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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #105 -- April 2010 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.net/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/ social network: http://ecauldron.ning.com/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.net/cnc/ ================================================ This special issue is dedicated to the memory of ELSPETH SAPPHIRE Co-Founder of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum ================================================ Please DONATE to Support our SERVER http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?page=62 In this Issue: [00] Editorial Notes: Goodbye Elspeth [01] Cauldron News * The Cauldron's Social Network (TCN) Closing -- At Least On Ning [02] Interesting Recent Cauldron Discussions * How do you incorporate a patron deity into your Wiccan spirituality? * When I get old.... * How Do You Increase Your Awareness of Magical Energy? * All paths lead to the same meadow? * What does "Religious Ritual" mean to you? * What are the Outer Limits of Paganism and Magic? * Worship, honor, respect... * Myths as part of worship and ritual * Speaking to the Gods Informally? [03] Phyllis Vega's Tarot Talk: Tarot Card Combinations [04] Flamekeeping: Balancing Action and Judgment [05] Articles, Stories, and Poetry * The "Perfect" Leader * Reality 101 * Responsibility and Paganism * Halloween: The Past in the Present * Story: Just An Ordinary Child * Story: A Tale Retold: Stone Soup * Poem: Memories * Poem: Why? * Poem: Going Home * Poem: In the Dark * Poem: Silly Love Song [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 2010 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 It is my sad duty to report that Elspeth Sapphire, one of the founders and co-Hosts of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum, passed over to The Summerland on April 19, 2010. She passed in her sleep. While Elspeth's heart problems and other illnesses made her a rare visitor to our message board over the past five years or so, she was a major presence on the board during the early years and was a major force in shaping what The Cauldron is today. Elspeth and I met on the old GEnie Online Service in the 1990s. We became good friends while we were both serving as staff on SFRT3, the Science Fiction Fandom Roundtable. With GEnie dying, we both ended up on Delphi (another online service) in the late 1990s where we made an abortive attempt to recapture the essence of SFRT3 on Delphi. After a year, we gave it up as the people managing our forum on Delphi really did not understand it. However, we hung around on Delphi and eventually decided to convert Elspeth's Pagan mailing list, The Grove, to a Custom Forum on Delphi. The Cauldron was born in December 1997. It was my Yule gift to Elspeth -- you had to pay Delphi for forums back then (six months in advance). This was before it was known as Delphiforums and back when user forums, then known as "Custom Forums" had a presence on both the paid Delphi Online Service (in wonderful a pure text/command line like environment) and on their new free Web forum version. The forum was an instant success, mainly due to posts from Elspeth, with 60 or 70 messages posted that December and hitting 1000 messages within six months or so. It's correct to say that The Cauldron owes its existence -- let alone its success -- to Elspeth. While I helped and our mutual friends certainly helped, Elspeth was the driving force in the early days. Almost all of Elspeth's early posts are still available on The Cauldron's old forum on DelphiForums, although they can be hard to find as you can only search if you are a paying member of Delphi Forums. However, Elspeth was much more than a "simple housewife" as she called herself, she was a science fiction and fantasy fan, a priestess of her goddess, a writer, a poet, the mother of two wonderful children, a wife, head of Clan Sapphire, and one of my best friends. I'm going to miss her very much. This month, Cauldron and Candle is mainly devoted to reprinting some of Elspeth's many articles, stories and poems. All the material in our "Articles, Stories, and Poems" section is by Elspeth. These will bring back fond memories to long time members of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum (or long time readers of this newsletter) and introduce her to those who never really had a chance to know her. I'd like to close this before I get to the point where I'm too teared up to type and I'd like to close with one of my personal favorite pieces of Elspeth's poetry, "Lifetime Companion": Lifetime companion... Where have you gone? I thought that your place was at my side forever, Your warmth beside me in my bed. Now I find myself watching for you Hearing a noise at the door .... But only finding empty air and memories. Funny ... it is the things I hated That I find I miss the most. I find myself saving tidbits But how do you feed a spirit? I remind myself of cycles; That death is a beginning ... And never an ending ... But I am only too aware I am barren and alone. Oh, where have you gone? Is that your touch brushing by? Or will you live within me ... Until that day that we meet again. Oh, lifetime companion.... ---Elspeth Sapphire Goodbye Elspeth, my friend. May your goddess receive you and honor you as you have honored her in life. Special Note: As this issue goes to press, funeral arrangements have not been made. Once we have more information, we will announce in on The Cauldron's message board in this thread: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=12542.0 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 ========= ===== ===== THE CAULDRON'S SOCIAL NETWORK (TCN) CLOSING ===== -- AT LEAST ON NING ===== Ning Networks (which powers TCN) has a new CEO who is apparently focused on MONEY only. They have decided to terminate free service. I'm not going to pay as much or more for TCN as it costs to run TC's servers every year as that would double the amount we need to raise in donation. Having our own social network was nice, but it is NOT worth paying for. Several other free social network sites exist and a few of those say they will have a way to import the content of a social network from Ning in a week or so. If true -- and one of these other sites has acceptable terms of service and features, we will move the current version of The Cauldron Network (TCN) to as new service. We will have to wait and see. IMPORTANT NOTE: TCN is separate from our message board and web site. Our message board and website are not effected by Ning's decision as they are hosted on our own server with our own software. Only our new Facebook-like social network is affected. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ 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. ===== ===== How do you incorporate a patron diety into your Wiccan ===== spirituality? ===== I've been looking into Wicca for a few months. And this includes praying to the Goddess and God, as well as other deities. Lately I had been getting a strong sense of THE or A Goddess. And as I've noticed my spirituality taking different themes within each of the past moon cycles, I know that in this cycle I would grow closer and get to know this Goddess. Well, via some signs and some sense, I believe the Goddess to be Brigid. What I don't know is whether I keep praying to the Goddess and God, as well as to Brigid. Or does this mean that I know who the Goddess is to me, and should now pray to Brigid and the God. (And then, one day, learn who the God is to me.) Most of me believes that the Goddess and God are still as they are. Nameless, ultimate, and most inclusive. And even while keeping them most primary in my heart, I still payed some devotion to specific deities such as Hanuman and Krishna. So maybe Brigid is just now the most foremost specific deity and spiritual mentor. Of course, this is less of an issue if one isn't Wiccan, and something like a Witch or Druid instead. I know there's not right answer to this. I'm just looking at other people's experience and insights. