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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #69 -- March II 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 * Elspeth in the Hospital -- Prayers and Magic Welcome * Chavi in Hospital with Cancer * Special Offer * Information on The Sanctum (Private Folder) * Chat Staff Changes * Cauldron Online Game: Legend of The Green Dragon [02] Cauldron Discussions [03] New Pagan Books In Doxy's Bazaar [04] Book Reviews: * Not in Kansas Anymore * The Druids [05] Articles * Homeopathy 101 * A Brief History of Dreams and Their Interpretation [06] Software Gadgets: The Column * JetStart -- A Start Menu Replacement * Agent Ransack -- Search Your Files * Weather Watcher -- Current Weather On Your Desktop * AutoHotKey -- Windows Macros and Hot Keys [07] Support The Cauldron [08] 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 second March 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. We are going to try doing two issues a month for a while. This is provide more timely information on discussions and events at The Cauldron -- and give us a chance to publish more articles and reviews. Be sure to let us know what you think of a twice-a-month schedule. 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 ========= ===== ===== Elspeth in the Hospital -- Prayers and Magic Welcome ===== Long time members will remember our third Co-Host, Elspeth. She isn't online much any more due to her health, but long-time members will remember that she was once far more active than anyone else on on the board. Randall got a phone call from her husband on March 10th. Elspeth had been in the hospital for about a week and is not doing well (although she is doing a bit better than when she was admitted). Her failing kidneys caused a great deal of water retention with made her congestive heart failure much worse. She is heavily sedated, has a breathing tube, and some of the best care in the world (according to Alan). The prognosis was unknown. She has since been moved to a lon term care/rehab facility where she will be weaoned back to breathing on her own again. Her husband is asking for prayers, healing energy, reiki, etc. for her. And I know she would want them as well. Elspeth updates are being given in this thread: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=240.1 ===== ===== Chavi in Hospital with Cancer ===== As many members of our message board know, one of TC's long time members, Chavi, has been battling a rare form of very aggressive cancer for over two years. Unfornately, the cancer has spread to her lungs and she has been hospitalized and the prognosis is not good, barring a miracle from some experimental treatment, she has only a few months left. She is requesting prayers and good thoughts. One of her friends is trying to keep us updated in this thread: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncsocial.php?m=35.80 ===== ===== Special Offer ===== Dreamhost (who hosts our ecauldron.com site and whose strong belief in the First Amendment shows in their TOS) has given The Cauldron a special promo code for $20 off for any new customer to Dreamhost web hosting. This special code is good through the end of March 2006 for any of Dreamhost's powerful hosting plans! Best of all, this promo code still gives TC credit for the sale. The promo code is: TCMB06 Just enter this in the promo code box on the signup form to get the Special TC Bonus Discount. This promo will expire at the end of March. I've been told that case does not matter. The last two characters of the code are zero six. ===== ===== Information on The Sanctum (Private Folder) ===== The Sanctum is a private folder on our Social Forum for long- time, trusted members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board. To gain access to this folder, a member must meet the following requirements. === Requirements: 1) Member must have posted at least 300 (mainly substantive) messages to The Cauldron's message board (total between both the main and the social forums). This number is reduced to 200 if the member has made a Contributor level donation (and further reduced to 100 for a Sponsor level donation) during the current year. Messages posted to our old board will count toward these totals until the end of 2006. Viewing your own profile from a message you have posted will tell you the current number of messages you have posted to the forum you are currently on. 2) Member must have basic profile information (location, age, gender, religion) filled in on both the main and the social forum. 3) Member must agree to obey The Sanctum's special rules. 4) Member must apply, the staff will not be watching for members who qualify and asking them to apply. Applications will be turned down if the member has a record of rules problems or of causing discord and other problems and may be turned down for other reasons. Members who are turned down may reapply after that have at least three months have elapsed (provided they have been actively posting during this time). === How to Apply To apply to for access to The Sanctum, send an email message (not a PM) to this account (thesanctum) via thesanctum's profile which states: 1) that you have read and agree to follow the Special Rules of The Sanctum 2) that you are applying to The Sanctum. See the following message to do the above http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=296.1 Special Note: if you are applying with less than 300 messages total between the main and social forums on this board, we will also need to have your account name on the old board and/or information about your contribution to verify your eligibility. For 2006, a Contibutor level donation is US$25-50 and Sponsor level is US$50 or more. By sending your application message via this message board's email system, the staff will be provided with your login id, will have a way to verify that your account's email address is correct, and will know that the application is actually being made by the person who has access to the account. Applications will take time to approve. If you do not either have access to The Sanctum folder or have an email saying your application was rejected after two weeks, you may apply again. Please double check that your account's email address is correct and that no reply has been put in that account's spam folder before you do, however. === Special Rules for The Sanctum 1) The Sanctum is a private folder. Material discussed in The Sanctum may not be discussed with those who are not members of the Sanctum. 