Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive

C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #99 -- April 2009 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.net/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/ social network: http://tcn.ecauldron.net/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.net/cnc/ Please DONATE to Support our NEW SERVER http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?page=62 In this Issue: [00] Editorial Notes [01] Cauldron News * New SIG: Divination SIG * New SIG: Cooking SIG * New SIG: Home and Garden SIG * New SIG: Gaming SIG * Chavi Memorial Chronic Illness SIG Now Open [02] Interesting Recent Cauldron Discussions * Druids * Wiccan Authors - Your Recommended List? * Where do you fall on this Theist-Atheist Scale? * Minor Gods/Goddesses? * Creating my own Spirituality? * Drawing Down/Ritual Possession and Safety Measures * What to call 'Paganism' in the Workplace? * Does Self Harm Go Against the Rede? * Weather Magick? * Forgiveness? [03] Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk: The Suits and Numbers [04] Flamekeeping: The Joy of Ignorance and Insignificance [05] Articles * Seven Easy Ways to Celebrate Beltane [06] Support The Cauldron with Donations [07] Support The Cauldron with Assistance [08] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ LOOKING FOR PAGAN SUPPLIES? Visit The Cauldron's Pagan Supply Store http://www.ecauldron.net/esesf.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [00] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= Welcome to the April 2009 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 This is a another thin issue because, as predicted last month, April was yet another very busy month in real life. The first half of May will be as well. I don't know about the last half of the month. I'd like to invite everyone reading this to come by our message board when you get a chance. It's still active and we have recently opened a number of new Special Interest Groups that are open to posting from all members of our message board. We opened a Teen SIG, a Pagan Parents SIG, and a College Pagans SIG last month and have added five new SIGs this month (see the Cauldron News section below). Our message board members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, religions, and experience levels. You will find many different religions and magical traditions: Traditional Wiccans, Eclectic Wiccans, Ceremonial Mages, Reconstructionists from different cultures, Christians, and many more can be found on our message board. You will find some members have been on their path for 20 or 30 years and others who are just starting down the road. You will find teens, college students, young adults, older adults, and retired people from many different countries on our board. Our message board is oriented toward more serious (and often somewhat scholarly) discussion and debate than many Pagan discussion areas. Members need not agree with you or with the staff, or otherwise automatically be "politically correct" here -- just be polite and follow our message board rules. Disagreements and actual discussion of beliefs and ideas presented is the norm here, unlike some Pagan message boards where everyone is require to pretend to always agree to "make nice." That doesn't mean we are all work and no play, however. We have lots of more social threads to go with the "heavy" discussions we are known for. If you haven't visited our board in a while, please come on by. You can read our discussions without registering, but if you want to post you will need to register a member id. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.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 ========= ===== ===== New SIG: Divination Sig ===== The Cauldron has a new Special Interest Group: the Divination SIG. This SIG is for members interested in the Divinatory Arts: Astrology, Tarot, Numerology, Scrying, Runes, Geomancy and other forms of divination. This SIG was formerly a board in the Full Members only section of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board. As a SIG, it is now open to all members. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?board=34.0 ===== ===== New SIG: Cooking SIG ===== The Cauldron has a new Special Interest Group: the Cooking SIG. Like to Eat? Like to Cook? The Cooking SIG is the place to discuss cooking (and eating). This SIG was formerly a board in the Full Members only section of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board. As a SIG, it is now open to all members. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?board=42.0 ===== ===== New SIG: Home and Garden SIG ===== The Cauldron has a new Special Interest Group: the Home and Garden SIG. This SIG is the place to discuss your garden, your home, home projects and repairs, your lawn, etc. This SIG was formerly a board in the Full Members only section of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board. As a SIG, it is now open to all members. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?board=39.0 ===== ===== New SIG: Gaming SIG ===== The Cauldron has a new Special Interest Group: the Gaming SIG. This SIG is for members who enjoy playing games: board games, card games, role-playing games, computer games, online games, etc. If you can play it, it can be discussed here. This SIG was formerly a board in the Full Members only section of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board. As a SIG, it is now open to all members. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?board=46.0 ===== ===== Chavi Memorial Chronic Illness SIG Now Open ===== As mentioned in last month's newsletter, The Cauldron has opened the Chavi Memorial Chronic Illness SIG -- a message board for where those Pagans suffering from severe illnesses, chronic illnesses, chronic pain and other long term medical problems (or who are caretakers, friends, or family of a person so suffering -- Pagan or not) can post about their problems in a supportive environment. The Prayer and Energy Requests board is still the place to post prayer and energy requests, the new forum is for more long term discussion and support. If you were a member of The Cauldron any time from about 2003 to early 2006, you will remember Chavi (aka Storyteller Cat and, in offline life, Cathlene Patricia McKenna) and starting in early 2005, her ever positive reports on her battle with a rare form of cancer. (You can read some of those posts here on our slow 2005 Archive Board.) The odds were against her from the beginning, but that did not stop her from fighting hard to turn to be one of the rare survivors. And for a time it looked like she really might overcome those long odds. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be so. We've named this new SIG in her honor as she was a good friend to us all and we miss her every day. We've moved Lyric's Cancer Update thread to the new SIG. If you have a serious/chronic illness that you have been discussing in another thread, we can move the thread to the new SIG for you -- or you can start a new thread there. Everyone is welcome to read the board and participate in discussions in a supportive manner. http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?board=73.0 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Please support our sponsor +++ PAGAN-FRIENDLY WEB HOSTING http://www.ecauldron.net/web/zdreamhost.php Dreamhost offers high-quality, low cost web hosting with a dedication to free speech. Pagan sites are welcome! Read why we used Dreamhost for The Cauldron's web site: http://www.ecauldron.net/web/whydreamhost.php Plan Features * unlimited web space * unlimited bandwidth * unlimited email boxes (POP3/IMAP) * unlimited 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 $10.95 a month with a $49.95 setup fee. Pay for a year in advance (only 9.95/month) and there is no setup fee. Pay two years in advance and the price drops to $8.95 a month. (And there is a 97 day money back guarantee!) Visit Dreamhost for Affordable, Pagan-Friendly Hosting http://www.ecauldron.net/web/zdreamhost.php +++ Please support our sponsor +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= INTERESTING RECENT 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. ===== ===== Druids ===== I've read tons of over-romanticized fluff on OBODs site. They wrote alot about how druids were either bard, ovates, or druids, and talked about what each of them did in their respective clans. However, I feel like I've read mostly everything on it, and still have very little feeling for what a neo-druid actually is. As far as what I know now, reconstruction celts and neo-druids honor deities or deity figures, mark the holidays, and worship nature. I personally feel that celtic paganism is right for me, since I'm particularly drawn to my irish and scottish heritage. What exactly are the elements that gives a person to refer to themself as a druid? What does a druid do? What specific ancient practices does he or she follow? What do you think? Any books that could answer my question? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8826.0 ===== ===== Wiccan Authors - Your Recommended List? ===== Just looking for input on who you all feel are the best authors of Wiccan books out there. Who do you feel presents the most straightforward, accurate depictions of what Wicca should be like and how it should be practiced? Which authors leave out most of the "fluff" and get straight to how the religion should be properly practiced? I understand Silver RavenWolf is not one of these authors for various reasons. How about Buckland? Cunningham? Starhawk? Those are the top few I can think of offhand, other than Gardner of course. Seems like everywhere I look, everyone has a different idea about Wicca. It's almost a turnoff seeing people get so caught up in how it is celebrated that they result in online flame-wars and the whole "if you don't do it THIS way, you're not a Wiccan." I suppose that drama comes with any religion, but I do see it more with Wicca for some reason. Any thoughts? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8824.0 ===== ===== Where do you fall on this Theist-Atheist Scale? ===== Select the closest answer and feel free to explain it in a reply. * Strong theist. 100 per cent probability that deity/deities exist. In the words of C.G. Jung, 'I do not believe, I know.' * De facto theist. Very high probability but short of 100 per cent. 'I cannot know for certain, but I strongly believe in deity/deities and live my life on the assumption that deities exist.' * Technically agnostic but leaning towards theism. Higher than 50 per cent but not very high. 'I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in deities.' * Completely impartial agnostic. Exactly 50 per cent. 