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| Home > News Archive > Cauldron News Old: December 2004 | Search |
| Cauldron News Old: December 2004 |
| Living A Healthy Life Posted Thursday, December 30, 2004 by Randall |
I've been wondering, how important is living a healthy life important to you all? Do you try to eat healthy, act healthy, do healthy stuff? Do you feel healthy? Are you healthy? Does your religion have anything to say about health? And what is "healthy" exactly in your opinion?
My religion makes me rather aware of my body. Maybe because I'm working with body-oriented goddesses (Anath with her physical strength, or Aphrodite with her physical beauty).
I'm trying to do the basics: eat properly, drink a lot of water, get fresh air and sunlight, get sufficient sleep, exercise regularly, and do everything else in moderation. Also, I'm particularly turned off by "unhealthy behavior" or unhealthy attitudes. Although maybe, behavioral health may be in the eyes of the beholder.
| How Do You Find Other Pagans In Your Community? Posted Thursday, December 30, 2004 by Randall |
For those that follow a solitary path especially or anyone else: Do you ever get wishful for someone to talk "religion" with (besides online people)?
I have been following a solitary path for 8 years and sometimes wish I could talk to people about it but there is only one person of a pagan path that I know and he is gone a lot. I am a high school student but am down to earth and not "fluff bunnyish". Sometimes I think I know an adult who is pagan but I am afraid to talk to them because teenagers are so stereotyped to one "kind of pagan."
How do you find people in your community? I have checked Witchvox and the only group is an adult coven that doesn't seem to have met in a while. I am solitary so I wouldn't want to join a coven, but wouldn't mind doing some group rituals or having a discussion group.
| Gods' Responsibility Posted Wednesday, December 29, 2004 by Randall |
Following the tsunami disaster in South East Asia, I was asked several questions by non-Pagan friends, and wasn't sure how to reply. They basically wanted to know what is the polytheistic view regarding divine responsibility for the human destiny in general, and natural disasters in particular.
In other words, are gods responsible for earthquakes, floods, tsunami waves, etc.? If they are, why do they inflict so much suffering on humans? If they aren't, why pray to them or worship them? What "good" are they as gods?
| Making Incense? Posted Wednesday, December 29, 2004 by Randall |
I want to start mixing my own incense, after a friend made me a mix of frankincense and myrrh on Yule. I've never done the granular incense before, and I've been looking online to find some to mix my own. I'm finding tons of places that sell the resins for like, $10 a lb. (for frankincense, myrrh, and copal, separately. Dragons blood is quite a bit more.) Is that normal? I had no idea it was so cheap! Am I going to be getting poor quality for these prices? And does anyone know of any online stores that have a good selection, good quality, and good prices? I don't have any real life stores nearby, so online is my only hope.
Also, is there any additives that I need to make it burn, or are the ground resins enough? I have a mortar and pestle to grind them in.
| Defining Religious Persecution? Posted Monday, December 27, 2004 by Randall |
I know we've all seen stories or met people in the US who were convinced they were religiously persecuted. How do you define religious persecution? Have you met someone who's situation fit that definition? How or did they resolve it?
| Review: The Outer Temple of Witchcraft Posted Monday, December 27, 2004 by Randall |
Christopher Penczak is one of those rarities in the field of Pagan/Wiccan authors. Like many authors, he tells the reader to experiment to find what works for the individual. Unlike many authors, however, he admits to many initial doubts when he began his studies. Too many authors say something like "I knew right away.", and even though I can empathize with that position, it is not the most common response. It is far more common to question the reality of what is experienced; to dismiss successful spellwork as coincidence; to see unsuccessful rituals as "proof" that magick isn't real.
| Review: Self-Initiation for the Solitary Witch Posted Monday, December 27, 2004 by Randall |
Wicca as a system of five degrees? Why not? It seems to be the growing trend nowadays. The degree system, even less then any other aspect of Wicca is not set in stone. I have worked in systems using one, three and five degrees each, myself. If one correlates the degrees to the elements within a five degree system, my only disagreement with the concept of this particular layout is with the starting point. I feel, personally, that the first degree should be Earth - for the grounding and stability it brings, not Air. Still, if the system works, and only time will tell about that, what I feel isn't important.
