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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #97 -- February 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 * TCN: The Cauldron (Social) Network Revisited * Server Donations Reminder [02] Interesting Recent Cauldron Discussions * Ancient Gods in a Modern World? * Non-Racist, Non-Sexist Tarot Cards? * Your Career/Life Goals as your Spirituality * First Experiences with a Deity? * Need Advice: Restarting a Group? * Important Ceremonies/Rituals in Your Religion * Shape of a cast circle? * Haggling Over Witchy Goods? * The Term "New Age"? * Evil? [03] Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk: The Court Cards [04] Flamekeeping: Perceiving the Dark Flame [05] Articles * Making Space for Sacred Space [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 February 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 thin issue because I have had a very busy real life month. Lyric and I have been painting and I've been working on a few must-be-done-now non-Pagan projects. With any luck this newsletter will be a bit more meaty in March. 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 ========= ===== ===== TCN: THE CAULDRON (SOCIAL) NETWORK REVISITED ===== We'd like to remind everyone about one of our newest features, TCN: The Cauldron Network. YCN already has a number of members, but it really does need you. While it is not MySpace or Facebook, The Cauldron has its own "social network" for members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum (and their friends). TCN - The Cauldron Network is a Kickapps-powered "social network" for members of The Cauldron. Its main feature is unlimited storage for your photos and videos, however, it has social network features like blogs, friends, a home page, etc. as well. You can take a look at TCN (and sign up if you want -- and we hope you will) at http://tcn.ecauldron.net/. If you want to sign up for TCN, please use your Cauldron ID for your TCN account if at all possible. Once you get an account at TCN, please list your TCN account name in your profile (TCN ID in Profile/Forum Profile Information, near the bottom of the list) here on the message board and it will automatically generate a link to your TCN profile. This link will appear on both your message board profile AND in your messages on the message board. TCN is somewhat limited compared to places like MySpace and Facebook, and we just have to live with those limits as TCN is hosted by kickapps.com and the software is not under our control. We can't rewrite it to make it work as you might like. However, Kickapps.com does upgrade the software with new features from time to time. We hope you will use and enjoy this major new TC feature. Full members got an early look at TCN over the last few days, and generally like what they saw. Over 30 members have signed up during the preview period. Many have created profile pages and uploaded some pictures, so there is already content out there to look at. You'll also find a link to TCN in the Community Menu part of the left side menu called TCN Social Network and a TCN button in the top blue menu line of our message board. http://tcn.ecauldron.net/ ===== ===== SERVER DONATIONS REMINDER ===== It's been about three months since we first explained our new donation system, and since doing so we had had enough donations every month to pay for the monthly server bill -- without havuing to post an annoying reminder banner on our message board the last week of the month. We'd like to thank everyone for making it possible for The Cauldron to stay online via their donations. Remember, every little bit helps. Here's a repeat of the information on our donation system for new readers and new members. Sincing moving to our new server in the October 2008, we 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? 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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 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ 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! 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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. ===== ===== Ancient Gods in a Modern World? ===== Do you think ancient deities have changed over the centuries or is their perspective of things still rooted in ancient times? How do they relate to issues of the modern world? Do they have archaic/ancient characteristics or perspectives you find sometimes hard to deal with (or do they find it sometimes hard to deal with your modern perspectives)? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8265.0 ===== ===== Non-Racist, Non-Sexist Tarot Cards? ===== I am fairly new to the tarot, but I have been absolutely in love with the tarot deck for about four months now. I've read everything I can get my hands on about the history of the deck, interpretive possibilities of cards, symbolism, intuitive readings, etc. I have started with a deck with art based on the traditional Rider-Waite deck, and I am now looking to find some decks that I connect with more strongly. I have researched lots of different decks, but I haven't felt comfortable with any of them, and I'm finally figuring out why-- in almost every deck I've seen, everybody is white, with anglo features, and generally fits the traditional definition of beauty in western culture--thinnish, anglo features, fair skin and hair, etc. In addition, I'd love to see some diversity of sexualities in the deck. For example, why can't The Lovers card have a possible male and male or female and female option, depending on who you are doing a reading for? I have read the book and seen some of the Motherpeace cards, which go a ways to deal with these very issues, but I don't really connect with the art and I feel that they are often missing the really potent symbolism that makes the Rider-Waite deck interesting. So I guess I'm looking for something that keeps the potent symbolism. Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced working with cards that are more inclusive and less supportive of the racist/sexist/ageist, etc. status quo (for example, why is the high priestess always young and pretty? Why not make her an older woman? Why not a middle-aged woman? These kinds of things drive me a little nuts). * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8251.0 ===== ===== Your Career/Life Goals as your Spirituality ===== Although the thread title has an obvious implication, I'm not actually intending to ask how your spirituality effects your careers or your goals. In this instance, I'm interested in asking whether anyone feels as though their career itself functions as something spiritual or *equivalent* for them. A long time ago I saw a poster - I want to think Jenett, but I could be wrong - remark about finding a path, that you should look at those already on the path, and think about whether you want to become more like them. I've recently embarked on a doctorate level degree programme. It's something I'd thought about in the past, but I'd always shot myself down: 'There's too much competition in academia,' 'you're not at a high enough level for this work' etc. It took a long time for me to decide that I could do this, or at least give it my best shot. Now, I don't believe in deities, or magic, or spirits. I don't feel like academia is 'fated' for me, or that it's in my 'nature' to do this. It just feels like a very good fit for me, and I feel like I'm waking up. I'm having experiences that change me, so that I feel like I'm becoming part of the academic field I'm interested in. Now, where a religious or spiritual experience might be something like hearing the Voice of God, or some moment of clarity, my experiences are more on the lines of discussing theory with my peers, and enjoying being around people who share my values and aims. And of course, the feeling of becoming someone different, whom I want to be. It strikes me that this is the kind of thing that many people talk about in terms of their religion and/or spirituality. Where I don't have either of those, I still find myself appreciating some of those experiences, even if the target is different. So, is my attitude towards my life and occupational goals just because I'm an atheist and have no religious comparison? Does anyone here who regards themselves as religious or spiritual have a similar feeling towards their own occupation/ life goals? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8232.0 ===== ===== First Experiences with a Deity? ===== I've recently had a couple of first experiences with a deity (I think it was Artemis) and are trying to cope with them for a while now. I'm not thinking about any formal relationship like a dedication yet, just want to explore and work out my experiences. I'm very confused. I wonder how more experienced members went about their first experiences. Have you had an encounter with a deity or have you approched him/her yourself? How would you react to an encounter with a deity? What steps did you take to explore the deity and your possibilities? How do you find out why you had this encounter, what to expect of the deity and what he/she expects of you? How did you develop a relationship? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8211.0 ===== ===== Need Advice: Restarting a Group? ===== I need advice. I don't know what I am doing. I am a member of a Unitarian Universalist Congregation and we have a earth centered group Gaia Spirit Circle (GSA). The group stated in 2005, I don't want this group to go by the wayside. Both of the leaders of the group have left the Congregation. I have called a meeting of GSA, for Wed Feb 4, 2009 (GSA used to meet the 1st Wed of the month). Yesterday I had gotten 6 people who say they will come. Does anyone have any advice as to how to get the group restarted. What questions do I need to be asking those who come? I know this is not a lot of helpful information, as your questions I will answer as best I can. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8174.0 ===== ===== Important Ceremonies/Rituals in Your Religion ===== Most major religions like Christianity have their sacraments and important holy days. What important rituals and such are in your religion? Why are they important? How important is participating in those rituals to you? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8144.0 ===== ===== Shape of a cast circle? ===== I've seen people cast a circle just like walls without creating a closed ground and 'ceiling'. Others create a fully closed sphere. I'd like to know which methods you prefer and why. Would the first method be an incomplete circle or do you think it's necessary to leave it open to the ground and sky for grounding and connection? To me the fully closed version feels more complete, but also gives me the feeling of being less grounded. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8120.0 ===== ===== Haggling Over Witchy Goods? ===== I've often come across the injunction that if you have to buy tools, ingredients and so on for magic, you shouldn't bargain over their price. The only explanation I've read is that bargaining is seen to 'cheapen' your will. I don't know. The way I see it, if I successfully knock the price off something, surely that's more like asserting my will? I've never been particularly fussed if I find something witchy in the bargain bin or something either. Thoughts? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8086.0 ===== ===== The Term "New Age"? ===== I've experienced a couple of conversations where someone talked about subject x and another person said he/she finds x so very 'new agey'. I wonder what people mean by statements like that. Is 'new age'/'new agey' a derogatory term like 'fluffy'? If people use it derogatory, what is it they mean by it? What do they critizise about 'New Age' exactly? What kind of subjects are 'new agey' and what is not? Or is it a specific context that makes a certain subject 'new agey' while the same subject wouldn't be in a different context? So how do you recognize 'new age' stuff? Do you think everything connected to 'New Age' in any way is bad on principle?? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8085.0 ===== ===== Evil? ===== Quote from BGMarc: "I don't believe in evil. It's not a word that has a practical definition for me." The above is a quote from BGMarc from my "Atheism: A Religion?" thread, and I found it to be very interesting. What do you guys think? does Evil exist? does it not? is what we call Evil really just a Human creation? or is Evil something that happens and is around in nature? What kinda forms does this Evil take? or if it exists is it even identifiable? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=8019.0 [03] ========= ========= PHYLLIS VEGA'S TAROT TALK ========= The Court Cards ========= by Phyllis Vega ========= In the tarot deck, the court cards act as a bridge between the spiritual and psychological symbolism of the majors, and the mundane events characterized by the numbered cards of the minor arcana. They correspond to the face cards in an ordinary deck of playing cards. Although the court cards usually represent people, they can also stand for aspects of character and personality, and actual events and activities. There are sixteen court cards in a typical tarot deck, four per suit. Most often they are King, Queen, Knight, and Page. However in some nontraditional decks they go by different names: Man, Woman Child, Daughter, Son, Princess, Prince, Priestess, Shaman, Sage, Speaker. However, the main problem with the court cards isn't what they are called; it's what they mean. Some experts claim they represent people in our lives, others insist that they symbolize qualities, events, or even thoughts that we hold, while some others think that they relate to all of the above. I confess that I am a member of the "all of the above" school of court card meanings, and I believe you can't have too much help when working with these enigmatic cards. In fact, it's a good idea to routinely draw another card to compliment each court card that falls in a layout. The additional card provides subtext that can help you zero in on the court card's meaning in the spread. The best way to understand the tarot is through trial and error. This is particularly important when dealing with the court cards. Regardless of how many classes you take, or books you study, the teachers' and authors' interpretations are the meanings that work for them. Repeatedly reading for yourself and others is the only way to discover whether or not what you've learned actually works for you. Although there are some basics that can serve as a guide to understanding the meanings of the court cards, they should not be taken as absolutes. If you are just learning tarot you'll probably want to use these definitions as a jumping off point. However, when you're doing a reading allow the symbols on the cards to trigger insights and associations. Permit your mind to suggest fresh interpretations drawn from your personal life experiences. The following definitions of the members of the court and the suits in tarot refer to the standard Waite/Smith decks. If you use other decks, the names of the court cards and even the suits may be different, but most of the meanings will still apply. The fiery tarot Kings are the motivating force behind a plan or idea. The watery Queens can be likened to rain bringing the idea down to earth, and making it grow. The airy Knights spread the seeds of the idea throughout the kingdom. And the earthy Pages are the fertile soil in which all of this may grow and flourish. Kings: Represent mature men who generally know who they are, and what they can accomplish. They symbolize strength of will. Kings are active and outgoing. They strive to impact the world through the force of their personalities. The Kings are Fire, which is their element, and passion is the driving force behind everything they do. Filled with energy, these movers and shakers are related to the Emperor, and like him they are leaders, planners, commanders, and creators. Thus, a King in a spread can indicate motivation, a new beginning, or the start of something important. Queens: Represent mature woman, mothers, wives, lovers, sisters, bosses, co-workers, and friends. They symbolize female energy, the yin and the receptive qualities of the inner self. Queens do not wield their personalities as a force directed outward. Queens express themselves from the inside, setting the tone for their suits without imposing it. The element of the Queens is Water and, not surprisingly, Queens are a reflection of the Empress. Queens signify the creative force. When Queens appear in a layout, they signal a time of growth and development. Knights: Represent young men or woman. They symbolize energy and drive. Their appearance generally indicates that a long standing life situation is about to change. Knights are extremists; they express their suit qualities to the maximum. Their excessive feelings and behavior can be either positive or negative depending on circumstances. Knights are the spirit of youth, and thus are all about change. Knights are never still; their presence suggests movement, travel. Elementally, they are Air, moving and flowing like that element. Their beliefs are purer than of a mature adult, and they are unquestioning loyal to a kingdom or cause. Pages: Represent young children or adolescents. Pages can be either male or female. They symbolize youthful innocence and exuberance, messages, communications, new beginnings. The element of the Pages is Earth, indicating something young, growing, a seed planted. Pages most often stand for children, though they can also be said to be the Fool's alter ego. Therefore, an adult who is child-like enough might also be a page. Wands: Relate to the Fire signs in astrology: Aires, Leo, Sagittarius; also occupations concerned with ideas, creativity, expansion, growth, enterprise, initiative, self-employment. Cups: Relate to the Water signs in astrology: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces; also occupations concerned with the arts, psychic ability, food, emotions, romance, relationships. Swords: Relate to the Air signs in astrology: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius; also occupations concerned with the media, information, communication, writing, the military, the professions, science. Pentacles: Relate to the Earth Signs in astrology: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn; also occupations concerned with worldly achievement, material success, business, finance, building, healing, nurturing, ecology, gardening. ===== ===== Court Cards as Significators ===== The significator is a card chosen to represent the questioner; the choice can be based on gender, age, occupation, or astrological sign. Although any card in the deck may be used as a significator, court cards are the ones most often chosen. Kings are usually chosen to represent mature men Queens are usually chosen to represent mature women Knights generally represent young adults of either sex. Pages generally represent adolescents and children of either sex. === === 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 ========= PERCEIVING THE DARK FLAME ========= 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/ ===== ===== Perceiving the Dark Flame ===== There's a lot of talk about seeing the light, about light vs dark, about light as goodness. Dark is therefore perceived as the opposite, the source or place of evil. The problem is, however, that this view is shortsighted and incorrect. Life with only fire, only light, burns without control. One cannot see nor function if everything is light and fire. There also needs to be darkness, cool, a chance for quiet and healing and change. The dark flame is the hidden part of FlameKeeping, the hidden places in ourselves where growth and change can happen. It's the part of life which hides from the light, from scrutiny, from examination by oneself or others. We grow and change in the darkness, in rest, with only the results being seen in the light. It is the flame that comforts and keeps you whole. It is cool and dark, a place to rest and restore oneself. The bright flame, the normal flame, is a flame we share with others. It is visible in how we act and what we do, shining into dark corners and creating boundaries, showing who we are and aren't. It burns from within to without and shows in our lives. The dark flame is different. It is hidden, quiet, cool. It burns for ourselves. It revitalizes and refuels us. In the darkness, we find ourselves again. We connect with our inner Divine spark through quiet as well as action. The dark flame gives us a point to connect that Divinity to. ===== ===== Questions: ===== * Are you in balance? Are you even aware of your inward dark flame? * Is the darkness in you nurtured as well as the light? Why or why not? Does this imagery make you uncomfortable? * Can you feel the Divine connection to the dark flame? The lit one? both? [05] ========= ========= ARTICLES ========= ======= ======= MAKING SPACE FOR SACRED SPACE ======= by Alan Joel ======= Happy New Year! Do you feel the need to rejuvenate and refresh yourself for the New Year? Then create some sacred space in your life. When you read a great inspirational book, prayer, or article, don't you think to yourself, "What a great idea! I should do more daily rituals, prayer, meditation."? It always seems like a great idea, and what better time to start than in the New Year? We know that sacred practices and sacred space bring peace, harmony, joy, and ease into our lives. Sounds like a great idea! The problem is that the impulse to add more sacred activity into our lives only lasts for a few moments--then life intrudes and we forget all about it until the next time we read something inspiring. So how can we really make space for sacred space in our lives? Luckily it's not as hard as you think. Check out these simple ways you can expand the sacred in your life: 1) Be Simple and Consistent: Consistency in creating sacred space is much more important than quantity. Choose one sacred practice you will do every day, and do it every day. Even if you just sit and breathe for 3 minutes in silence, you'll feel the benefit of those 3 minutes throughout your day. 2) Clear Out the Clutter: Sacred space means actually having a space where you can be in the sacred. Dedicate one area of your house to the sacred by clearing out all the excess junk, creating an altar or space for sacred objects there, and keeping it fresh with incense, candles, or plants. Keep the area energetically clean with by smudging with sage or cedar. 3) Have Great Beginnings or Endings: Putting sacred practice at the beginning or end of your day will make it easier to remember and do. Starting your day with sacred practice will bring you peace and awareness throughout the day. Ending your day with sacred practice will help you rest deeply and beneficially. 4) Take Your Sacred Space Outdoors: There's nothing like nature to bring the sacred into our awareness. If you find it difficult to get out of your daily routine indoors, spend a few moments outdoors each day, greeting the sky and earth. You'll be amazed at how fast you connect to the sacred. 5) Move in Sacredness: For those of us who can't sit still long enough to meditate, walking can also be a way to create the sacred. Walking and praying, or walking and talking with our higher powers can create sacred space around you, plus you can take it with you everywhere you go! === About the Author Alan Joel co-founded the Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic with the goal of the helping people create permanent, positive change in their lives through the study of magic and shamanism. Get free tips and resources at the Esoteric School: http://www.shamanschool.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.

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