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=12546.0 ===== ===== When I get old.... ===== ...apart from wearing purple...if the day arrives when I can't manage on my own....what happens to me as a practising Pagan? Options will vary depending on where one lives but most retirement communities or complexes that I know of are either Christian-oriented, occasionally Jewish or the kind of secular places that one hopes not to end up in. Throw in factors like no children, no SO, rarely involved extended family and caring though also aging friends and the possibility of dementia which runs in my family. On the other hand, my passing ceremony I've already organized according to my Tradition so not a concern. So what happens to an aging Pagan Witch who will want to celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats? (Mind you, if I do go gaga, I probably won't remember either) Anyone else considered this issue....or perhaps you are all too young to do so as yet? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=12453.0 ===== ===== How Do You Increase Your Awareness of Magical Energy? ===== In Wiccan circles, doing a magical working generally involves raising psychic/magical/divine energy (however you prefer to think of it) and channeling or directing it to some sort of target/goal. So to be most effective at performing spells, a witch needs to be able to feel/sense the presence of energy in the circle. He or she must feel it building, know when enough has been raised, and be able to manipulate it and direct it as needed. If this is what you do in your practice, or if you use a similar process for spellworking, I have some questions for you: Can awareness of magical energy be cultivated or increased, or is it something you must have always had? I have heard pagans and witches express the opinion that an awareness of magical energy (or a sixth sense if you will) has to have always been there, that this is what makes a witch a witch. Do you agree or disagree? Do you feel that you were born with a sixth sense? If so, have you been able to strengthen it through your practices or is it the same as it has always been? If applicable, how have you been able to cultivate or increase your awareness of magical energy? What advise might you give to a new witch trying to do so? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=12226.0 ===== ===== All paths lead to the same meadow? ===== What do you think of the saying all paths lead to the same meadow? Do you agree to it? Why or why not? How do you interpret the saying? Does it mean that there is one truth or one God/dess? Or does it mean that all paths have ultimately the same destination (which could be Summerland, a return to the Divine Source or something else)? Do you think it's a valid saying or do you think it's fluffy? (Is fluffy valid, LOL?) I've also heard that all paths lead to the same meadow, if you harm none. This sounds very Wiccan, so non-Wiccans probably wouldn't agree? What about the saying all clockwise paths lead to the same meadow? Clockwise as in either the right-hand path or a positive, non-harm morality? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=12032.0 ===== ===== What does "Religious Ritual" mean to you? ===== I've been thinking on the meaning of ritual in a pagan context, and wondering if I've been approaching the idea too narrowly, so I'm here to pick you brains and see what you all think. What does "religious ritual" mean to you? Are there certain things it should encompass, no matter the religion? (And by this I mean not only the various pagan religions, but also JCI and others.) What makes a religious act a religious ritual? What kinds of religious rituals do you engage in? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=11931.0 ===== ===== What are the Outer Limits of Paganism and Magic? ===== The "big two" monotheistic religions have clear and competing visions of the end of the world: Islam envisions the entire world conquered and ruled by a Caliphate and Sharia law (over my dead body, and I mean that literally); Christianity leaves room for the various nations to maintain their identity but asserts that Christ will rule them all from the throne of David at Jerusalem (which may not be any more palatable for the majority of members here, I realize). Secularism has its visionaries as well; the Star Trek universe comes to mind. What do you believe is the corresponding potential for magic and/or paganism in general? The typical peasant of 2000 B.C. would have adjusted to the world of Caesar's era (or even Charlemagne's) with scarcely a burble. I venture to say, though, that he would not have adjusted to the 21st century (in the West, at least) without a lot of hard work and re-education. There has been real and substantial change since Gutenberg invented movable type, and especially since James Watt invented his improved steam engine. I'm not looking to hash out how much of that change is due to Christian beliefs and influence, but I will note that the Chinese had a form of printing (lithography) and that the ancient Greeks invented a (very) rudimentary steam engine. Would movable type have made the impact we know without Gutenberg's missionary zeal to publish Scripture and make it accessible to the common man? Was scientific inquiry and investigation jump-started by the religious worldview of early scientists and natural philosophers which held that the natural world was a creation of God, and therefore logical and knowable? Be all that as it may. What do you think could (or should) have happened if Jesus Christ (and Muhammad) had never walked this earth and pagan/magical thought (of any particular pantheon) had been given the chance to progress unhindered? While I can't presume to read anyone's mind, I get the impression from the discussions I've followed here that most pagan thought is tied to the status quo and that (virtually) no one envisions great and radical changes from the world as it now exists. Would that have been true in any given place and time (Caesar's era, North America pre-1492, ancient Egypt, etc.)? Or am I mistaken in my impressions? While I don't expect anyone to respond that scientific and technological progress is an unmixed curse or blessing either way, if you could push a button and reset the world to the material, technological, and legal/political state of four hundred, five hundred, a thousand, two thousand years ago...would you push it? For one specific example, I've seen discussions here on the astral. This is an area I have no personal knowledge of, nor am I trying to gain any; I feel my God telling me distinctly that he wants to work with me in this world (the occasional dream excepted). Can you envision any set of circumstances under which we (or you, meaning those who are interested) would be able to know, and map, and navigate the astral as certainly and repeatedly as we navigate the oceans? I sailed into Sydney Harbour twice while in the Navy, the last time over twenty years ago. Yet I have utter and absolute faith that with a suitably equipped and provisioned seagoing vessel and the proper charts and navigational equipment I could return to those exact same coordinates and find the Harbour, the Opera House and that big arched bridge in pretty much the same condition as I remember them. Is such a feat even possible for the astral, or is it fundamentally unplottable (at least in that sense)? If I gave you a suitable description, with nautical coordinates, of my trip around the world I believe that each and every one of you could successfully replicate it. Is the same feat in reverse even possible for the astral, or is it different for each individual? I suppose what I'm getting at is, do you believe that there is some kind—any kind—of fundamental underlying absolute Truth to paganism and magic in general? I believe, on a fundamental philosophical level, that truth MUST be absolute, else it be not Truth...from which springs the missionary imperative of my own faith specifically and, IMO, of Christianity in general. I can accept that the majority of others here feel differently, but...if you had things your way, where would you take them? Are you happy with the status quo, the world pretty much the way it is...and, if so, would you be equally at home in the world of the 13th century or the 23rd century? If you are satisfied with things the way they are, does that include being satisfied with the fact that there is no (observable) justice for those who are caught up in the middle of famine, genocide and other horrors, such as those in Sudan? Or, if you would change things, what kind of change would you propose and what things would need to happen to (at least in your plan) make it work? I know that this is kind of a rambling OP, so feel free to focus on any one area or to start a spinoff thread. But if your religion and your deities had their way...what would happen? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=11867.0 ===== ===== Worship, honor, respect... ===== What wording do you use in your relationship with deities, ancestors, etc? Some may say "worship", others "honor", "pay respect to", "pay homage to", etc. -- which word or phrase do you use for what you do? Are there words for this type of religious practice that I haven't touched on - and if so, why do you choose to use those words? Does your phrasing change depending on the circumstance? What do the words honor, worship, etc mean to you? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=11691.0 ===== ===== Myths as part of worship and ritual ===== I know that myths are often used as sources of info on the nature of the gods and interacting with them. But does anyone here incorporate the stories themselves into ritual? How do you decide which of a god's many myths you'll focus on? Or, in everyday life, do you find yourself returning to some myths as touchstones of faith? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=11593.0 ===== ===== Speaking to the Gods Informally? ===== Can you speak to the gods/goddesses informally, such as the Christians do in their religion? Or must it only be in formal ritual and worship? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=11487.0 [03] ========= ========= PHYLLIS VEGA'S TAROT TALK ========= TAROT CARD COMBINATIONS ========= by Phyllis Vega ========= The difference between the accomplished reader and the novice is often nothing more than the ability to synthesize the card meanings into a comprehensive whole. Although spreads form the framework of your readings, to weave the spreads into complete stories you need to be able to read the cards in combination. While the meanings of some card combinations will be obvious to you, others may require some study. The easiest way to learn how to combine card meanings is through practice. In the meantime, here are some simple guidelines for you to consider. 1. After you lay out the cards, examine them and look for the thread of the story. 2. Think about the individual meanings of each card. Consider how they work together in terms of the question. 3. Focus on the first two or three cards in the spread. Let the artwork speak to you. Allow your intuition to come into play. If answers come to mind that don't seem to fit with the book meanings of the cards, go with your instinct. 4. If a card doesn't make sense, either alone or in combination with its neighbors, pull another card for clarification. 5. Consider the court cards, if any, and try to determine whether they represent people or issues in the life of the person for whom you're reading. If you are still unclear about a court card draw a second card as a modifier. 6. Consider the cards of the major arcana in terms of the larger picture. Then look to the minors for hints on how these issues may manifest in daily life. 7. Start from the first card in the spread and begin telling a story in terms of the question and everything you have gleaned from your examination of the layout. Let's say that you are reading for a man who wants to know whether or not he is going to win at gambling. If he picks The Wheel of Fortune, nine of cups, and ten of pentacles you can assure him that he will win big time. However, what if he gets the Wheel of Fortune, the nine of cups and the five of pentacles? You might then surmise that although he may win at first, in the end he will probably lose most of it. In this case you might point out that although the cards point to the most likely outcome, nothing is set in stone. Then you might suggest that if he wins a substantial amount he should cash in his chips and go home. If a woman is asking about her troubled marriage and future relationship with her husband, and she gets The Lovers, The High Priestess and the eight of cups, you may surmise that her marriage has come to a crossroads. The Lovers shows that a choice must be made, or that someone is coming between the couple. The High Priestess can represent a secret or a mysterious woman in the husband's life. With the eight of cups, he may well leave the questioner for the other woman (or she may decide to leave him). However, if instead of the former combo the woman draws The Lovers, The High Priestess, and the two of cups, the choice is still there, but with this combination the husband may realize that the marriage is based on partnership and true love. Then, instead of leaving, he may agree to let go of the other woman in order to build a more meaningful union with his wife. Consider the following combination: The Empress and the three of swords. What do you think these cards mean when taken together? Since The Empress may represent pregnancy and the three of swords loss, disappointment, heartbreak, or surgery, this combo often indicates miscarriage or abortion. If The Star was drawn with these cards you would know that the worst was past and healing had begun. However with the addition of the five of cups to the original two cards you might surmise that the woman in question was having great difficulty letting go her sorrow, pain, and disappointment. During the course of a reading, new definitions for single cards or combinations may come to mind. If this happens, don't be afraid to use the new definition. At some point you may find that you no longer need to "read" either individual or combined meanings. The answers will jump out at you before you can think about card meanings. When this happens it is as if an inner channel opens up and detailed pictures or words form in your mind. Trust your impulses and the images you receive. At this point the tool becomes incidental to the process and intuition takes over; just follow wherever it leads you. === === 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 ========= BALANCING ACTION AND JUDGMENT ========= 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/ ===== ===== Balancing Action and Judgment ===== We are doomed, as humans, to make mistakes when we act. And yet it is impossible to not act. And when we fail we judge not only ourselves, but those around us; those we have failed, those that observed. Those that judge us as well, and often more harshly. And it is often through external censure that we learn the inappropriacy of our actions, as well, making judgment not only inevitable but necessary. But our judgments are also frequently based on incomplete information and not quite correct on the circumstances. So how do we act, and judge, as best we can? And how can we correct our mistakes when we do make them? Whenever we interact with people, we affect them. Something so little as a smile or a frown can change another person's day, even when you don't even see them in the crowd. Which means we are always interacting with people and affecting each other. The question is how we do so in an ethical manner, what is appropriate, and how we make amends when our actions have unintended negative effects. And things like the Golden Rule are incomplete at best, for there are many situations where we don't want what the other person does. So how do we act? How can we be the best people we can be? It starts with mindfulness. We cannot simply act on instinct as we fly through life and not dim Flames, both our own and others. It is very easy to be caught up in the moment, in the everyday, and simply respond to things. And it is also easy to become mired in a sea of confusion, and realize that we can't know for certain how people are going to react, and what the best path is, and choose inaction over action, in the belief that if nothing is done, there is no fault. But fault is irrelevant, and inaction is just as much an action as anything one chooses to do. So try we must, even though we know that we are sometimes going to make horrid mistakes. And when we make those mistakes, instead of throwing our hands into the air and giving up, we must then do the best we can to fix them. We all have the right and duty to help make the world a better