| Review: Green Spirituality Posted Monday, December 27, 2004 by Randall |
Ms. Romani starts this book with an idea which is seldom expressed in today's world - religion and spirituality are not necessarily synonyms. That assumption underlies the foundation of this book. The desire to connect with divinity often inspires us to look to mythology, the deep recesses of the earth and the furthest reaches of the vastness of space. She suggests that we look a bit closer to home -- to the other inhabitants of this world through which we travel daily. Let us look to all the creatures that move upon the face of this planet, as well as to the forces which shape the planet. And let us not forget the planet itself -- the rocks and waters, the winds and fires. All of these have much to teach us, if only we will open our minds to hear what is being offered.
| Review: Energy Secrets of Glastonbury Tor Posted Monday, December 27, 2004 by Randall |
Are you looking for accounts of King Arthur, fairy folk, the origins of British Christianity? You'll have precious little luck in this book. Are you looking to understand one of the most prominent points of sacred energy in the civilized world? Okay, you've found gold here. Whether or not you will agree with everything the author has to say, you will find your mind and thought processes being stimulated and challenged.
| What Do You Put In and Get Out of Religion? Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Pretty obviously we all get something out of our religion and we all put something into our religion. What is it? Is it what we expect?
| Should I Join a Coven? Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
I have been a solitary for quite some time now, and have learned a lot by reading and talking with you people online. However, I have always been one of those people who learns better when something is shown to me. Even if it is shown to me one way so I get a general idea and then I change it to fit my own standards.
Do you think it would be wise of me to join a coven or a group circle to learn how they do things in the more traditional fashions? Then I can twist my own rituals to be more traditional yet still fit my beliefs.
What, do you think, are the pros/cons of group ritual and honor vs. being a solitary?
| Review: The Witch's Shield Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
While I do not share all his attitudes regarding shielding and healing (we have had very different training and life experiences), I am familiar with his sources and know that they are effective. The single most important part of this kind of working is confidence in yourself and the techniques you use. Christopher works hard to instill that confidence. The techniques he teaches are relatively simple, and highly effective. If you want to learn simple, effective methods of shielding yourself, this is an excellent book to own.
| Review: Medicine of the Cherokee Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Truth to tell, I know very little about Native American religious beliefs. That is one of the reasons I requested this book (and the next one I will be reviewing). The authors are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee from North Carolina, and thus have the advantage of speaking from traditional teachings and knowledge, even though they have developed their own techniques for passing that knowledge along to those who do not share the same background and upbringing.
| Review: Meditations with the Cherokee Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
The author is a member of the Eastern band of Cherokee from North Carolina. He is a public health director in that state, and has worked for the U.S. Public Health Service, Indian Health Services. He has trained as a practitioner of Cherokee Medicine. All of this gives him a unique perspective, as well as a highly individualized approach to sharing that knowledge with others. He obtained permission from various elders to share this information with non-Native Americans, so to fail to do so would be the height of rudeness.
| Review: 2005 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Like all the books in this particular series of almanacs the emphasis here is on entertainment, as well as magical knowledge. The spells are light in tone as a means of encouraging the reader to make magick a part of daily life. Looking for deep, significant spells and magical facts? Sorry, not in this book. Looking for quick, easy, folk magick remedies, basic recipes, and general occult facts? This is the book for you.
| Review: 2005 Herbal Almanac Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Llewellyn produces a wide range of Almanacs every year. Although many of them are targeted to particular segments of the Pagan population (astrologers, Witches, etc) all of them share some characteristics. They all contain at least basic astrological data, although this particular almanac has the least of all, confined to the last 20 pages. The remaining 300 or so pages are devoted to articles covering a wide range of herbal topics, from Japanese incense to the composition of Medieval monastery gardens.
| Review: 2005 Witches' Calendar Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Once again the Witches' Calendar is a welcome addition to the household. The old standbys are there - Moon phases, astronomical/astrological data and colors for each day. Memorable birthdays (and death days) significant firsts, and other memorable events in Pagan history (Z. Budapest's arrest for fortunetelling on February 10, 1975 for example) also find a place on the monthly pages.