2) While The Sanctum can be used for meta-discussions about The Cauldron, it is not intended as a place for no-holds-barred bitching about what goes on in the public areas of The Cauldron nor is it intended to be a launchpad for attacks on others on or off of this message board. The Cauldron's normal rules about personal attacks are in effect. 3) Membership in The Sanctum is a privilege not a right. Members with access to The Sanctum who break forum rules or abuse the trust of the forum staff and membership may lose access to The Sanctum. 4) Membership in the Sanctum may come with access to other special features of The Cauldron (for example, an ecauldron.com Jabber account or post access to a content management system). Any use of such special features must be in accordance with any rules the Hosts set for the use of those features. Misuse of any such special features is grounds for losing access to The Sanctum. ===== ===== Chat Staff Changes ===== Chabas' research and related school work have greatly eaten into her time so she has asked to move to Cauldron Council. Shadow will be taking over as Chat Coordinator. The position of assistant Chat Coordinator will be left vacant temporarily. The Co-Hosts of The Cauldron would like to thank Chabas for serving as Chat Coordinator in the past -- and wish Shadow all the best in her new position. ===== ===== Legend of the Green Dragon ===== The Games menu of the Cauldron's message board (visible only after you log in to our message board) will lead you to 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. This game server is experimental -- that means it may go away if it puts too much stress on Bob's server. We already have quite a few members of our message board playing. Feel free to give the game a try. 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. Here is the New Player Primer from the game's help system, which tells you more about the game. === === Welcome to the Legend of the Green Dragon New Player Primer === === The village square Legend of the Green Dragon (LotGD) is turning out to be a fairly expansive game, with a lot of areas to explore. It's easy to get lost with all that there is to do out there, so keep in mind that the village square is pretty much the center of the village you start in. This area will give you access to most other areas that you can get to, with a few exceptions (we'll talk about those in a little while). If you ever get lost, or are not sure what's going on, head to the village square and regain your bearings. === Your first day Your first day in the world can be very confusing! You're presented with a lot of information, and you don't need almost any of it! It's true! One thing you should probably keep an eye on though, are your hit points. This is found under "Vital Info." No matter what profession you choose, in the end, you are some kind of warrior or fighter, and so you need to learn how to do battle. The best way to do this is to look for creatures to kill in the forest. When you find one, check it out, and make sure that it's not a higher level than you, because if it is, you might not live through the fight. Keep in mind that you can always try to run away from something that you encountered, but sometimes it might take several tries before you get away. You might want to buy armor and weapons in the village square in order to give yourself a better chance against these creatures out in the forest. Once you have defeated a creature, you'll notice that you're probably a little hurt. Head on over to the Healer's Hut, and you can get patched up in short order. While you're level 1, healing is free, but as you advance, it becomes more and more expensive. Also keep in mind that it's more expensive to heal 1 point, then later heal 1 point again than it is to heal 2 in one shot. So if you're trying to save up some money, and you're barely hurt, you might risk a fight or two while you're a little hurt, and heal the damage from several fights in one shot. After you've killed a few creatures, you should head back to the village, into Bluspring's Warrior Training, and talk to your master. Your master will tell you when you are ready to challenge him, and when you are ready, you should give him a shot (make sure you're healed up first though!). Your master won't kill you if you lose, instead he'll give you a complimentary healing potion and send you on your way. === Death Death is a natural part of any game that contains some kind of combat. In Legend of the Green Dragon, being dead is only a temporary condition. When you die, you'll lose any money that you had on hand (money in the bank is safe!), and some of the experience you've accumulated. While you're dead, you can explore the land of the shades and the graveyard. In the graveyard, you'll find Ramius the Overlord of Death. He has certain things that he would like you to do for him, and in return, he may grant you special powers or favors. The graveyard is one of those areas that you can't get to from the main Square. In fact, while you're dead, you can't go to the village square at all! Unless you can convince Ramius to resurrect you, you'll remain dead until the next game day. There are 2 game days each real day. These occur when the clock in the village square reaches midnight. === New Days As stated just above, there are 2 game days each real day. These occur when the clock in the village square reaches midnight. When you get a new day, you'll be granted new forest fights, interest on gold you have in the bank (if the bankers are pleased with your performance!), and a lot of your other statistics will be refreshed. You'll also be resurrected if you were dead, and get another chance to take on the world. If you don't log on over the course of an entire game day, you'll miss your opportunity to partake in that game day (this means that new game days are only assigned when you actually log on, being away from the game for a few days won't grant you a whole bunch of new days). Forest fights, PvP battles, special power usages and other things that get refreshed on a daily basis do NOT get carried over from one day to the next (you can't build up a whole bunch of them). === PvP (Player versus Player) Legend of the Green Dragon contains a PvP element, where players can attack each other. As a new player, you are protected from PvP for your first 1 game days or until you accumulate 1500 experience, unless you choose to attack another player. Some servers might have the PvP aspect turned off, in which case there is no chance that you'll be attacked by any other players. You can tell if the server you play on has