place, to better ourselves and others so that we improve the Divine with our existence. We do not have the right to corrupt Flames, our own or other people's, or otherwise injure the Divine. We are all part of the Divine, and as such, to injure ourselves or each other in any way is also injuring the Divine. While we cannot be perfect, we have to be the best we can be. How do we accomplish all of this? There are many ways, many possibilities, and we should be open to them all. The most important thing one can do, however, is care about and love one another. The Divine in each of us recognizing, no matter how much we can't stand someone, they, too, are Divine. And as we are all Divine, we all deserve and require our basic needs met, a chance to pursue love and happiness, and a chance to improve ourselves. While we cannot help but act, and judge others only as harshly as we judge ourselves. ===== ===== Questions: ===== * Why is fault irrelevant? Do you agree? Why or why not? * Why is inaction an impossible choice? Why does inaction have a moral quotient to it? * How do we get past confusion to action? [05] ========= ========= ARTICLES ========= ======= ======= THE "PERFECT" LEADER ======= by Elspeth Sapphire ======= At what point in becoming a high priestess did I cease to be human? I remember rituals binding me to the coven. I remember one to tie me to the desires of the gods. I even remember the one where I received my cords as teacher and leader. Yet I keep running into students that seem to feel that becoming a leader makes me less prone to any of the "ills" of a normal person. I am not supposed to ever become ill; at least, not if it inconveniences the student. The gods forbid that I ever have a personal crisis or that the needs of my family come before the needs of the student! As for feeling emotional, well, that is strictly not allowed. The deities I follow are allowed to show more human traits according to some students! I am sorry to disappoint my students, but I am totally human. While believing in balance and control, I am subject to the same demands of body and emotions that they are. In fact, it can be worse for me and many other leaders, because we are dealing with much more than just our own emotions and problems; we are also dealing with the emotions and problems of everyone that looks to us as leader. In my opinion, that is why so many of us suffer from burnout at some point in our practice. Over the years, I have had several students that expect their teacher to be something more than human. Some come to realize that their expectations do not mesh with reality and move on to become a person who is sensitive to others. Others refuse to even acknowledge that their demands are unrealistic and stomp away like a child when they don't get what they want. I have come to divide these people into the following groups: ===== ===== The Sitter At Your Feet ===== This is the person that insists that you are so holy and blessed that they are not worthy to sit beside you. They want to sit at your feet and worship you along with the gods. When you try to tell them that you are only a human, they just smile and talk about how modest you are. Besides being very irritating, these people are the ones that will go from smiling at your feet to attacking you on all levels if you do something that doesn't fit into their "reality". Once knocked off the pedestal, you go instantly from "godlike" to demon. It doesn't take much to create this crisis; I once saw it caused by the teacher losing their temper and another time because the teacher put the needs of her child before the student. Sometimes these students aren't as easy to identify as one would think. In one case, the student didn't show her true colors until after her dedication ceremony. Once you have a commitment to them, the best you can do is hope you can open their eyes without an emotional crisis. ===== ===== The Question Demander ===== I had a student like this. I still shudder when thinking of her. This student is the one that has a million of questions and wants answers to all of them. You think that doesn't sound too bad? After all, isn't that what we as teachers are supposed to do? Yes and no. In my Tradition, the teacher is there to guide the student in finding the answers. It is the work done to find the answers and then further questions that leads to enlightenment. This kind of student is very impatient with any answers that don't tell them exactly what they want to know. Spirituality has so few precise answers. The student doesn't want to hear this; the student just wants the answers. When the student doesn't get the answers that he or she thinks they deserve, they become first impatient, then angry, then explode. They want an interactive Book of Shadows, where they can just punch in the question and get an answer in return. Not being a robot or machine, my student became very unhappy with me. I released her after an emotional explosion. ===== ===== The Hanger-On ===== There is a kind of student that is there more for emotional reasons than to learn. They aren't always easy to identify at times. They become part of the "family", in part because they seem not to have anyone of their own. They want to learn, but teaching sessions are filled with accounts of their problems with life and how that makes it difficult for them to grow spiritually. Point out to them that difficulties give them a chance to grow, and they will frown slightly, then change the subject. Nothing is really their fault and it is because of their isolation and lack of "family" that things don't go better in their lives. Given half a chance, you will start seeing more of them than your real family. They can slip into your life so quietly that you may not even be aware of what is happening until it is too late. They will see your relationship as the most one in your life and do what they can to break up any that they see as threatening. I had one student become so jealous of my relationship with my mate that he did what he could to part us. Another would become angry if I was emotional about things going on with my kids. These can be messy to deal with, but the sooner the better. ===== ===== Expectations Meet Reality ===== There are other problem student types, including the one that will pit two teachers against each other, then stand back and soak it up. However, this brings me back to my original question -- how did becoming a teacher and leader take away my right to be a human being? I am not sure why people expect leaders to be something more than human. We are not superheroes or supermortals or anything more than men and women just trying to cope. We became leaders because of some need within us to pass on information or because of the desires of the deities we worship or sometimes just because there is no one else to do it. None of that negates our rights to a mundane existence or family or home. If anything, being a leader means that we need it more. ======= ======= REALITY 101 ======= by Elspeth Sapphire ======= There is a class that I would love to teach some day. I believe that it would be more useful that any number of courses on spirituality, or ritual writing, or divination. ===== ===== I would call that class "Reality 101." ===== I am sure that most of us have met candidates for this class. You can find them in any large gatherings of Pagans. They are usually the smiling ones standing next to the people that look rather frustrated. That look of frustration comes from trying to convince someone that it is possible to be grounded in this reality and still have a spiritual life. I have noted several groups of people that I feel could benefit from a Reality 101 class: ===== ===== Everything is an Omen Kid ===== I am the first person to admit that the gods do send us signs and omens at times. Especially when I am not "listening" very well. However, I try not to go out of my way to see omens at every turn. For example: my Matron Lady is often attended by ravens. When I lived in an area that rarely saw ravens, the appearance of one of those black birds was an important sign, usually meaning that I needed to be paying attention. I now live in an area where the ravens are the size of puppy dogs and follow people around. Unless one comes up and plants itself in front and starts talking, I am not going to be looking