| Review: 2005 Witches' Datebook Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
This year's issue of the Datebook contains everything you have come to expect -- a list of Full Moons, eclipses, Planetary Retrogrades, and Moon Void-of-Course Data and a short personal phone book, as well as the usual astronomical/astrological data for each day. The inclusion of recipes, illustrations, stories and such on the odd-numbered pages adds some spice to your reading.
| Review: 2005 Magical Almanac Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 by Randall |
Thirty-eight authors contributed seventy-nine articles to this volume. Some of the authors are becoming familiar names, others are newcomers. The almanac section occupies the center of the book and contains all the information you would expect. Once again the authors have striven for brevity without sacrificing information.
| I Want My Faith Back Posted Thursday, December 23, 2004 by Randall |
There is a very interesting opinion piece in the Arkansas Times written by a liberal Christian who is fed up with the Religious Right hijacking his religion.
I want my faith back.
I didn't come by it easily. I'm a card-carrying liberal, skeptical by nature, with an almost knee-jerk eye-roll reaction to anyone who's completely comfortable discussing their religious convictions in mixed company. I spent pretty much the entire decade of my 20s in an uncomfortable agnosticism because I just couldn't make up my damn mind.
So now that I have -- now that words like "sinful" spring to mind when I hear about the $40 million budget for George W. Bush's inaugural soirees, instead of just "disgusting" -- I'm starting to take the right wing's hijacking of my religion very, very personally.
| Magazine Article on Greek Recons in Greece Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
The January/February 2005 issue of Archeology has, on pages 63-79, an article by journalist Matthew Brunwasser on native Greeks working to revive the pagan religion of ancient Greece. It is not a wholly positive article, but it seems to me to be written with a reasonable degree of objectivity, and without any preconceptions as to the material.
| Help Needed to Avoid Connection Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
I am happy in a relationship with a non-pagan, yet he accepts and is interested in 'you lot' as he calls us.
The problem I face is that there is another, he too is not pagan as such but has the strongest will I have ever met and although it is not in my nature to cast I need a protection spell against this man, he is a friend yet on solstice eve we shared a moment, nothing more but there was a meeting of minds and I need to cast against this. In order to stop anything that might start, he is a friend of my partner and myself so I cannot just cut any ties.
If you can think of a protection spell that will aid me I would be most grateful.
| Review: The Sea Priestess Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
Dion Fortune wrote in a time when things were very different; a time between wars; a time when esoteric matters were held closely and not discussed in public. The proliferation of texts on magical matters could not have been imagined. Secret societies were just that - secret. Their activities were not even hinted at beyond the membership.
The nonfiction that she wrote was, to describe it politely, barely informative. Things were hinted at, but no examples of actual works were given, it wasn't considered proper to put that information before the public. Her fiction works contained the examples of practical working, safely "hidden" in the guise of a novel. Her book The Mystical Qabalah dovetails nicely with the information in this book. It provides the theory, while The Sea Priestess provides rituals to apply that theoretical information.
| Review: The Meaning of Witchcraft Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
If you have been trained in a lineaged tradition of Witchcraft, you have probably read this book. If you joined the Craft more than 10 years ago, you have probably read this book. If you don't fall into either of the above categories, or if you simply haven't gotten around to reading this book, it is time to pick up this reprint by Weiser. This was only the second public statement of Witch beliefs in the modern English-speaking world.
Over the years I have heard a lot of people dispute Gardner's claims (and claims about Gardner); mostly from people I strongly suspect have never taken the time to actually read this book. While we can never know for sure how much Gardner inherited from his initiators and how much he cobbled together on his won, at least in this book we have his statements first hand.
| Review: Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
I read Ashleen's first book (Raising Witches) years ago, and was impressed by her common-sense approach to conveying information, so I was looking forward to seeing this first half of her work on the Sabbats (the second half, Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon is due out this fall). By dividing the year into two parts, as did our ancient Celtic ancestors, Ashleen accomplishes several different things: she gives herself more space to discuss each Sabbat; she restricts the space she can devote to each Sabbat; she reinforces the ancient perception of the division of the year into Winter and Summer; and she can make it easier to compare rituals, symbolism, and activities among the Sabbats.