'The existence and non-existence of deities are exactly equiprobable.' * Technically agnostic but leaning towards atheism. Lower than 50 per cent but not very low. 'I do not know whether deities exist but I'm inclined to be skeptical.' * De facto atheist. Very low probability, but short of zero. 'I cannot know for certain but I think deities are very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that none exist.' * Strong atheist. 'I know there are no Gods, with the same conviction as Jung "knows" there is one.' * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8813.0 ===== ===== Minor Gods/Goddesses? ===== Have any of you had experiences with so called 'minor' Gods or Goddesses? By 'minor', I mean ones that don't have many myths involving them, ones that didn't have a huge place in their respective religions/mythologies, etc. I've been having experiences with a so-called 'minor' God for a while now - Thanatos. I've always had an interest in Him, and it's waned on and off throughout the years, but it's seemed to be stronger lately. I've done as much research as I can, and not much has turned up. I've always been interested in mythology, especially Greek and Roman. I took Latin back in public school because of this interest. Thanatos has popped up in various ways in my life, most recently in a dream a few days ago that got me asking about this here. The dream was very obvious - I was dreaming that I was doing a pathworking (something I have not yet been able to accomplish due to the lack of quiet places in my house) and that I received a sign from Thanatos. I don't remember what the sign was. About a year ago I was interested in the video game Persona 3, which features Thanatos as a character. I stumbled across a stuffed animal of Thanatos as he appears in that game on Ebay, and on impulse I decided to buy it. I brought the stuffed animal with me on a plane trip I took, and for the last leg of the trip we were on a very loud plane that took many sharp turns and encountered a lot of turbulence. I remember grabbing the stuffed animal from my bag and thinking that it would protect me... now that I look back on that, it seems to have a lot more significance than I thought it did at the time. So, anyways - does anyone have a minor God or Goddess that is important to them? How do you go about forming a relationship with Them when there is such little information available? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8744.0 ===== ===== Creating my own Spirituality? ===== Questions about divination: I'm not sure how many of you have created your own tradition or created a path from scratch but essentially this is what I'm attempting. I'm an atheist pagan; that is to say, I do not believe in deity. I see the universe as divine so perhaps the better descriptor is pantheist. Be that as it may, it's a bit difficult to find a religion that fits comfortably for me. As such, I've always had a fondness for Shinto and after reading a book about 'koshinto' or 'ancient shinto' I think this faith is a good base for me to start on and work around. Coupled into that is a bit of shamanism but not much, I suppose. I should like to create a path that is about self-improvement and growth. I can read as many self-help sites, articles, and books as I want but to be honest I find them boring and their activities trite. Sometimes I feel so foolish attempting their activities that I really don't get any value from them but I understand that's fine. I think this is where I can use religion to grow, however. Something that I should be able to always carry with me in my heart and mind so that I'm forcing myself to be accountable for my evolution. Anyway, backstory aside, I want to create a tradition where I learn from nature. I am starting with the Fox. I believe that the fox can teach me many things and help me get started on my journey. I can see some things that I want to do but I know that I'm not ready for those things either. So I'm a bit paralyzed right now. I see the destination but I am not sure how to get there. So I guess I should open this thread up to any of you that might have some ideas. I think meditation would be a good first step and I plan to attempt it during earth hour but really I feel like I want to do more so that I am sure to make this a part of my life. I definitely want to live this everyday and mature * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8667.0 ===== ===== Drawing Down/Ritual Possession and Safety Measures ===== What can go wrong about drawing down/ritual possession if one doesn't do it right or doesn't take the necessary safety measures? What safety measures do you think necessary to take for a drawing down/ritual possession? How do you go about them? Do you think one needs to be in a formal training to learn it or practice it safely? Shouldn't you attempt it or permit a deity do it to you until you come to a specific level of formal training or self learning/experience? Does one need to practice it in a group? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8661.0 ===== ===== What to call 'Paganism' in the Workplace? ===== Not everyone wants to be 'out' as a pagan at work and not everyone thinks it's appropriate to 'bring religion into' work at all. That said, there are those that do on both counts and run up against the problem of the word 'pagan' bringing with it a degree of baggage tht can make life harder than it needs to be. Question is, what term/phrase/name could be used as an alternative that covers the right territory?. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8652.0 ===== ===== Does Self Harm Go Against the Rede? ===== I suffer from depression and struggle with self harm and have been pondering something. I am so scared Mother (Goddess) is mad at me... or I have disgraced her ... or something. Because, well, is self harm going against the Rede? It says, "An it harm none, do what ye will." Harm none... that includes oneself... does it not? I don't know why this has suddenly started haunting my thoughts. I have never really even given it any thought, but now... * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8589.0 ===== ===== Weather Magick? ===== Does anyone here practice weather magick? What exactly does it involve? Is there any good info--books, sites? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8295.0 ===== ===== Forgiveness? ===== If you have offended a Deity, forgotten something you have promised to do, agree to something then don't do it, what do you do? Do you ask for forgiveness or leave an offering? How to you make ammends with Deity? Do you have to make ammends? Are you expected to do a "penance"? How do you make things right again? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8570.0 [03] ========= ========= PHYLLIS VEGA'S TAROT TALK ========= The Fool's Journey ========= by Phyllis Vega ========= ===== ===== The Suits ===== Whereas the trumps of the major arcana reflect larger matters and important turning points, the pip or numbered cards of the minor arcana generally refer to the different aspects and events of everyday life. In most decks the minors consist of sixteen courts cards and forty numbered cards. These fifty-six cards are divided into four suits of fourteen cards each: Wands, Cups, Pentacles and Swords. The four suits correspond to the four basic elements: fire, water, earth and air, and to the four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. === Wands Think of creativity, ideas, conception and beginnings. Wands represent the seeds from which everything grows. Because of its connection to fire, this suit describes the potential for ambition and personal effort which ultimately lead to success. On a personal level Wands often describes the self-employed or self- made man or woman. The Wands person triumphs because of his or her own ability and initiative. Events or situations related to this suit are those that involve creative innovation and achievement Element: Fire Season: Spring Astrological signs: Aires, Leo, Sagittarius. Playing card suit: Clubs === Cups Think of feelings, love, romance, desire and inner experience. Cups represent the relationships, and spiritual and emotional influences in life. Because of its connection to water, this suit describes the potential for love, friendship, happiness, anguish and psychic development. On a personal level Cups refers to the person who acts out of love for others. The Cups individual often demonstrates unselfish devotion to family, friends and humanity at large. Events or situations related to Cups are usually connected to the impulses and emotions. Element: Water Season: Summer Astrological signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. Playing card suit: Hearts === Pentacles Think of physicality, manifestation, practicality and finance. Pentacles represent the manifestation of ideas and emotions into physical existence. Because of its connection to earth this suit describes the potential for attainment in the material world. On a personal level Pentacles often describes the entrepreneur who is highly successful in business or finance. The Pentacles person succeeds because of his or her understanding of the practical necessities of life. Events or situations related to this suit are those that involve business, money, property, social status and physical health. Element: Earth Season: Autumn Astrological signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Playing card suit: Diamonds === Swords Think of action, the intellect, communication, and struggle. Swords represent mental activity and the power of the mind. Because of its connection to air, this suit describes the potential for acceleration and movement. On a personal level Swords often describes the professional, scientific, or military man or woman. The Swords person overcomes adversity because of his or her ability to combine a keen mentality with physical prowess. Events or situations related to this suit are those that involve reason, logic, judgment, agitation, boldness and courage. Element: Air Season: Winter Astrological signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Playing card suit: Spades ===== ===== The Numbers ===== With the exception of the court cards, every card in tarot is linked with a number. One easy way to learn the pip cards (minor arcana) is to study the meanings of the numbers and combine them with the meanings of the suits. === Ace (One) Aces indicate beginnings, new ideas, creative power, potential, first causes, primary impulses, and promise. In a reading: Potential. A situation is about to begin or is already in its early stages. The number one is equated with the source, beginning, and end of all things. === Two Twos relate to partnership, relationships, polarities, the balancing and coming together of opposite