at them as an omen. I had a friend that saw omens in everything around her. That was bad enough, but they seem to give her conflicting information. Because of this, she was always walking around in a fog, almost afraid to take action of any sort. It wasn't until she realized that not every dog barking was a sign that she was able to get her life together. These are related to those who are afraid to take a move or make a decision without reading the cards, pulling some runes, or using some other divination device. These are useful tools, but hardly necessary to decide whether to have roast for dinner or chicken. ===== ===== Free Spirit Parents ===== You know the ones that I mean -- they are the ones that insist that any sort of discipline will ruin their children. Free Spirit parents are the ones that allow their children to run wild as you are attempting to do ritual or teach class or even just socialize. If you dare to stop these ... uh... imps, perhaps tell them no, then the parents will jump your case, threatening and whining. I don't know how this idea that destructive behavior by children is actually creative and should be encouraged got started, but I think it is time that some of these parents look at what they are creating. Behaviors that are cute when a toddler will become hard to live with as a child grows. How do you tell a teen that his behavior is unacceptable, when you have never taught him "no"? I look at the current crop of Pagan kids and sometimes shudder. I do have one hope -- that they will rebel and become born again Christians. ===== ===== Not a Historical Scholar ===== Facts are not always what we want to face. They can be uncomfortable and bring our beliefs and ideals into question. However, we can't just make them disappear by ignoring them and treating those who do deal in facts with disdain. Unfortunately, one sees this behavior too often in Pagan circles. The whole debate over the age of Wicca is a perfect example. I know people, that no matter how many facts you present, will never accept that Wicca is as young as it is. They still insist that it has passed almost unchanged from prehistoric times. The number killed during the Burning Times is another case of not wanting to look at the historical facts. Despite scads of historical evidence that the number of dead was much lower, many still cling to nine million dead in the fires. And the gods protect you if you point out, that even at the much lower figure, not all were accused of witchcraft and not all were women. ===== ===== Perfect Love and Perfect Truster ===== I once overheard at a gathering two women talking. "They arrested him for abuse? How could that be??! After all, he is a Pagan and I have circled with him!" These are usually the same women that are shocked to find out that there are Pagans in prison. Yes, there are people that honestly take the ideal of perfect love and perfect trust to mean that just because you are a Pagan, then you are completely trustworthy. This has led to some horrible crimes and abuses, even to people that specialize in robbing, beating, and abusing Pagans. They know that they can show up on the Pagan scene and usually gain quick acceptance with next to no interest in their background. No matter what beliefs they claim, it is wise to always use caution in dealing with people. ===== ===== Party Pagans ===== They are usually there at every festival and every gathering. Ask them what was the last ritual they attended and they will say, "Beltaine!" with a saucy wink. Often they are the first pull out the alcohol and the first to pull off their clothing. They are the Party Pagans and proud of the fact. They are often just as proud of the fact that they don't take life and this whole spiritual stuff seriously. That is for the dull people. You know the ones -- the ones that always have their noses in books and are planning rituals and activities. The dull ones should just kick back and take life a bit easier. Unfortunately, the Party Ones don't realize how often it is the "dull ones" that make the events possible that they enjoy. After all, =someone= has to do the job of making things work. ===== ===== "I am a Fan" ===== I once almost was lynched by a mob of "fans". I did get kicked off an email list by them. My crime? I dared to say that perhaps their author of choice was wrong about something. Simply that. I didn't say she was wrong about everything or that I thought she sucked -- just that I thought she was wrong about one fact. I was even polite about it. Didn't make any difference. I have run into this in other areas than just Pagan. For some reason, a fan following will form around an author's work. This is fine and good, but when the fans start to give up critical thinking in favor of basking in the glow from the author, then something is wrong. Even the best of authors will be wrong on occasion. They will have poorly written books. They will misinterpret material. They will be human. Anyone that expects differently is riding for a fall. ===== ===== One Book Wonders ===== At one extreme, these are the women who read one book and decide they are now a High Priestess. At the other extreme are the people who figure that because they have read one book on basic Paganism, they never have to read anymore. They never need to study or consult with anyone. All the necessary tools were in that one book and that is all they need. These people are related to the ones that claim that they get all their information from their deity and as such, need no stinkin' books. ===== ===== Final Words ===== Identifying clueless people of all these categories isn't difficult, but convincing them that they really need the reality class is another thing. If only I could get them to see that reality isn't as bad as it is cracked up to being. But I guess if I could do that, then I wouldn't need to teach the class -- would I? ======= ======= Responsibility and Paganism ======= by Elspeth Sapphire ======= "It's not my fault! It's her fault!" "I didn't know... didn't research... didn't think..." "You can't blame me... it wasn't against the Rede!" "Why are these bad things happening to me?? I didn't do anything bad... not really...." Do any of these sound familiar? As a mother I expected to hear them time after time. After all, one of my responsibilities as a mother was to teach my children to deal with their responsibilities. What has surprised and saddened me is the increasing numbers of times I hear comments like the above from people in the Pagan community. Perhaps I am a product of the old school, but I was taught early that we reap what we sow ... in this world and others. I am not talking about something as simple as following the Rede or the Law of Threes. I am talking about taking responsibility for each and every action in our lives, both mundane and magickal. My Tradition is big on responsibility. Our version of the Rede states: "Do what you will, but be aware that every action comes with a price tag. Be prepared to pay that price." It is that simple. Act as you feel the need, but be willing to stand up and accept the consequences of your action. Of course, this sounds simple, is simple, and still is sometimes very difficult to deal with. One of the examples I use with my students is a mundane one; my daughter is raped. Now there are several ways I can react, both mundanely and magickally. If I decide to go after the man who did this and track him down and shoot him dead, then I have to accept that I will probably get caught and sent to jail. That would mean that I wouldn't be available to help my family through the aftermath of the rape. I wouldn't be able to comfort my daughter and help her reach past the experience and go on with her life. But the man would be dead. Would I do it? Probably not. Taking responsibility for my actions would end up hurting my family as much as the rape. And, to me, claiming that anger and grief drove me to it would be a denial of that responsibility. And still hurt my family. I see the same things happening magickally. A good example is the growing trend of books encouraging people to use love spells. Not wanting to debate the ethics of such spells, I would like you to look at what can happen. I know one woman who used a sexual seduction spell and then was surprised and horrified when the man raped her. She had decided