PvP turned off by looking in the village square for "Slay Other Players." If it's not there, you can't engage (or be engaged) in PvP. When you are attacked and die in PvP, you only lose gold you had on hand, and 0.25% of your experience. You won't lose any turns in the forest, or any other stats. If you attack someone else in PvP, you'll get 0.25% of the experience they had, and any gold they had on hand. If you attack someone else and lose, however, you'll lose 0.25% of your experience, and you'll lose any gold that you had on hand. If someone else attacks you and they lose, you'll gain the gold they had on hand, and 0.25% of their experience. You can only attack someone who is close to your level, so don't worry that as a level 1, some big level 15 player is going to come along and beat on you. If you buy a room in the inn when you decide to quit the game, you'll protect yourself somewhat from casual attacking. The only way for someone to attack you when you're in the inn is for them to bribe the bartender, which can be a costly procedure. Quitting to the fields means that someone can attack you without having to pay money or gems to the bartender. You cannot be attacked while you are online, only while you are offline, so the more you play, the more protected you are ;-). Also, if you are attacked and die, no one else can attack you again until you log on again, so don't worry that you'll be attacked 30 or 40 times in one night. Logging back into the game will make you a viable PvP target again if you've already been killed today. === Ready to take on the world! You should now have a pretty good idea of how the basics of the game work, how to advance, and how to protect yourself. There's a whole lot more to the world, so explore it! Don't be afraid of dying, particularly when you're young, as even when you're dead, there's yet more stuff to do! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ PAGAN FRIENDLY WEB HOSTING AT DREAMHOST http://www.ecauldron.com/web/zdreamhost.php CAULDRON AND CANDLE READERS SAVE $20 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2006 Use Promo Code TCMB06 when you sign up (The last two characters are zero six) 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 +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [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 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. ===== ===== Pagan Children, School, and Holy Days ===== I am doing an essay for school and the topic is "Religious Freedom". For those of you with Pagan children, do you allow them Holy Days off from school? If so, does the school view it as an excused absence since it is for a religious holiday? Do you or your children ever endure religious discrimination from the school board? Anything would help with my research. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=283.1 ===== ===== Environmental Ethics? ===== Does the environment have value or do we give it value. (thought experiment: you are the last person on earth, can you treat it any way you like?) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=265.1 ===== ===== Wiccan Views on Creationism/Evolution? ===== I was wondering what Wiccans think about how the world started or evolution? I can't really find much information about it on the web or in the couple of books I've read. Is it something that changes depending on the path you follow? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=257.1 ===== ===== Why is 'Religion' Different? ===== For me, the word 'religion' connotates an idea which incorporates a deity/ies of some sort. If you took out the 'deity' part, what would it be? Even with it in, it is still an 'idea'. Some may say 'no, it's not an idea, it's a fact'. But even if for some it's a 'fact' , it's still an 'idea' , vis. there are 'beings' other than ourselves that play a part in some peoples' lives. Someone said today that one of the problems is that the word 'religion' is used as a verb, not a noun. It seems to be used to indicate an 'active' phenomenon, over and above 'idea's. Is it? Is it a phenomenon which needs not be taken as an idea, but as a 'process' which exists , a fait accompli? So, when the question is asked " is one influenced by different religions; why is it, hmmm, left there? In terms of being influenced in ones' beliefs, one could be influenced by a book on architecture, an ordinary book of fiction, a dictionary or phonebook, a painting, the way the light hits the trees at sunset and generates a thought in one's mind - an idea. It's hard to articulate, but to me, a religion would be part of one's makeup, not a separate thing, so anything that adds to the person's knowledge and experience adds to their 'religion'. So why is there this big separation between 'religion' and other 'idea's? Why do we 'change our tone' when we speak of it? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=248.1 ===== ===== How Long is one a "Newbie"? ===== How long should one expect to be a member of a religion before one's co-religionists should stop considering the person a newbie? Should this be a fixed time? Until one knows certain things? If there isn't a fixed time, what should happen if a person never qualifies under the "non-time-based" criteria? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=223.1 ===== ===== Which Authors Do You Trust? ===== What (Pagan, religious, magical, etc.) authors do you trust, and why? Are there certain authors that you trust for some things, but not for others? Why? The question occured to me as I'm trying to make up a personal mini-compendium of herb magic for myself, and am reading Scott Cunningham, cat yronwode, and a bunch of folklore texts, and doing lots of cross-referencing. I like Cunningham, overall, primarily because he gives me the sense of having done his homework, even if he doesn't seem to have understood all of it. He tends to report folk material fairly accurately, and to have good suggestions for implementing folk beliefs into something resembling a coherent everyday practice. But his *interpretations*, on the other hand -- oy. He has a few bees in his bonnet, and whenever he starts going on about what some bit of folklore "really" means, watch out: "hoodoo doctors may SAY they use graveyard dirt, but they REALLY mean mullein (because graveyard dirt is evil and We Do Not Do Evil!!"). That's why I think his books where he's primarily just collating information, like the Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, are his strongest -- they tend to be thorough and well-researched, and mostly free of his bad history etc. Cat Yronwode, on the other hand, is a top-notch scholar -- I trust her to accurately collect information, and to interpret that information in an intelligent manner backed up by good research -- so when I read her work on hoodoo, I'm confident that I can take her word for it. What about everyone else? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=206.1 ===== ===== Preparing for Death ===== Does your path lead you to believe that it's necessary to cultivate a certain consciousness or mindset before death? Do you try to maintain that on a daily basis, if so? What things would you do to prepare spiritually for death if you suspected it was imminent? How does your view of the afterlife affect your daily practice and lifestyle? [I don't expect answers to each individual question, just addressing this general topic.] I was involved in a religion that impressed upon its members the need for a certain frame of mind at the time of death, and I'm aware of others that share this point of view. I am trying to convey some of the diversity of viewpoints to the palliative care team at our local hospital, who didn't understand why Buddhist monks were surrounding the bed of one of their fellows and chanting (bothering him). I think in his mind you've either led a good life and go to heaven or not, so why were all these people in their tormenting him like that instead of leaving him in peace? All of this led me to wonder what members here think about death, what happens to us, and whether we need to do anything special to prepare for it. I am still affected by the point of view that consciousness is important at that time and have a topic at my forum for former Hare Krishna devotees about it. I also have a list of books about death from a variety of perspectives in that topic that some might find useful. And may I share your answer with the palliative team if I think they would find it useful? Our town has a sizeable number of pagans and I know they'll encounter these issues sooner or later. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=203.1 ===== ===== Do You Need Permission from Nature? ===== Do witches or earth-worshippers ask for permission to take something from nature? In Blair Witch 2 there is a girl who asks if she can take a leaf of a plant. Anyone really does that? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncmain.php?m=193.1 [03] ========= ========= NEW PAGAN BOOKS IN DOXY'S BAZAAR ========= Over 30 used books added to Host's Sale List ========= LyricFox and Randall made another pass through the various Pagan and magical books they still had in boxes and found 30 that they have not looked at since they moved to Waco. This is a good sign that they will never actually use them, so they added them to the list of books available on the Doxy's Bazaar web page. (They really need to get these out of here and reclaim the closet floor space from the boxes.) Most of these books look as new as books in a bookstore and they are selling them at around half price (or less in some cases). Postage will eat up some of that, but book rate is available in the US and is relatively cheap (For example, 10 pounds of books 3-4 average books is about $5.50 book rate postage.) You can find Doxy's Bazaar at: http://www.ecauldron.com/doxysbazaar.php The here is a list of the books available at the time this note is written. The newly added books are marked "*NEW* (There are no longer 30 of them.) Visit the Doxy's Bazaar web page to order. Only one copy of each book is available. Alchemy at Work by Cassandra Eason (2004) Like New $8.50 All Around the Zodiac by Bil Tierney (2001) Like New $10.00 The Ancient Art of Faery Magic *NEW* by D.J. Conway (2005) Like New $9.50 The Angels' Message to Humanity by Betty Schueler, Gerald Schueler (1996) Like New $11.00 Astrology & Relationships by David Pond (2001) Like New $8.95 Astrology for Beginners by William W. Hewitt (1992) Like New $6.50 Between the Worlds *NEW* by Stuart Myers (1995) Like New $12.00 Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul *NEW* edited by Patricia Telesco (2005) Like New $8.50 Cauldron of Transformation *NEW* by Lady Sabrina (1996) Used $8.50 Celestial Goddesses by Lisa Hunt (2001) Like New $12.50 Charting Your Spiritual Path With Astrology by Stephanie Jean Clement (2001) Like New $7.50 The Complete Book of Numbers by Steven Scott Pither (2002) Like New $9.95 The Complete Guide to Divination by Cassandra Eason (2003) Like New $8.50 The Complete Guide to Labyrinths by Cassandra Eason (2004) Like New $8.50 The Complete System of Self-Healing by Stephen T. Chang (1986) Like New $9.95 The Crystal Connection by Randall N. Baer, Vicki Vit... Like New $8.95 Earth Mother Astrology by Marcia Starck (1989) Like New $6.50 The Earth Path (Hardback) *NEW* by Starhawk (2004) Like New $11.00 Ecstatic Ritual: Practical Sex Magic by Brandy Williams (1990) Used $7.50 Egyptian Pyramid Oracle by Verona McColl (2002) Like New $10.95 The Enchanted Diary: Teen's Guide to Magick and Life *NEW* by Jamie Wood (2005) Like New $8.50 Exploring Chakras *NEW* by Susan G. Shumsky (2003) Like New $8.50 Exploring Native American Wisdom by Fran Dancing Feather, Rita Robinson (2003) Like New $6.50 Exploring Numerology *NEW* by Shirley Lawrence (2003) Like New $8.50 Heart of Tarot *NEW* by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K (2002) Like New $8.50 Healing Ground by Myra Dutton, Trish Tuley (2003) Like New $12.50 How to Communicate With Spirits by Elizabeth Owens (2001) Like New $4.95 Illuminations: Mystical Meditations on the Hebrew Alphabet *NEW* by Doleres Ashcroft-Nowicki (2003) Used $10.00 Llewellyn's 2003 Moon Sign Book by Gloria Star (2002) Like New $3.95 Llewellyn's 2004 Sun Sign Book (2003) Like New $2.95 Magick, Shamanism & Taoism by Richard Herne (2001) Like New $8.95 Magic for Lovers by Selene Silverwind (2004) Like New $7.50 Magic of the Qabalah *NEW* by Kala Trobe (2001) Like New $8.50 Magical Aromatherapy *NEW* by Scott Cunningham (1989) Used $2.50 The Magician's Workbook *NEW* by Donald Tyson (2001) Like New $10.00 Making Talismans *NEW* by Nick Farrell (2001) Like New $8.50 Maiden Magick by C. C. Brondwin (2003) Like New $6.50 Making Magick by Edain McCoy (1997) Like New $7.50 Moonflower: Erotic Dreaming with the Goddess *NEW* by Sirona Knight (1996) Used $9.95 One Degree Beyond: A Reiki Journey *NEW* by JaneAnne Narrin (1998) Used $9.00 Pagans and Christians *NEW* by Gus Zerega (2001) Like New $9.00 Past-Life and Karmic Tarot *NEW* by Edain McCoy (2004) Like New $7.50 Putting the Tarot to Work *NEW* by M ark McElroy (2004) Like New $9.50 Polarity Magic: The Secret History of Western Magic *NEW* by Wendy Berg and Mike Harris (2003) Like New $11.00 The Ritual Magic Workbook *NEW* by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki (1986) Like New $8.50 Simplified Qabala Magic *NEW* by Ted Andrews (2003) Like New $6.00 Soul Purpose Astrology *NEW* by Margaret Koolman (2002) Like New $8.50 Spellcraft for Teens by Gwinevere Rain (2002) Like New $7.50 Spells and Charms *NEW* by Nicola de Pulford (1999) Like New $8.50 Tarot for All Seasons by Christine Jette (2001) Like New $6.50 Tarot for Beginners by P. Scott Hollander (1995) Like New $7.50 Tarot for the Healing Heart *NEW* by Christine Jette (2001) Like New $8.50 Tarot for a New Generation *NEW* by Janina Renee (2001) Like New $8.50 The Teen Spell Book *NEW* by Jamie Wood (2001) Like New $7.50 A Time for Magic *NEW* by Maria Simms (2002) Like New $7.50 Totem Magic by Yasmine Galenorn (2004) Like New $9.50 The Urban Primitive by Raven Kaldera (2002) Like New $8.50 A Wiccan Bardo by Paul V. Beyerl (1990) Used $7.50 Witchcraft from the Inside *NEW* by Ray Buckland (1995) [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 ===== ===== NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE ===== Not in Kansas Anymore by Christine Wicker published 2005 by HarperSanFrancisco ISBN 0060726784 275 pages Hardcover $24.95 (U.S.) $32.95 (Canada) http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0060726784 Christine Wicker is not a Witch. Nor is she a fanatic of any stripe. What she is, is a reporter. She is honest enough to be fair in her reporting. She lets the reader know early on that she wasn't completely how to take the claims of some of those she spoke with. And, although she falls victim to some of the hyperbole (I still don't believe that Witches comprise 10% of the population of Salem, Massachusetts, and I live just over the bridge in Beverly), her style of writing is compelling. Ms. Wicker (how perfect is that name? It sounds so much like "Wicca" as pronounced by a lot of folks I have heard) comes across as the sort of person you would enjoy sharing a cup of coffee (or herbal tea, if that is your personal leaning) with and discussing whatever came up. She is, obviously, a good listener and a good story-teller. She empathizes with the subjects of her reporting and offers them a chance to put for their ideas, not her perception of their ideas. She explores the history of magical thought worldwide in general, and most particularly in the U.S. She shows, surprisingly to many of her readers, I am sure, that such thought has a long continuing existence and never really fell out of use - out of favor, certainly, but never out of use. Her accounts of activities and thought processes of individuals in Salem are consistent with my own experiences there, so I can hazard a guess that her accounts of other people and places were similarly accurate. Her approach to the topic was exemplary from a reporting standard. Even when she disagreed with an explanation, even when she was sure she knew "the truth," she let her subjects explain themselves and their actions without disagreeing with them. That is good reporting. It is also common courtesy, which is often in short supply in today's society, both magickal and mundane. She is clear about her attitudes towards Aleister Crowley and Gerald Gardner (she doesn't much like either man's attitudes), but at least she is up front about that being HER opinion. Her perceptions regarding Drawing Down the Moon as a ceremony indicate that she has been misled, in my opinion, but once again she makes it clear that her version is not the only version.. I hate to tell Ms. Wicker this, but a coming of age ceremony shouldn't prominently feature godparents. I suspect that Shawn Poirer was indulging in a bit of leg-pulling. I would be willing to bet that any "private" rituals or ceremonies she attended were simply put together chances to show off and nothing more. In many of my reviews I comment that books deserve to be in the bookcase of any Pagan or Witch. I'll take that remark a step further in this review and say that this book not only deserves to be in those bookcases but, if you can afford an extra copy, it should go to every public library, every college and university library, and to anyone you know who could benefit from having their intellectual horizon broadened. Her perceptions on magick's causes, effects, and perceived causes and effects may very well open a few minds. Her comparison of the mind sets of lawyers, doctors, journalists, and magick users certainly opened my mind to things that, like many, I knew on some level, but was unaware that I knew. You'll find that particular revelation in chapter 12. But don't turn directly there. Read the book and prepare yourself slowly. It's more rewarding that way. ===== ===== THE DRUIDS ===== The Druids by Jean Markale (Translated from the French) Published 1985, 1999 by Inner Traditions ISBN 0892817038 288 pages Paperback $16.95 (U.S.) This is the second work by Monsieur Markale that I have read. Like the preceding work this one is very well researched. The writing is concise and easily understood which is not always the case with translated works. He makes you work for your understanding, but he achieves that by virtue of scholarship and not by unnecessary verbiage. His premises and conclusions will undoubtedly be disconcerting to a large number of people, including quite a few modern followers of the druidic path. Given the penchant some have for mixing and matching cultural ideas, the idea of druidism being an important aspect of Celtic culture ONLY may seem elitist. Elitist is often considered to be bad. The author does his best to downplay that perception. Unlike many of the books on this topic, Monsieur Markale bases his writing on linguistic and other scholarly source, and not on wishful thinking. He sees the Druids within the cultural milieu in which they flourished, not as an idealized system which can be adapted and used by anyone. In his perception one must be immersed in Celtic culture to avail oneself of druidism. Monsieur Markale makes assertions which are not necessarily supported by evidence. However, when he makes these assertions he makes sure that the reader knows they are unsupported. And, unlike many other writers on the subject, he does his best to keep such assertions to a minimum. Living in an area which is still heavily influenced by its Celtic roots (Brittany) he is, in many ways, better qualified than many others to explore the linguistic roots of druidism. Being a poet and a