| Review: If You Want to Be a Witch Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by Randall |
If you are a fan of Edain McCoy, I am afraid we will have to agree to disagree. Works of her which I have read previously have not particularly impressed me. If you feel that everything she writes is worthless, on the other hand, we will also have to agree to disagree. Her scholarship may be brought into question (and has been by others more qualified in the field), but anyone who has been involved in the Wiccan/Witch/Pagan community for 20+ years has experiences and personal insights to share which can benefit the larger community.
| Wanted: Meditation Hints Posted Monday, December 20, 2004 by Randall |
I am new to the board and to paganism in general. I have started to work on meditation and concentration, and what I am wondering is this. What kinds of things work for you all? When do find the best time is for you? Is is better to do it at the same time everyday, in the same place, or would experimenting with those things help. I am not much of a rigid person, so to speak, I have a hard time with things having to much repetition, seems like brainwashing to me, but if it helps to do it that way for a set amount of time, I could do that.
I try some exercises that i have read in some books. I feel like I can start grounding pretty good, I just feel like I am missing something in order to maintain focus and concentration. I am so new to this, and I wonder if it just takes time. or if there are little things that can help? I would like to learn how to quiet my mind when I need to. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
| Virtual Holiday Dinner Posted Monday, December 20, 2004 by Randall |
Being interested in all things food, I thought it might be neat to have a virtual potluck meal for the holidays. I'm targeting Christmas, but you can certainly say Yule here if you like. Basically, what dish/food would you bring to the table for a big meal.
Post what you'd bring and give us the recipe (and if there's a tradition behind it, that'd be really nice to post, too) and we'll try to get them included on the website. That won't happen until after the holidays, but we'll definitely try to get it done.
| Review: Wiccan Rituals and Blessings Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
This CD, which I ordered from One Spirit Book Club, consists of 11 separate tracks, ranging from an introduction and an explanation of Earth-based spirituality through various blessings, and ending with a final blessing.
| Review: Alchemy at Work Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
The title of this book is a bit of a misnomer, since the subject is actually about using innate psychic abilities in the workplace, and not about alchemy per se. Of course, if you perceive alchemy as being about personal transformation, it is a valid allusion, but the average reader would not be expected to be aware of that. If you are interested in turning lead into gold in a literal sense, I'm afraid you will be disappointed with this current work. If, on the other hand you want to change your leaden existence into a shining, more beautiful and fulfilling one, you might well benefit from reading this book.
| Review: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
This is one of the most comprehensive fairy encyclopedias I have ever seen, with nearly 3,000 entries from around the world. There are fairies here from every inhabited continent and the islands of the world, without concentrating overly on Europe. There are entries ranging from Abapansi (a fairy from southern Africa) to Zwezda (a Slavonic mother goddess). There are more than 100 illustrations throughout the book (one-third of them in color), many of them full page.
| Review: The World's Most Haunted Places Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
The subtitle of this book put me off a bit. Of the 29 stories covered in this book, none of them are exactly unknown to readers of ghost stories - in fact several of them are very well-known. So, unless the author is saying that he found information absolutely unknown to anyone else, and restricted access to it on his website "secret files" seemed a bit much.
| Review: Sacred Sexuality in Ancient Egypt Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
In all honesty, I had not planned to review this book until I was challenged by a reader of my reviews to tackle it. Egyptology is not one of my strong suits, and I'm not particularly interested in reading about sexuality, which made this book a challenge for me. The author, Ruth Schumann Antelme, is an Egyptologist, a former professor at the Ecole de Louvre, and an emeritus researcher of the CNRS in France (National Center for Scientific Research), and the illustrator, Stephane Rossini, has illustrated other books on the subject of Egyptology. Some of the illustrations have been "restored", based on other samples.
| Review: Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
By dividing the year into two parts, as did our ancient Celtic ancestors, she accomplishes several different things: giving herself space to discuss each Sabbat and she can make it easier to compare rituals, symbolism, and activities among the Sabbats. Doing it this way also makes it more convenient for the reader - at nearly 200 pages each book is a convenient size.