that she would decide when the moment would be right for them, forgetting that magick often has its own timetable. This lady-who was normally quite bright-- saw herself as a victim, and didn't see how her own actions brought forth the situation. She couldn't accept responsibility for what she set in motion. Another woman used a love spell and it worked. She got her man. However, once she had him, she realized that she didn't really want him. Two people were made miserable because she hadn't looked forward to see what could happen. Did she then take responsibility for what she had done and see what could be done to make things better? No, she ran to someone like me and expected them to fix things. After all, it wasn't really her fault. Sigh. I have lost track of how many times people have come to me wanting help. I don't mind helping people, but it is the whining that gets rough to deal with. I know that sounds harsh, but whining is what it is. I would much rather deal with someone that comes to me and says, "I acted like an idiot. Can you help me figure out what to do now?" Instead, I often get people that say, "Well, the spell was in a book! Surely that makes it all right to use! It must be the author's fault!" Or the website, or their teacher or anyone else. Paganism gets a bad rep in part because of the refusal to be responsible. What message does it send to non-Pagans when they listen to Sally blame her problems at work on the fact that someone must be doing a working against her? Of course, it has nothing to do with that fact that she doesn't do her job well or gossips about the people she works beside. What does it say when John claims that he can't get a date because of his bad aura or shielding? It couldn't have anything to do with the fact he is shy and doesn't bathe regularly! The coven I belonged to before I became a HPS actually had rules about getting your life in order before dealing with the magickal. Don't whine about no job when you haven't even made an attempt to go out and look for a job. Doing a spell is not enough, and blaming the spell only makes you seem like a child. Being responsible is not easy. Sometimes it is hard work. And often it is very painful. It is so much easier to blame your lover, your parents, your boss, the universe. Easier, but often untrue. When someone, even myself, asks, "Why me?", I usually tell them to think about why them. The truth is often there if we but take a look at it. The trick is to not look at your neighbor, instead take a good look at yourself. Be honest with yourself. Think about why you do the things you do, both mundane and magickal. Realize what your true motives are. Then think about what could happen as a result of your actions. Do you want any of that to happen? Are you prepared to deal with the results? I remember once I was prepared to do a justice spell. I had been egged on by others and I was angry enough at the individual to act. This despite the fact that I know very well that asking for someone else to be judged, holds me up to be judged also. Well, to make a long story short, on the way to do the spell, I dropped the black glass candle that we had prepared. It shattered all over the ground. This started me thinking with my brain, instead of my emotions. I postponed the working and did some serious thinking. I realized that I was doing the spell because I was pissed and not because the person deserved it. I moaned when I realized that if she and I were judged, then I would be most likely found wanting. Having suffered through a justice spell when I was in the right, I can only imagine what the gods would have in store for me. Our version of Rede dates from this experience. As does my insistence on each and every member being responsible for their actions. It has changed my life for the better. I have gotten to know myself. This wasn't always a pleasure. Some of what I saw disgusted and shamed me. Some saddened. And all of it gave me a jumping off point for changing. Now when a fight is brewing between my mate and me, I ask myself if I am refusing to talk to her because of hurt feelings or because I am trying to "punish" her for hurting me. In either case, I then ask myself if I would rather be "right" or be close to the person I love best in the world. When put that way, often the path seems rather clear. Not all issues are as clear. Some require thought, questioning, truth, and sometimes more thought. Being an adult is never easy, but I believe it has perks. If nothing else, being able to stand up for what I do with a free heart is worth the work and pain. So the next time when the world doesn't seem to be going your way, before you start to bitch and whine, or even ask why, take a moment to look at your part in what is happening. You might just find that you had a hand in your own problems. And that knowledge might be enough to help find a solution. ======= ======= HALLOWEEN: THE PAST IN THE PRESENT ======= by Elspeth Sapphire ======= The days are shortening and dark comes early. There is a certain crispness to the air as we stroll the streets. Before long, the leaves are turning bright colors, only to slowly drift down to cover yards and streets. Yes, autumn is here. And with autumn comes a holiday enjoyed by both old and young...Halloween. What is the appeal of this night? Why do we find people ranging from infants to grandparents donning costumes and for one night forgetting the mundane? Halloween, or Samhain to the Pagans, has caught the imagination of people throughout the ages. From the ancient rituals honoring the dead to our modern custom of trick or treating, this one night is our time to put aside any fear of the dark and embrace any that walk there as welcome. The ancients chose this time of year to celebrate the dead. The harvests were done and the fields laid empty. The days of sun were at a end and the days of dark were beginning. What better time to celebrate the powers of darkness. This was not a celebration of fear; not always has darkness equaled fear. Instead for those who believed in rebirth, it was a time to reach and touch those beliefs. Just as the fields now laid bare, they would flower again in the spring. And so it was with us, dying only to be reborn. Picture of a Jack-o-Lantern So many of our Halloween customs can be traced to the past and the habits of our ancestors. Each time I look at the jack-o- lanterns shining with devilish grins, I can picture the original lanterns. Turnips were hollowed out and candles placed inside to protect them from the wind. These lanterns were placed on window sills to guide the dead back to their kin. Since the apple harvest was celebrated at this same time, apples often played an important place in the festivals. When you bob for apples or dangle apples on strings, you are walking in the footsteps of other people and other times. Picture of Trick-or-Treaters What would Halloween be without costumes and masks? Yet, have many of us wondered why we so enjoying the wearing of costumes? Dressing up frees us from the ties of our everyday life. For a brief moment of time, we become a princess or an Indian or a cartoon character. This gives us a freedom of action that we normally wouldn't have. Masks have also long been associated with death and the gods. Was early man trying to understand death when he put on a mask of a dead one? Perhaps, donning a mask could put us in touch with the gods themselves. The black cat, familiar to many a storybook witch, was priced because cats could sense the dead. They could be used as a kind of early warning system. Why black cats? What better color for this time when the darkness rules? Every where I look, I come face to face with the stereotyped image of the witch. Wicked or not, they all looked alike: greenish skin, a wart, misshapened face, dressed all in black. In these days of striving for the politically correct, many are trying to remove this image from Halloween celebrations. I guess they don't see what I do. I look at the Halloween witches and remember pictures of the dark Goddess, dressed in black and with her high pointed hat. She would wait at the crossroads to guide the dead to their rest until the time of rebirth. Evil? I don't believe so, anymore than I believe death is evil. Instead it is one more symbol that has passed down through the years to spice October 31st. Just