forces, duality, choices, decisions, a period of waiting, a respite. In a reading: The focus is on partnership and relationships. This is a time of decision or choice, of finding the balance in duality and in partnerships. === Three Threes denote synthesis, growth, creativity, abundance, collaboration, friendship, artistic expression, refining plans, preparing to take action. In a reading: Unity and group activities are emphasized. Refine plans and set them into motion. Initial achievement of your goals is indicated. === Four Fours represent foundations, discipline, work, order, stability, solidity, tangible achievement, practical attainment. In a reading: Things previously imagined and planned for begin to manifest. Your foundations are stable and solid. === Five Fives are indicative of new cycles, changes, progress, shifts, adjustments, and courage. In a reading: A need for change is indicated. Adjust and fine tune all that has manifested at the four level. Expect uncertainty but know that it, too, shall pass. === Six Sixes relate to balance, health, harmony in the face of change, contentment, assistance, relaxation, satisfaction, equilibrium. In a reading: Triumph over challenges addressed up to this point. Harmony and balance are indicated. Take heart: you're closer to your goal than you think. === Seven Sevens connote spirituality, wisdom, perfect order, the macrocosm, religion, luck, magic, multiple options, insight, facing complex choices. In a reading: You triumph over mundane problems at the six level and numerous options open up to you. A cycle has been completed. === Eight Eights indicate regeneration, rebirth, reevaluating, putting things in order, balancing, setting priorities. In a reading: You're sorting through the options experienced so far in order to decide what to keep and what to release. Think regeneration, renewal. === Nine Nines denote bringing things to a conclusion, integration, movement, flexibility, fulfillment, attainment. In a reading: Fulfillment; you complete situations which were met at the eight level and integrate them into your life. === Ten Tens are indicative of transition, renewal to a new cycle, completion, wholeness, mastery, excess, over-abundance. In a reading: Transformation or transition to something new. Endings and preparations for new beginnings. === === About Phyllis Vega === Phyllis Vega is a professional astrologer and tarot reader. She is the author of two popular tarot books, Romancing the Tarot and Power Tarot (with Trish MacGregor), with a third book, TarotCraft: How to Use the Cards for Divination, Creative Visualization, and Meditation currently in the works. Contact Phyllis via email at pvega@bellsouth.net or through her website at http://phyllisvega.geocities.com/. Tarot Tarot columns and other works by Phyllis are archived at http://tarottalk.ecauldron.net/. Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk copyright (c) 2009 by Phyllis Vega. All rights reserved. [04] ========= ========= FLAMEKEEPING ========= THE JOY OF IGNORANCE AND INSIGNIFICANCE ========= 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/ ===== ===== The Joy of Ignorance and Insignificance ===== We are each the center of our own Universe. But there are thousands of overlapping universes, one for each person. And while we are the center of our own, we are of much less importance in every other one. It's a matter of perspective. We see ourselves as wise, smarter and more attractive than average, better in so many ways than the people around us. And they see themselves the same way. Everything here is a matter of perspective. When we see ourselves from the perspective of the Universe itself, we are small and insignificant. It's impossible to see all the people, all the world that exists and not see ourselves as small. There is more we do not know than we do know. There is more that is not us than is us. We can never know everything or be everything, no matter what we want. And that's one very true perspective. But it's equally true that when our minds reach out and touch the Universe, we find ourselves loved and cherished for our uniqueness. We may be one of many, but that does not change that we are also one individual, and special and cherished for that. I am Individual, One of Many, and Part of the Divine Whole. These are not mutually exclusive pieces, they are in fact reliant upon each other. When we find the balance point between these realities, we become more able to deal with each other and reality as whole adults, and give the Universe in all its aspects the respect they deserve. ===== ===== Questions: ===== * How are you individual? one of many? part of the Divine? How does it vary? * Do you love yourself for who you are? Do you love others for being part of the Divine? (even if you don't like them?) * How do you balance being special and individual, and being insignificant compared to the greater reality? Which of these two truths is more difficult to deal with? [05] ========= ========= ARTICLES ========= ======= ======= SEVEN EASY WAYS TO CELEBRATE BELTANE ======= by Kim Pearson ======= The first of May is Beltane or May Day, a time to celebrate the leaping fires of passion. It marks the height of spring and the flowering of all life. Beltane is a festival of sensuality, sexuality, flowers and delight. It is a traditional time to make love, preferably outdoors. There are many lovely old customs associated with this time. Here are seven simple ideas for celebrating this wild red time of year: 1. Make a May basket. Fill it with flowers or other outdoor objects. Leave it on a doorstep of someone who cannot get outside, such as an invalid or elderly person. 