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| Home > News Archive > Cauldron News Old: October 2004 | Search |
| Cauldron News Old: October 2004 |
| Happy Samhain Posted Sunday, October 31, 2004 by Randall |
The hosts and staff of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would like to wish a Happy Samhain to those who are celebrating it tonight -- and a Happy Halloween to everyone else!
| Magickal Gestures? Posted Sunday, October 31, 2004 by Randall |
I've heard someone say something about magical hand gestures. Does anyone know what they are? I have seen them before in pictures or at least I'm pretty sure that's what they were.
What do they represent/mean? Anyone know?
| Astrology Question: Cusps? Posted Saturday, October 30, 2004 by Randall |
I was wondering about the cusp. Which dates to they fall on? Are those who are born on the cusp have qualities attributed to both? If so qualities attributed to one more than the other? Which horoscope do they read? The one they fell more associated with? Do they just look at the one next to their birthday? Both? Wondering because my birthday is November 23, and is that on the cusp? This is something I've been wondering for a while now.
| Dressing Up For Halloween? Posted Saturday, October 30, 2004 by Randall |
Anyhoo... if you guys have links/pictures to post of your Halloween costume, or your kids dress-up, I would love to see them. Just remember to not make them too large to post.
I've posted my costume from work.
| Painting a Scrying Mirror? Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Randall |
I was thinking about buying a scrying mirror and then thought why not find a nice mirror and purchase it, then paint it myself? It'd make it easier to find a scrying mirror with a frame I really like, if I didn't have to buy it pre-painted. Here's the question. Does anyone know where I can find some environmentally friendly, cruelty free paint in black? Thanks.
| Your Book of Shadows: Private or Not? Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Randall |
I know some people never let anyone see inside their Book of Shadows. I was wondering how you all felt about that. Are you comfortable with other people looking in your BOS? This does not necessarily mean touching your BOS.
| CauldronMUX Is Now Open Posted Wednesday, October 27, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's new "text virtual reality" chat area, CauldronMUX, is now open!
To find out some basic information about CauldronMUX (including MU* clients you can download and use instead of the slightly buggy Java client we provide), take a look at this web page:
To log in as a guest (unlike our Java chat room, you need not be a member of our message board to log into CauldronMUX) so you can look around and chat with others there, you need to connect to the MUX. The easiest way to do so is by using your web browser and our Java client.
Or you can have your favorite telnet or MU* client connect to:
mux.ecauldron.net 4201
To log in as a guest (once you have connected), type:
connect guest
You can learn how to request an account (aka "a character") on CauldronMUX here.
Those selected members who were invited to try CauldronMUX during our test and setup period over the last week have really enjoyed it, so we think it will be a very nice addition to The Cauldron.
| When are Magickal Substitutions Okay? Posted Wednesday, October 27, 2004 by Randall |
When is it acceptable to use a substitute for a magic tool or supply during a ritual? By "substitute" I mean use a different item which carries the same symbolic meaning.
| Looking for Advice on Wands Posted Wednesday, October 27, 2004 by Randall |
I'm hoping to get a wand pretty soon and I'm just curious what those of you here use (assuming you use one at all.)
Did you buy your wand or make it yourself? What is your wand made of? Wood (what kind?) or something else? Does it have any carvings or other decoration?
Does your wand have a crystal point? I've seen some that do and some that don't. Do you think it matters?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
| Pagan Family Lineage Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2004 by Randall |
For those of you with families of your own, the parents raising Pagan children, and those of you who have blood relatives that are also Pagan -- do you have a lineage you hope to pass down from generation to generation with hopes your children and their children, etc. will continue it? (Similar to family trees, secret family recipes or special antiques -- but pertaining to Paganism and/or The Craft.)
For most of us, our Pagan beliefs start with ourselves, our own studies. But for those of you who have beliefs that came from of blood relatives, or are currently raising children with your beliefs, do you plan to keep a history passed along in your family?