look around. We are surrounded by symbols of the past that we take for granted. The brooms the witches rode. The cauldrons that bubbled with potions vile. Even trick or treating could be traced back to Celts who went house to house collecting treats of apples. It has been truly said that there is nothing new under the sun. However, this doesn't have to hinder our enjoyment. On Halloween night, you can find me walking the night. Without fear, I will travel, listening to the laughter of the children, as I go back to another time and place. ======= ======= JUST AN ORDINARY CHILD ======= An Earth Mother story by Elspeth Sapphire ======= There was a child. Just an ordinary child. Yet in one way, he was not so ordinary. This child cared. He cared about his mommy and daddy. He cared about his dog. He cared about Mrs. Sally, his next door neighbor. He even cared about grumpy Mr. Green who lived in the ugly house on the corner. "Mommy, if I lived in such an ugly house, I might be grumpy, too!" Then he waited until Mr. Green left the house and went down to sweep his walk. The child was always doing something helpful. His mother would get up in the morning to find the kitchen clean and shiny. "Oh! Is it brownies?" his mother would exclaim. The child would only smile and say, "No, just me!" He helped because he cared. Then came a day where people made fun of him for caring. "Why waste your time helping?" they asked. When he tried to help, people either yelled at him for what he did or said that it wasn't enough. Slowly the caring turned from love to dislike to finally hate. He started doing things just because they hurt other people. One day, his mother yelled at him. The child waited until she was out of the room, then picked up a ball and threw it at the vase that his mother had cherished since she was a child. As he stared at the shattered pieces, the child realized that he finally gone too far. Without stopping to think, he ran out the door and down the walk. He ran until he was out of breath. Looking for somewhere to hide, the child noticed a small woods by the side of the road. He slipped into the cool shade and threw himself down on the grass and wept. How could he have done such a thing? He loved his mother. How could she love him now? Why should she care? As he laid, grass tickling his face, a breeze began to blow between the trees. The child ignored it, clenching his fists around clumps of grass. The breeze only blew harder. Then it began to whisper his name. Amazed, the child sat up. "Who are you?" he whispered, looking all around the trees. "I am a mother...just like your mother." The voice sounded gentle...like a sigh. "But where are you?" The child was puzzled by this voice without a body. "I am everywhere, my child, for I am the Earth. I heard your pain and answered your Call." Tears began to fall down the cheek of the child. "I didn't call anyone! Besides, I am a bad person and no one likes me." A laugh now echoed through the breeze. It ruffled his hair like a caress. "Silly child! Do you think that just because you were angry, your mother will love you less?" The voice grew sad. "My children are always doing hurting things...both to themselves and to me. They try to destroy me time after time. And I, too, sometimes get angry. Yet..." The voice was silent for a long moment. "Yet, they are my children. And I love them. Perhaps, if I care enough, someday they will learn to love instead of hate...create instead of destroy. Someday..." The boy sat silent. He thought about how he used to care about his fellow men. Then he let all that caring turn to angry and hate. "Mother Earth? Maybe if I love enough people...if I care...it will teach them to love in return." "Perhaps..." The child jumped up. "I will! And I will start with my mother!" As he exited the woods, the child heard a whisper in the wind, "Never be ashamed to care!" Hurrying home, the child was surprised to find his mother sitting weeping in front the broken pieces of the vase. *She must be more upset about the vase than I thought.* he thought as he stood in the doorway. "Mother..." To his shock, his mother jumped up and hugged him tight. "I was so worried about you." She brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Surely, you know that you are more important than a vase." The love in his mother's eyes made the child feel strange. She was more concerned about him? In that moment, all the anger that he had created to keep him from caring melted away. Standing in his mother's arms, he vowed that he wouldn't let anything ever stop him from caring. There was a child. Just an ordinary child. Yet, in one way he was not so ordinary. This child cared. ======= ======= A TALE RETOLD: STONE SOUP ======= by Elspeth Sapphire ======= In another time, in a place far from where we sit, a traveler walked the paths of the earth. He moved from one place to another ... never staying long and never leaving a village, or her people, unchanged. You see, he gathered wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes the traveler would learn from the elderly and sometimes from the babes ... sometimes from the mother worried about her household and sometimes from the warrior fresh from battle. Each had their story and the traveler always quietly listened. With calm suggestions and stories of the gods and other places, the traveler managed to plant seeds of new wisdom. One day, his travels took him through a land almost barren. The trees were twisted and showed little sign of bearing fruit. The land was brown with just a few stalks of grain standing upright. The traveler paused, gazing about him, shaking his head. The sky was clear ... a river ran pure and strong. The feeling here was bleak ... but it also felt like something done by man. A short walk away was a small village. The stone buildings were as poorly kept as the land. What could the problem be? A glance at the sky revealed it was towards midday, and the traveler stepped up to knock at a closed and shuttered door. Perhaps over a meal, he could find out what had happen in this place. "GO AWAY!" The traveler started to hear such harsh tones in answer to a simple knock. "I am a simple traveler and I was wondering if you might have some bread and ale to spare. I can pay for what I eat...." A small viewing window in the door opened and a woman peered out. "Stranger, I have enough for my own family, and none to spare. So begone!" The peephole slammed shut. This was indeed strange, since most people were eager for coin and any news a stranger might bring. After getting the same response to several more knocks, the traveler paused to think about what to do. Finally, he began to smile. Pulling the hood of his cloak forward to shade his face, he started to collect wood from the ground. Building a small fire in the middle of the village square, a pot was filled with water and set to heat. Feeling people watching from the windows around him, the traveler took out two stones. One was the darkest black and the other purest white. With a smile, he dropped them into the pot. Next went two pieces of bone ... bone so old that the edges were dry and splintered. Humming a merry song, he started to stir the mixture ... and waited. Slowly ... very slowly ... people began to leave the buildings and walked towards the stranger and his fire. "Hey! What do you think you are doin'?" one man demanded. An elderly man leaned over the pot, balancing on his stick. "Stones and bones?!" his high voice asked. "You can't make soup out of those! Any fool knows that well!" A small boy settled down at the traveler's side, smiling up at the stranger. "How wonderful! I never heard of stone and bone soup before!" Sparing a smile for the boy, the traveler looked out at the villagers with a very bland look. "Then I must be a fool, for I am making such a soup." He stirred it again, paused for a taste. "In some places that I have traveled, stone soup is quite a tasty dish." Satisfied with the taste, the traveler continued to stir the water. "Tell me.... What happened to this place? The fields are barren and the people unfriendly." In the uproar that followed, it was hard to weed out the facts. The tale of feuds and hoarding and unneighborly behavior had the traveler sighing. He tasted the 'broth' again, and again sighed. "If only I had some potatoes," he stated. "With potatoes, this