| Review: The Complete Guide to Psychic Development Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
Ms. Eason makes the statement in her introduction (page 7): "Blindly following the rules of others as I used to do, no matter how expert those established rituals may seem, stifles personal creativity.", and "Leave the pages of this and any other book as soon as possible and follow your natural instincts." This is the sort of advice which cannot be given too often, especially in such highly personalized pursuits as psychic development.
| Review: The Complete Guide to Divination Posted Sunday, December 19, 2004 by Randall |
I'm not sure about "Complete" since there are only about ten forms of divination listed in the Table of Contents. The "Further Reading" list also seems a bit thin, with only an average of two books per topic. The author's style of writing (each chapter is self-contained) is one which makes her books very easy to read. You can pick and choose what you want to read, and in which order. Especially with a topic like divination, this is quite important. You can read about a particular form of divination, put the book down for a week or two to experiment, and then do the same with another form. This makes for a very comfortable feeling.
| Trying Too Hard on Astral Projection? Posted Saturday, December 18, 2004 by Randall |
I could use some help learning how to project, I have had the feeling for a while now that much is to be gained from breaking this veil, Sort of like there is messages in my inbox and I can't get my email client to work. I brought this up to a peer of mine that I was having trouble astrally projecting and he was astonished that I had not made any trips to the astral, his advice for me was I was simply trying to hard.
I have read many different methods, I always feel the most energy the most clarity of sense etc. when using various magickal plants. Is it possible that I am simply more shaman than anything else and this is my path? I feel I am polytheistic leaning between Native American shamanism and thelemic magick, pieces of my past. Anyway Please help me on my journey to grow up, if you will.
| Review: Witchcraft and the Mystery Tradition Posted Saturday, December 18, 2004 by Randall |
Whatever your feelings about Raven Grimassi's writing on Italian Witchcraft, there is no doubt that he is a prolific author on the subjects of Witchcraft and Wicca in general. He has written numerous books and has been involved in the public aspects of the Craft for many years.
Before I had even started to read this book I noticed an editing glitch. The title on the cover does not match the copyright notice and inner title (Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition on the cover vs. Witchcraft and the Mystery Tradition on the inside). Obviously, this is a problem with the publisher and is not Raven's fault.
| Review: Taliesin Posted Saturday, December 18, 2004 by Randall |
This is a second edition, and benefits from the increased research and scholarship which a decade has provided. It is not the final word on the subject of Taliesin, nor is it the most scholarly. It is a welcome addition to the field in that it provides an easily understandable overview of a subject which is too little spoken about by any but those who have proclaimed themselves experts. The Matthews accomplishments in this field speak for themselves.
| Review: The Secret Doctrine of the Kabbalah Posted Saturday, December 18, 2004 by Randall |
The author is a Ph.D. and professor of English which, at first blush, doesn't give any indication of a background conducive to Kabalistic studies. She has, however, spent more than two decades re-envisioning the Kabbalah. This amount of time spent in experiencing the Kabbalah provides a more than adequate background for this work.
| Review: Vibrational Medicine Posted Saturday, December 18, 2004 by Randall |
Dr. Gerber has spent a quarter of a century researching alternative methods of diagnosis and healing. He received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, Michigan) and continues his practice of internal medicine in the same area. This book is a compilation of various alternative approaches in medicine. It covers everything from high-tech (lasers and holograms) to low-tech (herbal medicine and hydrotherapy). It includes psychic healing and crystal therapy. All of this, and more, is covered in thirteen chapters.
| How Do You Raise Energy? Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Randall |
How do you all raise energy? I really want to try some new techniques.
| Review: Pocket Guide to the Tarot Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Randall |
Like all of the books in the "Pocket Guide" series put out by Crossing Press this book gives an extremely brief overview of the subject with the intent of familiarizing the reader with the basics. It is not an in-depth exploration of the Tarot, nor is it intended to be. The author clearly explains his interpretation of each of the cards in the well-known Waite-Rider tarot deck, He goes through each card, particularly the major Arcana, and explains the meanings of much of the symbolism contained therein.
| Review: Pocket Guide to Crystals and Gemstones Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Randall |
The first chapter gives background on the similarities and differences between crystals and gemstones. It is concise and goes into an appropriate amount of detail to cover the topic without overwhelming the reader with too much detail. The following chapters cover how to choose crystals and gemstones, how to care for them, traditional and contemporary uses, and rituals and ceremonies associated with them.