I don't want all the details, I was just thinking about ancestry and was curious. My family has absolutely nothing to pass down from generation to generation, not even many photographs. I wish we did. I was thinking about how most sacred texts for witchcraft were lost? and how our future generations might benefit from the knowledge we gain today. Will we record our history and our education for our family's future?
Mom, will you pass your Book of Shadows down to your child when you feel appropriate and request that child to do the same?
| Most Effective Way to Meditate? Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2004 by Randall |
What is the most effective way to meditate, in your opinion? Is there a ritual that you use in order to achieve a relaxed state? I only ask because I've been having problems recently with fully relaxing and I think that this is inhibiting my ability to communicate with the deities. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
| Weird Travels - Ghosts of New Mexico (Oct 26, 8pm ET) Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Randall |
Bob (aka BOBTHESANE on our message board), our message board system administrator and the chief wizard of CauldronMUX, will be on an episode of the Travel Channel's Weird Travels on October 26th at 8pm Eastern (and again at 11pm Eastern). This episode features ghosts of New Mexico. Click here for info on the episode from the Travel Channel.
| What Is In A Magical Name? Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Randall |
I was just looking at the various names people on this site go by and wondering why you chose that name and how you came to go by it.
If you look at my name? Novitiate?
It is that of a novice? a beginner or more technically: 1. The state of being a novice; time of initiation or instruction in rudiments. 2. Hence: Time of probation in a religious house before taking the vows.
I chose this name because I am a spiritual student and have not given myself a specific religious label(so to speak). I haven't actually practiced much in the way of magic -- currently I am reconnecting with my old Tarot from my teens and invoke the metaphysical properties of crystals & stone, but that is the extent of it. I feel I am still way to inexperienced to fully jump into magical workings and that I have so very much to learn before I truly classify myself of any denomination.
What does your name mean to you?
| Can Anyone Learn How To Use Magick? Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Randall |
Can anybody tell me that if I wasn't born with "supernatural power" (sorry I don't know any other way to put it), can I learn how to exercise magic by practicing?
| Help Me "Come Out of the Broom Closet" Posted Sunday, October 24, 2004 by Randall |
I have tried to keep my religion a secret for a very long time. I'm so tired of it but I feel I can't express myself even to the people closest to me. I know I'm going to get all embarrassed and my words won't be in the right order. Nothing ever comes out right when I talk with people face to face.
There's just so much stereotypes and expectations and misinformation and people think Pagans are evil. I mentioned the word Wicca once and he scoffed so that just goes to show you what kind of ideas have been ingrained into his brain. I'm really having a hard time with this.
I want to be honest with my boyfriend. How can I tell him? How do I even bring it up? Does anyone have any stories that relate to this that others can learn from?
Help me to "come out of the broom closet."
| Three New First Glance Reviews Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Randall |
The following new "First Glance Reviews" of books are now available:
| Are Some Wiccans Too Politically Correct? Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Randall |
I read that a school canceled Halloween, not because it is offensive to some Christians, but because they are afraid of offending Wiccans with stereotypes of pointy-nosed witches in black hats.
Puleese! This is a stereotype many Wiccans embrace themselves! It is laughable and just another nail in the coffin of any kid having some harmless fun lest some hypersensitive idiot thinks someone will be "offended"! I wonder if any actual Wiccans complained, as I've never known a Witch who did not absolutely love Halloween with all its "stereotypes".
What do you think? Are the traditional symbols of Halloween offensive to Wiccans? If they are, should society be required to stop using them?
| Moving Halloween? Posted Friday, October 22, 2004 by Randall |
Halloween falls on a Sunday this year and that has religious leaders in some communities up in arms. Should cities and towns move trick-or-treating to another night because it falls on Sunday this year of some in their community are not comfortable with it falling on Sunday for religious reasons?
| Starting a Book of Shadows Posted Thursday, October 21, 2004 by Randall |
I'm finally starting my first official Book of Shadows. I understand the basic concept of what goes in it, and I know that it is all up to me and personal. I'm just looking for ideas and such.