philosopher adds to his abilities as a storyteller, and his qualifications as a historian. He is, in many ways, a living embodiment of druidism himself, although he makes no such claims himself. His explanation of the magickal effect of sound (spoken, chanted, and musical) and the importance of gestures should be required reading for all would-be modern magicians. In recent years these aspects of magick-working have been sadly neglected by many students, and more than few teachers. Knowing the words of a spell is important (especially for those which have been passed down through the years), but if you don't know how to recite it and what gestures need to accompany it, it is merely an intellectual exercise, and nothing more. His purpose is not to teach magickal techniques, although he manages to point the way. His purpose is not to show how to perform rituals like a Druid - no one knows that for certain. His purpose is to show how the religion of the Druids was an integral part of Celtic life. Sacred and profane did not, in his understanding; exist as separate realms of action. Each action resonated on all levels and, until that fact is fully integrated into your life as a reality and not just as an intellectual understanding, druidism is unknowable. It is the difference between "believing" in magick and "knowing" that magick works. Once you know it, you stop believing in it and simply accept it. His dismissal of modern neo-druidism is sure to offend the myriads of readers who consider themselves to be followers of the druidic path. He does not doubt their sincerity. It is only their honesty which is questioned. Since there is an abundant lack of documentary evidence and an over abundance of conjecture regarding druidic ritual, any attempt to categorize ANY ritual as authentic is at best questionable and at worst dishonest. He asserts that the principles of druidism may live on, even though the religion died with the passing of the Celtic society. For me, the latter part of the book was the most interesting, as it related to speculations on religious developments. This may not be the case (and probably won't be) for others. The good thing about this book is that it really does contain something for everyone. Not necessarily something agreeable for everyone, but something thought provoking for everyone. We learn more by expanding our consideration than we do by agreeing with all that we encounter. Do yourself a favor and expand your view of Druids and Celtic culture. Buy this book and read it. Decide for yourself if you agree with the author's premise. Then take the time to think about it in depth and see if your opinions change. [05] ========= ========= FEATURED ARTICLES ========= ===== ===== HOMEOPATHY 101 ===== by Laura Turner ===== === === Homeopathy: What It Is === Treating illness with homeopathy is not a new practice. In fact, in many European countries it is no longer considered "alternative" medicine. In France, for example, over 30% of general practitioners prescribe homeopathic remedies. In Britain, the number is well over 40%. Although homeopathy is not as common in America, it continues to gain increasing respect within the medical community and has offered many Americans an alternative form of self-care. === === What Are The Benefits? === Quite simply, homeopathic remedies offer a natural approach to healthcare. Its healing method places its emphasis on the ability of one's own body to heal itself. Homeopathic medicines are natural, effective, inexpensive and are without side effects. === === What Are The Basics Of The Homeopathic Philosophy? === The philosophy of classical homeopathy is over 200 years old. Historically, classical homeopathy has become known as a medical system used for a variety of acute and chronic healthcare problems. It works by administering natural "remedies" which reinforce the body's natural defense system. This therapeutic method was created by a German physician and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann, at the end of the 18th century. Homeopathy works by using what Hahnemann called "the law of similars." This law as he defined it, states: "any substance that can cause symptoms when given to healthy people can help to heal those who are experiencing similar symptoms." We see the truth in this statement very often in our own Western practice. Immunization involves small doses of an agent of illness used to immunize patients against the disease. Hahnermann took his approach one step further. He recommended giving "medicinal drugs" to "healthy" individuals, then documenting their physiological properties. These tests or "provings" created a baseline of physical, emotional and mental symptoms unique to each "remedy" and the correct dosage (usually very small) which both caused the symptoms and were used to treat the symptom. He catalogued his findings in what is now known as the homeopathic manual: the materia medica. === === The Individualized Approach To Treating With Homeopathy === The difference between homeopathic treatment and Western medical treatment, then, lies in its individualistic approach. Instead of isolating and treating just one or two symptoms, homeopathy is individualized by taking into consideration the total physical and psychological characteristics of the whole being. If we are to return the body to a state of balance from a state of illness, homeopathy rationalizes, we must discover the keys to the language of the body. In homeopathy it is believed, disease comes about as a result of a personal imbalance. Said differently, the physical body, in homeopathic terms, is thought to manifest illnesses from of the subconscious mind. Treating a patient with homeopathy or what we would consider "constitutional homeopathy," involves a detailed diagnostic process. It aims to use symptoms as a means to discover cause for the underlying disease. Homeopaths believe that symptoms do not exist in a vacuum. Therefore, symptoms are thought to evolve from a single "constitutional" weaknesses which can then be remedied. === === The Process Of Finding The Correct Remedy === Unlike Western medicine, one prescription is not given for each unique symptom i.e. headache, depression, stomach ache. Instead homeopathy uses one single medicine at a time. Some variations do exist and mixtures of homeopathic remedies are created in a "combination" formula. Most often there is a only a small single dose given of any particular "remedy." The goal here: to stimulate the body to heal itself without overmedication. In homeopathic terms, the medication is "potenizied" or administered in the least possible dose that can illicit a response. To Further Your Research Of Homeopathy and Homeopathic Medicines, read and review these excellent sources (all were consulted for the research of this article) or visit a practitioner near you! Cummings, Stephen, M.D., Ullman, Dana, M.P.H. Everybody's Guide To Homeopathic Medicines. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1997. http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0874778433 Grandgeorge, Didier, M.D. The Spirit of Homeopathic Medicines. California: North Atlantic Books, 1998. http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=1556432615 Bailey, Philip, M.D. Homeopathic Psychology. California: North Atlantic Books, 1995. http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=155643099X === === About the Author === Laura Turner is a natural health practitioner and author. She hosts http://www.beauty-and-body.com and publishes the New Body News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People Read. ( http://www.new-body-news.com ) Subscribe for f.r.e.e. and receive her Special Report: "Take Charge of Your Health!" and check out her latest book: Spiritual Fitness! ========= ========= A BRIEF HISTORY OF DREAMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION ========= by Larry Quigley ========= The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself. We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean. The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C. We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets. It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world. In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one. Dream interpretation was such an important field to the ancient Greek and Roman world that dream interpreters often accompanied generals and other military leaders into battles. Dreams were taken extremely seriously, and the Greeks and Romans in particular often viewed dreams as messages sent by their gods. Dreams also had a religious content in ancient Egypt, and priests their doubled as dream interpreters. Dreams were among the items recorded by the ancient Egyptians in the form of hieroglyphics. Those whose dreams were especially vivid or significant were thought to be blessed and were given special status in these ancient societies. Likewise, people who were able to interpret dreams were thought to receive these gifts directly from the gods, and they enjoyed a special status in society as well. There are over 700 mentions of dreams in the bible, and people in biblical times saw dreams as very significant. Dreams and their interpretations are mentioned in many of the most significant books of the bible and other holy scriptures. In many cases, dreams were often seen as a form of prophecy. People often interpreted their dreams as omens or warnings, and adjusted their activities accordingly. Dreams were often thought of as omens from deities, as messages from spirits, or as messages from departed souls. In some cases, dreams were even seen as the work of demons, meant to confuse and trouble the dreamer. Dreams were so important that they often dictated the actions of political and military leaders, affecting everything from the prosecution of a battle to the outcome of a political decision. Dreams were also thought to provide vital clues to healers, and they were used in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners of illness. Dreaming was often looked upon by indigenous peoples as a way to commune directly with gods and spirits, and dreams are still used in this way by cultures around the world. Many people believed, and some still do, that during dream sleep the soul leaves the body and communes with the spirit world. The Chinese were one culture who believed that the soul left the body each night during dream sleep. They believed that if the dreamer were suddenly awakened the soul may not be able to return to the body. That is why some Chinese are still leery about the use of alarm clocks. This is just one example of how ancient legends can linger into the modern world. Some Mexican and Native American societies share this ancient view of the importance of dreams, and share the belief in a separate dimension that is visited during dream sleep. These people believed that their departed ancestors lived in their dreams, and that they were able to take forms like animals and plants. Thus dreams were seen as a way for them to commune with their recent and ancient ancestors, and to gather wisdom and knowledge that would serve them in their waking lives. Dreams were also seen as ways to gather information about their purpose or mission in life. The respect for dreams changed radically early in the 19th century, and dreams in that era were often dismissed as reactions to anxiety, outside noises or even bad food and indigestion. During this period of time, dreams were thought to have no meaning at all, and interest in dream interpretation all but evaporated. This all changed, however, with the arrival of Sigmund Freud later in the 19th century. Sigmund Freud stunned the world of psychiatry by stressing the importance of dreams, and he revived the once dead art of dream interpretation. === === About the Author === Larry Quigley is the editor of DejaDreams where you can find out "What your Dreams are Made of" Visit http://tinyurl.com/arsqw [06] ========= ========= 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 four of the programs listed this month. 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/ ===== ===== JETSTART -- A START MENU REPLACEMENT ===== If you are tired of digging through the Start Menu to start commonly used programs, you may want to give JetStart a try. JetStart is a freeware application that gives you several ways to access a categoried list of your favorite programs, recently used programs, and system commands. You can use the JetStart Menu that appears when you hover over the start button or you can use a dockable toolbar. There are a couple of other ways to access programs as well, perhaps the most interesting is a dialog box that lets you find programs in your Start Menu just by typing the part of the shortcut name. This is not a program I use everyday -- I mainly use the dialog box to find shortcuts in my Start Menu and then do my own thing with them once I've found them -- but I know people who could not live without JetStart. Rating: 3.5 Stars Operating System: Windows License: Commercial Freeware Price: Free Version Reviewed: 3.2 Web Site: http://www.codesector.com/jetstart.asp ===== ===== AGENT RANSACK -- SEARCH YOUR FILES ===== Much has been made of various free search desktop programs provided by large companies like Google and Yahoo. However, many people have security concerns when it comes to allowing large search firms index their computer's hard drive. If you fall into that category, it doesn't mean you are stuck with the primative search built in to Windows. Give Agent Ransack a try. From the Agent Ransack website: Agent Ransack is a free tool for finding files and information on your hard drive fast and efficiently. When searching the contents of files Agent Ransack displays the text found so you can quickly browse the results without having to separately open each file! Agent Ransack provides compelling advantages over similar search tools: * Regular expressions that allow complex rule based searches. * Immediate contents results view. * Various wizards to walk the user through the searching process. Agent Ransack doesn't index your files, it just searches through them -- so it is not the danger that some programs can be. It searches much faster than the search built in to Windows -- and has more powerful search options. It can't do all the things that a program like Google's Desktop search can, but should be much more secure. Rating: 3.5 Stars Operating System: Windows License: Commercial Freeware Price: Free Version Reviewed: 1.7.3 Web Site: http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ ===== ===== WEATHER WATCHER -- CURRENT WEATHER ON YOUR DESKTOP ===== I've gone through a number of programs to display the current weather over the years, but I've only recently found a program that I really like: Weather Watcher. Actually, my wife discovered this program. She had been using the ad supported weather program from the Weather.com -- until she upgraded to a new version and discovered that afer it had ran for about 12 hours it was using about 300 megs of memory and had slowed her system to a crawl. As she did not like the program I was using at the time (Weather Pulse), she went out to Download.com to see what she could find and discovered Weather Watcher. It worked so well that I switched to it the next day. Here's the description of the program from the Watch Watcher web site: Weather Watcher is your personal Windows desktop weather station. Automatically retrieve the current conditions, hourly forecast, daily forecast, detailed forecast, severe weather alerts, and weather maps for over 77,000 cities world-wide. The current conditions can be quickly viewed by holding your mouse pointer over the Weather Watcher system tray icon. Weather Watcher will allow you to automatically retrieve your weather data at a set interval, display the current temperature in a customized tray icon, display the current condition image in a tray icon, designate which weather information is displayed in the Weather Watcher system tray tooltip, convert the weather data using almost any conversion, display a weather map as your desktop wallpaper, log the weather data in any format, export the weather data in any format, customize the look of the Weather Watcher interface and icons via skins, and much more. Extra skins are available if you download the "Bundle" version. unfortunately, it's called the "Bundle" version because it bundles adware (WhenU SaveNow) with the program. The basic version (same features, just no extra skins) does not have the adware. To the author's credit, this is clearly stated on the Weather Watcher web site. Rating: 4.5 Stars Operating System: Windows License: Freeware Price: Free Version Reviewed: 5.6.5 Web Site: http://www.singerscreations.com/AboutWeatherWatcher.asp ===== ===== AUTOHOTKEY -- WINDOWS MACROS AND HOT KEYS ===== I discovered this wonderful, if somewhat geeky, program when the macro feature of PowerPro decided to no longer function on my computer after I upgraded to the latest version. Since I really liked being able to type =meg and have it automatically expand into my gmail address (like the glossary feature in MS Word, but it works in in any Windows program) I soon realized I needed to find a replacement or revert to an older version of PowerPro. As I really did not want to revert as the latest version of Powerpro had some features I wanted, I began to look around the web. Unfortunately, the programs I first found were all commercial and, in my opinion, overpriced for what they did. Then I came across a mention of AutoHotKey on a message board. According to AutoHotKey's web site: AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility for Windows. With it, you can: * Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder. * Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey. * Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing "btw" can automatically produce "by the way". * Create custom data entry forms, user interfaces, and menu bars. See GUI for details. * Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse. * Run existing AutoIt v2 scripts and enhance them with new capabilities. * Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don't have AutoHotkey installed. As hotkeys, abbrevations, and scripts are all defined manually in text files, AutoHotKey is not the most user-friendly program out there. However, it is powerful and many of its everyday features like hotkeys and abbreviations are easy to define. For example, to configure the Windows key and N as a hotkey to launch Notepad, you would put this line in AutoHotKey's config file: #n::Run Notepad If you would like to have "btw" expand into "by the way" when you type it, you would put this line in AutoHotKey's config file: ::btw::by the way You can do far more complex things if you wish, especially if you don't mind programming in a somewhat cryptic scripting language. But even if you never touch the scripting language, AutoHotKey is a useful tool. The ability to expand abbreviations in almost any Windows program alone makes this program worth the hassle of downloading and setting up. Rating: 4 Stars Operating System: Windows 2000 or XP (not all features work in 9x) License: Freeware (Open Source) Price: Free Version Reviewed: 1.0.36.06 Web Site: http://www.autohotkey.com/ [07] ========= ========= 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. 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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.) [08] ========= ========= 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. 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Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

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