| Review: Pocket Guide to Celtic Spirituality Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Randall |
Ms. Knight has written books on a variety of topics ranging from biographies of modern-day Witches to Celtic Druidism and Faery Magick; as such she brings wide experience to the topic of Celtic Spirituality. She is a practicing member of the Celtic Gwddonic Druid Tradition and a Third Degree Craftmaster. This book contains an overview of Celtic folklore and mythology, the spiritual teachings of the Celtic peoples; it explains the yearly observances, the rituals and ceremonies and divination tools and practices.
| Review: Ghosts, Spirits & Hauntings Posted Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Randall |
What this book is not: It is not a collection of ghost stories to amuse yourself with, although there are quite a few stories in here. It is not a manual to enable you to become a "ghost hunter". What this book is: It is a source of information on the various forms of sprit manifestations and how to distinguish between them.
| Review: Which Witch is Which? Posted Wednesday, December 15, 2004 by Randall |
I had begun research for such a book many, many years ago. It was nice to see someone beat me to the punch. The 57 traditions listed in this book do not represent the totality of the neo-Pagan experience. No single book could do it justice. There are a few (about 5) traditions I was completely unaware of, and some I am aware of that didn't make the cut, for whatever reason.
| Review: Thorsons Way of Wicca Posted Wednesday, December 15, 2004 by Randall |
This book is one in a series of books published by Thorsons with the intent of providing an overview of a particular topic. This book, by an acknowledged authority in the field of Wicca is short enough not to be tedious; long enough not to be superficial; and thorough enough to cover all the essentials.
| Review: Real Witches' Year Posted Wednesday, December 15, 2004 by Randall |
If you are used to standard date books (such as those produced by Llewellyn and others), you are in for a surprise. Each day has a page devoted to it. The only entries which are date-sensitive are the Sabbats. Other than those few dates the entries are useable whenever you wish to use them. There are entries on stones, trees, animals, and a myriad of other topics.
| Review: The Real Witches' Coven Posted Wednesday, December 15, 2004 by Randall |
This is one of the best books I have read lately with the intention of helping to train those who are responsible for training the new comers. The author lays out the positive and negative experiences you might expect to encounter during your life in a Coven. She explains what should be expected at each level of experience; what a High Priestess should do to keep her Coven running smoothly; how to deal with problems (and problem Covenors) effectively and sensitively; and in the final chapter sets out a series of guidelines on how to be a good Covenor.
| Faces of the Goddess Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
I need some advice from someone a little more experienced. I have been practicing for a little over two years now, and last year I would have told you that Brighid was the face of the Goddess I related to the most. Recently things have come to pass that make me believe that I am being steered in a different direction, towards a much different path. The Goddess that has snared my attention is Morrighan, quite a bit different from the motherly Brighid. Does anyone have any advice? I wonder if it is okay to 'change' Goddesses?
| Wicca Not As Friendly As It Was? Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
I'm new here. Been interested in Wicca ever since I read "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler. But all of a sudden, Wicca doesn't seem as friendly as it once did. Maybe I just haven't noticed, but as of lately I'm seeing more and more bashing of Wiccans by other Wiccans.
Silver Ravenwolf-bashing in a particular seems to be in fashion. I don't get it. I thought Wicca was supposed to be more tolerant of various beliefs than certain other religions. But there seems to certain people claiming that Wiccan beliefs are somewhere, somehow carved in stone.
How can that be? How can any one person claim to know the truth about Wiccan history/rituals? And correct me if I'm wrong, but at least to some degree, do not Wiccans make things up as they go along? (I don't think that's a bad thing. I think the versatility of Wicca and of all Pagan beliefs are their greatest strengths) For the record, I do think Wicca is awesome.
| Review: Necronomicon Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
Who among us in the magickal community has not heard of, and laughed about, this book over the years? It is a book which has never existed, although some paid extravagant prices for leather-bound copies of at least one of the "translations" offered for sale over the past few decades. The original idea for this book blossomed in the mind of H. P. Lovecraft. He quoted it as a source in some of his stories. Since the mentions first appeared in print, people have striven to locate copies of it, even though Lovecraft himself claimed it was an invented work.