2. Make a wreath of freshly picked flowers and wear it in your hair. 3. Perfume your house with delicate scent of woodruff, a tiny, star-like flower that blooms around this time in the Northern Hemisphere. 4. Dress in bright colors, especially hot pink or crimson, the traditional colors of Beltane. 5. Erect a Maypole in your yard. It doesn't have to be tall. You can use a yardstick, broomstick, or even a twig. At the top of the pole affix different colored ribbons. Get a group of friends, and have each choose a ribbon and make a wish upon it. (For example, "I choose this red ribbon for more passion in my life.") Dance around the Maypole entwining your ribbons together. Then take the entwined ribbons and make a hair wreath out of them. Take turns wearing it. 6. Embrace the ones you love. Hugs and kisses all around. 7. Write poetry about Beltane, and then recite your poems aloud, preferably outside. Try haiku, an ancient Japanese poetry-art form. Haiku consist of three unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. Here are three haiku about May to give you the idea: Happy women weave colored ribbons round their hearts dreams become prayers flap your black swan wings hoot like a young chimpanzee dance a lively dance petals will open roses show their hot male hearts make love to yourself Holidays are days made holy by the attention we pay them. Simple practices such as the ones listed above remind us that we too dance to the natural rhythms of the earth. === About the Author Kim Pearson is an author and ghostwriter who has ghostwritten or edited more than 30 non-fiction books and memoirs, plus authoring 7 books of fiction, poetry and non-fiction of her own: http://www.primary-sources.com [06] ========= ========= Cauldron Info ========= SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S SERVER WITH DONATIONS ========= As mentioned in the October 2008 newsletter, we now need over US$60 in donations every month to keep the server online. No donations, no server. No server, no message board. Well, not really "no message board" as there is always the free backup board, but the limitations of the free backup board drive staff and many members nuts. Your donations are needed to keep The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board up. We now have two ways you can donate. OPTION 1: Make An "Anonymous" Donation in Any Amount If you are not a member of the message board -- or are a member but do not want a donor button to appear on your posts or wish to donate a non-standard amount, you can make an "anonymous" donation (which will not cause any "donor" notation on your posts) in any amount via the Paypal link below. You do NOT need a Paypal account to donate. After Paypal fees, we get 85% to 90% of the money you donate. http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php OPTION 2: Message Board Member? Donate Through Your Profile: Get Bronze/Silver/Gold Donor Levels and Benefits If you are logged into the message board, you can make a donation (via Donation Subscriptions in your Profile) at the Bronze Donor (US$5.00), Silver Donor (US$10.00) or Gold Donor (US$15.00) level and get a special button that will appear on your posts as well have access to our Donor only areas (and more for Silver and Gold Donors, see this post on the board for current information: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=7335.0). These special benefits will last for one month (or one year if you elect the annual donation option) and can be renewed by extending your subscription. You can elect to make a one time donation or to set up a Paypal subscription that will automatically renew your donation each month or year until you cancel the subscription at Paypal. You can find the "Donation Subscription" link in the "Manage Profile" menu on your profile. Payments are made via Paypal but you do not need a Paypal account to donate (unless you wish to set up a recurring donation subscription). If you are a member of our message board, this link will take you directly to the Donation Subscription area of your Profile (with a stop to log in if you are not already logged in): http://www.ecauldron.net/profiledonations.php [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. 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/forum/ ===== ===== 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.net/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.net/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.net/linktous.php ===== ===== 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.net/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.net/zamazonuk.php If you use Amazon Canada, you can use this addess: http://www.ecauldron.net/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.net/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. 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) 2008 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 (lyricfox01@ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com) or Randall Sapphire (rssapphire01@.ecauldron.GETRIDOFME.com). Typos are, as usual, courtesy of the Goddess Eris.

Return to Cauldron and Candle Archive