What do you put in your Book? How is it set up? (Mine will be a three ring binder, I'm far too much of a perfectionist to try to keep a first draft of anything!!!) When and why did you decide to start it? Is your current book the first and only you have made? (Up until now I've been keeping notes in an old comp book.)
Any ideas, comments, suggestions, references, or examples would be appreciated. I want this to be my own book, and I'm not looking to copy from anyone, I'm just trying to get off the ground a little with mine.
| Coven Training or Solitary Learning? Posted Thursday, October 21, 2004 by Randall |
I have been having an ongoing discussion in one of my classes on the benefits and pitfalls on coven life. I was just wondering what others thought of this topic. I was solitary a long time, and started a coven to have a sense of family and community with others. I know what it is like to feel like an outcast -- to feel all alone in my beliefs and faith.
BTW, I am not trying to imply that all solitaries feel "outcast". I am asking basically if you believe that learning on your own was okay, or do you believe that learning in a coven or with a teacher would have helped you more.
| CauldronMUX Is Opening Soon Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum will soon be opening a social MUX for our members to chat in. CauldronMUX is undergoing final testing now and should be open by the end of October if all goes well. Only members of our message board will be eligible for accounts on CauldronMUX, but unlike our Java chat room, guest accounts will be available for non-members.
When CauldronMUX officially opens, the "CauldronMUX" link in our main menu will lead to a Java client for quick access to our MUX. Our IRC chat room has been removed as it is being replaced by CauldronMUX.
You can read more about CauldronMUX now by following the link below.
| Lucid Dreaming? Posted Tuesday, October 19, 2004 by Randall |
How do you start to Lucid Dream? I know it's a dream in that you are aware that you are dreaming and that you should be able to control it; but how do you start one? Could you Astral Project from a Lucid Dream? If anyone has any tips on Lucid Dreaming, please tell me!
| Ideas for a Pagan Radio Show Posted Tuesday, October 19, 2004 by Randall |
When I'm not poking around The Cauldron, I am a DJ at my college's radio station, WCOT. Luckily, they are very liberal about what they put on the air, so when I had the idea of doing a pagan-themed talk show, they said "go for it!"
So, I wanted to start a discussion to see what people would like to hear in a pagan themed radio talk show. Here's the stats so far, 1 show per week, each show is 2 hours long, one guest and the host (me) would be on air, and finally, music (to be picked by the guest and/or the host) will be played as a break between topics/segments.
What do you think? What would you like to hear???
| Would You Consider Hexing Someone? Posted Monday, October 18, 2004 by Randall |
As I further my studies my fluffy scales are being removed from my eyes. I knew right from the start that not every one followed the Rede (I might be new but not completely stupid) but I had thought them in the minority.
I'm coming across, more and more people that really live their path 100% on a daily basis, I like them they are sensible people with good morals who are worthy of aspiring to. But they have hexed and used blood magick all the things the 101 books tell you are bad. But when I discuss it I can see a rationale according to their beliefs.
Would you consider hexing someone and what would you consider justification.
| How Are You Celebrating Samhain? Posted Sunday, October 17, 2004 by Randall |
Samhain is coming up, and I was just wondering how everyone is going to celebrate. I need some ideas, and I'm just curious.
| Hundreds of Additional Online Book Links Added Posted Sunday, October 17, 2004 by Randall |
We have greatly expanded The Cauldron's list of online book links from around 100 books to over 500 books. The new additions include a number of medieval grimoires, books on folklore, books on various religions, and more. We have also reorganized the list. Books are no longer listed alphabetically by author, instead they are listed by title within categories. This should make it much easier to locate links to books you are interested in.
| Astral Projection Questions Posted Sunday, October 17, 2004 by Randall |
On the Astral Plane, could I use some sort of creative device to stop myself from going back to my body if I just think about it? A 'Thought Blocker'? So, that if I am doing something, I don't think of my body and end up back in my body against my will. Also, can you make yourself look like what ever you want yourself to look like ob the astral plane?
| Using Ouija Boards Safely Posted Saturday, October 16, 2004 by Randall |
They're fascinating. I want to use one out of curiosity, but don't what to do avoid any contact with something 'Evil" if you will. I know to cast a circle of salt, but just throwing some salt on he ground cannot be enough, can it?