| Review: The Magickal Life Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
I wasn't terribly impressed by the "secrets" Ms. Crowley revealed in this book, but I wasn't expecting major revelations. The advice she gives; the rituals she outlines; and the magical information she provides are valuable in their own right, but are not earth-shaking. When she gets to the seasonal observances she makes the same mistake so many other authors do. She assumes, evidently, that all of her readers will be in the Northern Hemisphere.
| Review: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
According to the Foreword, this book is a first, and I can believe it. There have been many books on the subject of Irish Witchcraft, and many books about Irish myths. What makes this book unique in that the author is not only native-born Irish, but she has spent her entire life living in Ireland. I am sure that Ms. O'Brien will find many objectors to her statements about Wicca/Witchcraft/Paganism and the similarities and differences among them. I don't agree with all of them, personally, but I must respect her right to state her opinions. She is careful to make it clear that what she is presenting is not necessarily facts set in stone, but interpretations of facts and personal opinions.
| Review: Essential Wicca Posted Tuesday, December 14, 2004 by Randall |
This is a wonderfully practical book. It contains plenty of sample rituals, and clearly explains not only the steps in those rituals, but the reason for those steps. It is broken into three broad divisions: 1) Wiccan Basic, 2) Everything You Need to Know to be a Wiccan, and 3) Wicca A to Z.
| The Cauldron Turns Seven Today! Posted Monday, December 13, 2004 by Randall |
The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum first opened its doors as a member forum on Delphi on December 13, 1997 -- back when Delphi was not even officially taking web-only forums. That was seven years ago today. We've grown a bit since then. The message board has expanded (and moved around a few times), we have this large web site, a huge monthly newsletter with over 1600 subscribers, and we've recently added a MUX.
| Colors For Pentagrams? Posted Sunday, December 12, 2004 by Randall |
What are the five colors that pentagram sides are colored? The only time I saw one was in Salem 4 years ago. I think it was red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple -- but I'm not sure. Anyone know? Also what does each side signify, if anything?
| Voudoo Dolls Posted Sunday, December 12, 2004 by Randall |
Does anyone out there practice Voudon/Voodoo? I was wondering if there is a way to make a voodoo doll at home with out having to buy it, and if anyone has any spells for the voodoo doll?
| Review: Witching Culture Posted Saturday, December 11, 2004 by Randall |
Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America is written by a Gardnerian and Reclaiming practitioner who also happens to be a skillful folklorist and anthropologist, Magliocco is presently an associate professor at California State University, Northridge. Witching Culture is one of the best ethnographies that I've read in a long time. Magliocco manages to accentuate the participation in her participant-observations, but sustain a vibrant and keen postmodern theoretical analysis at the same time. She takes the reader there to a living experience of an alternative culture.
| Review: Sabbat Entertaining Posted Saturday, December 11, 2004 by Randall |
This book is not your traditional, everyday Sabbat book. It is full of fresh new ideas on how to celebrate without confining them to rituals and the very well known foods, oils, and crafts that many other authors mention over and over again. It is innovative and personal. And meant to be read by someone who already knows and appreciates the Sabbats.
| Shamanism and Purification Rituals Posted Friday, December 10, 2004 by Randall |
I've just re-started my study into shamanism. Unfortunately, most of the books that I have about shamanism don't include the purification rituals that I would need.
So my question is, does anyone know of any Native American, Celtic, Greek or Amazonian purification rituals that would apply? (note: those that are specifically geared towards shamanism or shapeshifting would be very much appreciated)
| Review: A History of Pagan Europe Posted Thursday, December 09, 2004 by Randall |
A History of Pagan Europe is a solidly written and entertaining reference. It will appeal to those with an academic background, as it is well-researched and appropriately footnoted. The bibliography provides ranks of further reading for those who interested in primary sources. Despite the scholarly polish, its 262 pages are energetically written and engaging. Included are 63 black-and-white plates of maps, etchings, artist renderings, and photographs. At first glance this relatively short book, which covers the entire history of Pagan Europe, might seem too generalized to provide insight into any one tradition. I found the book very concise, however, offsetting quantity with quality.
| What If Practicing Your Religion Was Illegal? Posted Thursday, December 09, 2004 by Randall |
What if your country passed some anti-religious laws. Say it was illegal to worship as you wish. Say you could risk prison if they found out you practice your religion. Say there even was a death penalty for certain types of worship. How far would you go for your religion? What would you do? Would you protest? Would you break the law? Would you go underground and practice secretly? Would you die for your faith?