would be fit for a king!" The boy tugged at the stranger's clothing. "Swen has potatoes. I know he does. He brags about it." All eyes went to the one named Swen. Swen turned a bright red. "Yes, I do, but my family..... " The eyes stayed on him and finally, he shrugged sheepishly. "I will fetch some potatoes...." Cut up, the potatoes were a wonderful addition to the soup, but soon the traveler was looking wistful. "If I only had some onions... Can you just imagine what flavour they would add?" A stout housewife smiled. "I have a few onions ... just a moment!" She hurried away and returned with an armful of onions. "Here ye go!" The onions were quickly added, as were carrots, leeks, dried meat, and milk. Each time the traveler mentioned a food, the boy whispered who had hidden hoards of the food. Finally with a dusting of salt and spices, the traveler declared that the soup was done. "Of course, soup is only part of a meal .... It takes bread and ale to fill it out," the traveler proclaimed. "And of course, good company. Go ... bring your families and bread and drink ... and we will feast together!" The villagers looked around at each other, then shyly smiled. Nodding their agreement, they left to gather together their families. Soon only the young boy was left at the stranger's side. Peering up, the boy asked a question that was bothering him. "It is such a small kettle .... How will it be enough to feed the whole village?" The traveler chuckled, then laughed. "Small one ... trust in the gods and in miracles." Laughter continued to dance in the stranger's one eye. "Everyone will be fed." And so it was. The soup was shared and pronounced excellent. Ale flowed into each cup and there was plenty of bread. When everyone was full and feeling merry, the traveler stood. "I must leave you now, even though you have fine ale. But think on this after I depart.... Together we made a good soup. Just think what else you could gain by being one people! Look around you ... do you wish to go on like this? Or by each of you contributing what you can make this village a happy place to live." There was a silence as his words fell into their hearts. With a final grin for the young boy, the traveler strode away and was soon out of sight. The villagers took his words to heart and the small community became a fine place to live. THE END ======= ======= MEMORIES ======= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ======= I remembered, today... Such bittersweet memories. I took them out of storage Where they were packed In boxes crusted with age; All dusty and crumbled. Carefully, slowly, I smoothed them out And wiped them gently off. And there, lying before me Enshrined in their simple beauty Was all that my life was And all it has become. Both the silent tears And shared laughter. Before me, faded with time, I see the sad, hurt, girl That healing time and loving friends Helped to grow into A loving trusting Woman. There are experiences here Both bitterly painful And, oh, how joyous. Mostly I see a young girl Truly in love for the first time And the tall gentle giant That taught her with tenderness. He taught her to love The most important person in the world -- Herself. I'm now packing up all my memories The books, papers, and photos. But even when they are all locked tightly away My memories remain Deep inside my heart. For they are what i have become And what I will always be. They are me. ======= ======= WHY? ======= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ======= I know what's right... I know what's wrong. I know my duty -- Have sang its song. But here I sit Pen in my hand. Still not quite able To understand. Doing right is good Or so they say. Your duty strengthens More than just play. Then why sit here? Tears like the rain... Why does right hurt Despite the gain? My Lady is dark But Light's my home I do my best -- Try not to roam. I walk the Path She set for me. I have no regrets -- Don't try to flee. Duty's my watchword; Honour's my key. To be followed Unto death of me. Maybe that's when I'll finally find Understanding Of some strange kind. Why fighting wrong -- Defending right -- Brings me sorrow; Tears in the night. ======= ======= GOING HOME ======= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ======= There is a place where my heart lives It calls me no matter where I roam. I find my spirit flying there To return to a place called home. My home isn't a building, Nor a house, lodge, or simple tent. Home is a marble temple strong With love and faith the only rent. A man patiently awaits me there Welcome light brightening his eyes. I always know his comforting No matter where our dwelling lies. So I wing my way towards home, Glad to travel, glad to return. For home is where my life lies; Home is where the love fires burn. ======= ======= IN THE DARK ======= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ======= I am the voice in the night.... no one listens. Bringing words of warning.... no one hears. There is truth to my words..... no one listens. Truth to bring inner peace.... no one hears. Friends bide me to silence.... no one listens. Others just turn away..... no one hears. Why continue on my Path.... no one listens. Why be a sound in the dark.... no one hears. My wise Lady only laughs.... no one listens. It's as it always was.... no one hears. Predestined from time past.... no one listens. The truthsayer in the dark.... no one hears. ======= ======= SILLY LOVE SONG ======= A Poem by Elspeth Sapphire ======= It's just a silly love song Sung to the magic in your soul Just a silly love song That makes my heart whole Can you hear its whisper Echo deep inside your wall? Melting frozen emotions Until the barriers fall. Can you feel the magic You weave around my heart? Silly hopeless love magic That stays when you depart There's just silly foolish me Caught up in shy, fearful you Living this golden moment That too soon will be through. Hey, do you hear that love song? The one that stirs my sleeping soul? =Not= a silly love song That makes two lives whole! Where once two people dwelt Only one now sweetly sings. With words full of passion How our emotions do ring! [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 ===== ===== Pagan Supplies Purchases ===== You can now order from Meta Pot via our affiliate links and get the items you need while helping to fund TC (at no extra cost to you). You can go to this page -- Buy Pagan Supplies -- to start shopping. If you like Meta Pot, please bookmark our Buy Pagan Supplies page and use it to shop from so we get credit for your purchases. * Buy Pagan Supplies http://www.ecauldron.net/esesf.php They have a wide variety of Pagan Supplies as this list of Meta Pot item categories shows: * 3 x 6.5 Inches Pillar Candles * 7 Knob Candles * Altar Cloths * Amulets & Talismans * Anklets * Anna Riva Oils * Athames * Bags and Boxes * Bath Oils and Salts * Beeswax Candles * Blank Books, Book of Shadows * Bottles and Containers * Bowls and Chalices * Bracelets * Bumper Stickers A-G * Bumper Stickers H-M * Bumper Stickers N-Z * Candle Holders * Candle Snuffers * Cat Candles * Charmed Ritual Candles * Cloaks & Cologne * Crystal Balls and Runes * Dripless Candles * Earrings * Essential Oils * Foxcraft Oils * Gemstones * Head & Hair * Herbal Teas * Herbs and Powders * Human Figure Candles * Incense Burners * Incense Cast Iron Cauldrons & Charcoal * Incense Cone * Incense Granular * Incense Holders * Incense Powder * Incense Sticks by Others * Incense Sticks by Us * Indian Oils * Jar Candles * Mixes & Aids * Mortar And Pestle * Necklaces * Oil Diffusers, Oil Rings * Oil Essences * Original Oils * Other Candles * Other Wiccan Jewelry * Patches * Pendants * Pentagrams * Pins * Posters * Rings * Ritual Kits * Ritual Tools * Scented Votive Candles * Smoking Herbs * Smudge Sticks * Statues * Taper Candles * Tea Bags & Strainers * Unscented Votive Candles * Wands, Brooms, Mirrors * Writing Tools * Ziplock Herbal Storage Bags Remember, click on the "Buy Pagan Supplies" in the left hand menu of any The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum web page to visit Meta Pot and The Cauldron will get credit for any purchases you make. ===== ===== 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) 2010 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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