I know they're very dangerous, and I know other people my age have misused and dismissed them as meager toys, ha. I'd like to see if I can get to talk to my Grandma. However, I am alarmed that something may claim to be my Grandma.
I would also like to know some personal experiences, thank you.
| Swords/Wands Issues in Tarot Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Randall |
Okay, I'm playing with the tarot again... trying to get a more in depth feel for it. One of my problems has always been the wands/swords/air/fire mess in the minor arcana. I don't like swords as air, but simply transfering the meaning of wands to swords doesn't work either.
Thoughts on it? Suggestions for good websites/books? Anyone want to defend swords=air? I'm not looking for particular decks that switch it around visually. I'm looking more for... hrm... the "philosophy" or metaphysics of changing it around.
| Dealing with Death Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Randall |
One of the main reasons I drifted away from Judaism was its inadequate tools (for me) of explaining death, and most importantly, dealing with death. When my father died, almost 8 years ago, my religion could not provide good answers or enough comfort. Last night a friend's husband got killed in a car accident. I'm preparing now to go to the funeral, and wonder about different religious approaches to death.
With Samhain approaching -- what does your religion have to say about death? Does it explain it? How does it view it? Does it provide tools to dealing with it? And what do you think are good ways to handle the loss of a loved one?
| The Frugal Pagan Posted Thursday, October 14, 2004 by Randall |
One of my least favorite things about the Neo-Pagan community is the emphasis on buying things. I suspect this is in part because so many community events occur around occult shops, there is an implication that one participates in the community by parting with cash. And to be fair, many people go through a stage where they buy a lot of stuff initially and then practice more moderate behavior.
However, I still find it irksome so I thought I'd start this thread where we could all list ways to economize. I'll list a few to get us started.
| Paper or Plastic or Beeswax or... Posted Thursday, October 14, 2004 by Randall |
Do you think it makes a difference if the tools you use during your ritual/worship/etc. are 'organic' or synthetic? Are beeswax candles the only option for you, or is it okay to go with cheaper ones? How about your other tools/etc.?
Do you think the materials used make a difference in how effective your ritual/spell will turn out?
If you do 'cut-corners', when do you think it is appropriate to buy the cheaper stuff and are there occasions when only the best will do?
| Our Message Board Is Back Up Posted Thursday, October 14, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron's message board is back up. Bob reports that half of their T1 line was down for reasons unknown -- even unknown to the tech who showed up to fix it. We apologize for the board problems.
| Message Board Down 14 October Posted Thursday, October 14, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron's message board (ecauldron.net) went down overnight. There is a router problem and our Board Server Admin has filed a trouble ticket. There is as yet no estimated time to fix the system. This problem caused the home page of this site (ecauldron.com) to load extremely slowly as we try to load a list of members in chat from the (currently dead) board server. This feature has been removed from this page so it should load at its usual pace again.
| Do Non-Human Species Have Spirituality? Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2004 by Randall |
Do you think non-human species have spirituality?
I'm talking about Planet Earth non-human species e.g. apes, monkeys or anything else (Klingons, Skeksis and lizard people may not apply - well okay they may do so).
Have you ever seen an animal/fish/bird do anything that would make you think "Hmm I wonder if that was a spiritual moment?"?
| A Simple "Hello?" Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2004 by Randall |
How many of you use "Merry Meet" and "Blessed Be" when greeting someone? I'm curious to know if these greetings are exclusive to one group or another (ex. used only by Asatru practitioners or Wiccans).
