== 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.) [12] ========= ========= 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) 2005 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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