I'm guessing two Pagans of differing paths would greet each other with a simple "hi," but i also assume that if when one says "merry Meet," it wouldn't matter if the other said "Blessed Be."
| Morals vs. Ethics Posted Tuesday, October 12, 2004 by Randall |
I thought of this while being forced to take an online training course at work on "Ethics in the workplace". I'm curious how people define the concepts of morals and ethics. Do you see them as different? How does your religion affect your view? How do civil laws influence your ethics and/or morals?
| What Would You Put In A Pagan FAQ? Posted Tuesday, October 12, 2004 by Randall |
If you had to draw up a Frequently Asked Questions document for your religion, what are a few questions you would be sure to include? Alternately, if you have done this, what do you feel the most important questions were?
| Heathenism? Posted Monday, October 11, 2004 by Randall |
I'm considering attending a couple of Talks being held at my newly found local occult bookshop. The speakers are people I've never heard of being fairly new to all this (Jenny Blain & Runic John). The topic is heathenry. Now I always thought, Pagan & Heathen were fairly interchangeable.
So two questions, has anybody heard these two speakers and would they go and see them again?
Also, who counts themselves a Pagan, what path do you follow and vice versa for Heathen please?
| Multiple Method or Multiple Diviner Divination? Posted Monday, October 11, 2004 by Randall |
I spent the late afternoon and evening at a post-initiation party for two people (one is one of my High Priests, the other someone I know reasonably well)
Part of what they did, however, was to do a divination reading for each of them. This was a dual method reading - Tarot (using the Celtic Cross spread) plus picking a rune for each card, with three people mainly contributing thoughts and interpretations, and the rest of us who have some divination experience chiming in periodically.
The combined Tarot+runes was very effective in both cases, incidentally, though I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you've either got good skill in both or the people doing it for you do (and are comfortable working with each other, as was the case here.)
(Let me also just say you have not seen a divination reading until you've seen one with sound effects, snatches of song and quotes, and occaisional bits of rune reading done in Scandesotan, aka: the combination Minnesota/Scandanavian dialect all its own. And hey, it works for runes.)
Anyway, my question is this: anyone else have experience either with dual method, or with multiple people contributing? Did it work? What'd you think? What do you think of the concept in general?
I will say that I think it worked so well because the people doing the primary interpretation all know one another well, and work together well, and that everyone there is friendly and familiar with one another (and most people had substantial levels of general Craft experience) I'm not sure how well it would have worked if those things had been different.
| Altar Travel Kit? Posted Sunday, October 10, 2004 by Randall |
In a few weeks I'm going to the beach and I decided I want to set up an altar in my little cottage while I am there. So I got some items and a nice little box to keep them in. It will be separate from the altar I keep here at home; will probably keep it just for when I am away. Does anyone else do this, if so, please tell me about it!
So far I have an altar cloth, candles, glass bowls (for salt, water, etc). I don't have a God and Goddess yet. I'm thinking I might find some things on the beach to use. Then I will keep them in my box. Any other ideas? Is this a dumb idea? What do you all do?? And how about doing a ritual on the beach? I think it will be pretty deserted. Has anyone done anything like this?
| Mix-and-Match Deities? Posted Saturday, October 09, 2004 by Randall |
Does anyone here that practices a specific path 'mix and match' their deities?
I have a friend that is on a Celtic Recon path, but she has an altar in her home with Kwan Yin on it and she burns incense, etc. When asked why, she says it just feels right to her. She also thinks it is okay with the deities she already worships.
Do you think it is okay to mix pantheons and deities? Does your path restrict it or have any opinion on it at all? Are there deities that you feel would not mingle well? If you vow to one path, would it be seen or construed as a 'betrayal' to honor/worship gods of another path?
| How To Design Good Ritual? Posted Thursday, October 07, 2004 by Randall |
This is an offshoot of the thread about not feeling comfortable with formal ritual. Many people there commented that a ritual would be good, effective and useful only if it's well-designed, well-written led by skillful people.
So... what does it actually mean? What constitutes a good ritual? How to do design a good ritual? How to make it effective?
| Should You Read Your Own Cards? Posted Thursday, October 07, 2004 by Randall |
Just recently a friend of mine saw that I do daily card readings for myself and absolutely blew a fuse at me, to which I was speechless.
I have always read my own cards and admit I can't do it for myself as well as someone else can, but it is the only way I'm going to learn them back to front. Her reasoning was that you are not allowed to know your own fate it must be told to you.
I can't say I've heard of this before. Has anybody else heard of this and can they maybe clarify why you shouldn't really do your own cards?
| How Come I Am So Uncomfortable With Rituals? Posted Wednesday, October 06, 2004 by Randall |
A little background. I have been studying for around 5 years. I felt Wicca wasn't for me and I am more of a kitchenwitch. I lean toward the Celtic Pantheon, though I am an equal opportunity Pagan.
One of the reasions that Wicca turned me off is the rituals. They seem so very uncomfortable to me. I do things on a daily basis that put spirit or magic into my life. Even a simple act of baking bread or spinning wool, I can chant (even in my head) and I feel I am infusing whatever I do. I also do some candle magic and fairly simple spells.
I have no clue why I feel the way I do about formal ritual. We have a very eclectic group of local pagans and they get together on different sabbats and do some rituals but I always either don't particpate or try to show up when they are done.
Is there anyone else out there like me?
| How Successful Is Your Magick? Posted Wednesday, October 06, 2004 by Randall |
There was a recent thread about the last time you practiced magick. It seemed that many people that participated in the discussion use magick fairly infrequently.
There are many different Pagan paths represented by members of the Cauldron. I was curious about what people who practice magick considered their success rate. I realize that the term "success" is open to interpretation. Perhaps, a better way to phrase it would be noticeable effects that you believe to be directly related to your use of magick.
I'm not questioning magicks validity but, I am curious about peoples perceived success rate.
| Review: Greek Gods, Human Lives Posted Tuesday, October 05, 2004 by Randall |
Greek myths are, arguably, the single most important gateway to the study of the classics. More people, I suspect, make their first contact with the study of classical Greece and Rome by reading Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, Vergil, or Ovid, in translation, than through any other means. The myths have fascinated and stimulated for millennia now, but succeeding periods have tended to content themselves with considering only a surface meaning. Perhaps this is because post-classical Western culture, under the influence of Christianity (which too often denies or ridicules conceptions of other gods), has tended to strip the myths of much of their original significance and function, regarding them only as entertainment, fanciful, often absurd, invention devoid of serious instruction. Western culture thus now resembles Lucius, Apuleius' protagonist, who finds every inset tale he hears grand entertainment but fails to see that each story is actually about himself. In the ironic climax of this tendency, Lucius witnesses a reenactment of the Judgment of Paris, only to launch into extravagant condemnation of how easily judges are corrupted, rather than learn from the myth, and realize that he is Paris.
| Review: Burial Customs in Ancient Egypt Posted Tuesday, October 05, 2004 by Randall |
Recently ancient Egypt has once again seized popular imagination, and a fresh slew of books concerning the manner of death and its accompanying rituals have consequently been produced, of which Wolfram Grajetzki's is the most recent. The book is divided into eleven chapters and is organized chronologically so that the evolution of burial customs can be traced from the late Predynastic Period through the early Roman domination of Egypt. Unlike many recent popular works this book has endnotes, as well as additional end matter in the form of a brief chronology, a glossary, and suggested further readings.
| Review: Homosexuality and Civilization Posted Tuesday, October 05, 2004 by Randall |
Crompton's Homosexuality and Civilization explores the history of same-sex relationships and attitudes towards them across a variety of periods and places. Beginning with Judea, Greece and Rome, the so-called founding cultures of western society, it documents evidence for homosexual activity amongst men and (where the evidence permits) women and examines cultural responses to it. The investigations continues into dark-age and medieval Europe, Italy during the Renaissance, Spain, France and England in the 1500-1700s, and finally eighteenth-century Europe. This narrative on 'western civilization' is interrupted by two sojourns eastward, to imperial China and pre-Meiji Japan. With this broad but predominantly western focus, the author embarks on a wide-ranging and detailed investigation which simultaneously constructs a powerful pink polemic. By examining the origins and development of negative assessments of homosexuality, exposing the cruelty of homophobic persecutions, and demonstrating alternative (positive) responses to those which until recently dominated Europe and North America, Crompton challenges the notion of homosexuality as 'unnatural'.
| Message Board May Be Up and Down Today Posted Tuesday, October 05, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's message board server is in New Mexico and New Mexico has had some very severe weather overnight. This is playing havoc with both power and Internet connectivity there. These problems may team up to make our message board unavailable at times today. If you cannot connect to the message board, please try again later. The situation is in the hands of the weather Gods and the various power and cable repair people, there's just not a lot we can do about it.
| October Cauldron and Candle Available Posted Monday, October 04, 2004 by Randall |
The October 2004 issue of our Cauldron and Candle newsletter has been emailed to subscribers (over 1600 of them) and is now available on our web site. This issue features the usual forum news and reviews as well as a number of interesting articles.
If you don't subscribe to our free monthly newsletter, you can read the archive copy of this issue at the link below.
| A Cauldron Book Club? Posted Monday, October 04, 2004 by Randall |
I have always wanted to be in a book club. I wonder if we could have one here.
This is my idea of how it could work. Interested members would submit there top three book choices, with summaries, After a cut off date we would vote on the book we wanted to read. Then people would read said book and post into discussion thread.
So what does everyone think about this idea?
| The Ancient Arabic Sisterhood of the Sphynx? Posted Monday, October 04, 2004 by Randall |
In a used book store today I found a book, or more accurately a grimoire/ guidebook to a religious group called "The Ancient Arabic Sisterhood of the Sphynx."
I had to put it on hold because it's $25 and I'm broke :( It's tiny by book standards, and the type is very small as well to compensate most likely. I was able to read a good portion of it on my lunch break before having to say goodbye to it till Tuesday, and from what I gleaned it was/i? an initiatory society of Arabic/loosely Christian women who had an order that shared some parallels with Freemasonry.
An interesting difference was the use of a gavel on a hard surface in place of flagellation. They worked within a structure, had sigils, used a circle, had a *most honorable* seat and a concrete leadership hierarchy. Most interestingly is the typed sheet in the front of the book, Each of the degrees, their passwords, their distress gestures, their secondary gestures, and hand grips.
Amazing. Thats all I can say, simply amazing. The book looks to be from about the 40's, I didn't check the date because I was so interested in the rest of it. The cover is blue canvas with what may have once been gold stamping. The typed sheet is like parchment, its been folded and between other books for so long, but it is in good condition and has the name and numbers of a group in Chicago from some time ago.
Anybody ever heard of this group?
| How Did You Know You Were Pagan? Posted Sunday, October 03, 2004 by Randall |
My question to all of you is how did you come to know Paganism was the right spiritual path for you? Did the prospect of witchcraft seem scary to some of you at first? Is this something that is inherited or learned over a period of time? How many different forms of Paganism are there and how does one know which one (if any) are right for them? Sorrry if these questions sound naive but I'm just trying to find my way.
| New Pagan Books for October Posted Saturday, October 02, 2004 by Randall |
I've looked at the major Pagan publishers and come up with the following list of books that are supposed to be out for October. Of course, I probably have missed some.
· 1-2-3 Tarot
· 7 Days of Magic
· Becoming Psychic
· Celebrating The Seasons Of Life
· Craft of the Wild Witch
· Learning Ritual Magic
· Magick of Reiki
· The Magick Toolbox
· Mapping Your Family Relationships
· Medieval Enchantment: The Nigel Jackson Tarot
· Michael
· Occult Investigator
· Pagan Pride
· Sacred Home
· Rites of Pleasure
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| Beltane Foods and Recipes Wanted Posted Friday, October 01, 2004 by Randall |
I need so advice about dishes for the Sabbats, at the moment only for Beltane seeing as that is the next one up for me (I switch the sabbats around because the seasons are switched here). I need foods that are going to be kid friendly because I was wanting to start having "special" dinners for all the sabbats.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.