(I realize most if not all of us here at The Cauldron: a Pagan Forum live in democratic countries where this is probably not a real possibility. In other parts of the world, however, it happens every day, and I think the subject's interesting enough to discuss anyway).
| What Is Your Favorite Myth? Posted Thursday, December 09, 2004 by Randall |
What is your favorite myth or legend? Why is it your favorite?
| Outward appearances... Posted Wednesday, December 08, 2004 by Randall |
Do you wear anything that proclaims your "Pagan identity"? A Large pentacle, etc ? (Or do you feel it is totally unnecessary?)
If you do, do you get questions etc from folks? How do you handle that?
I sometimes wear goddess type jewelry...I think it is pretty and I like it. I also have a couple of pentagram earring sets, and a necklace...wear them rarely. I almost never get questioned (Asheville is a pretty Pagan town) but when I do I am pretty straight-forward and matter-of-fact about it.
So, do you proclaim with your outward appearance your spiritual path?
| How Involved Are You With Pagans Offline? Posted Wednesday, December 08, 2004 by Randall |
How involved are you with other Pagans offline? Are you involved in your local Pagan community? Is there even a local Pagan community in your area?
| What Do You Think About Nature? Posted Tuesday, December 07, 2004 by Randall |
Pagans are said to be close to nature, so what do you think about nature? Is it "It's out there somewhere, and that's where it can stay" or "I'm so far out in nature I'm just projecting myself here via the astral!" or somewhere in between?
| Spiritual Crafting? Posted Tuesday, December 07, 2004 by Randall |
This has been kicking in my head for awhile, but I'm interested in starting a local ecumenical Pagan crafting circle. I've been trying to get a local Stitch 'n Bitch started, but I'd like to bring more of a spiritual dimension to what I do, because that's how I see what I do.
I envision having things pretty low-key and secular, not a formal ritual space.
But I'd set up an altar at the beginning of the meeting and encourage people to bring items to put on it for the duration of the meeting. I think I'd also ask everyone present to introduce themselves and say something about what they're working on/hope to learn that night and say a few words to the Gods/wights.
Does this sound like something that makes sense and would appeal to people? I'm trying to work out any potential bugs before actually scouting for space.
| Good Sources vs Bad Sources Posted Monday, December 06, 2004 by Randall |
How do you determine what is a good source of information? What do you look for and what are the steps. Just as importantly, how do you determine what is a bad source? And, do publications that quote bad sources inherently become a bad source themselves?
What do you do when you're faced with a source that's got both good and bad information in it?
| Norse Runes Posted Monday, December 06, 2004 by Randall |
Are the Norse runes a readable language or are the runes just magical symbols? I've seen it as a font but I doubt the Norsemen made a language with replacements for English Letters.
| December Cauldron and Candle Available Posted Sunday, December 05, 2004 by Randall |
The December 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.
| December Bandwidth Sale At TC's Web Host Posted Saturday, December 04, 2004 by Randall |
Dreamhost, the web host ecauldron.com uses (and perhaps the best low cost web host around), is having a bandwidth sale this December. All new accounts created month will receive triple bandwidth for as long as they have the account. Their lowest priced "Crazy Domain Insane!" plan normally provides 40 gigabytes of monthly bandwidth -- this will be tripled to a whopping 120 gigabytes for people who sign up this month. The good folks at Dreamhost also tripled the bandwidth for all their current customers as a Christmas present so ecauldron.com will probably never need to worry about bandwidth.
If you are looking for a low cost web host without a lot of weird content restrictions, with great tech support and no weird clauses in their user agreement that actually make it impossible to use many of the features they offer, Dreamhost is worth a look. (Dreamhost will not host porn or hate sites, but their general attitude toward other controversial material is that if it is legal in California, they will host it. This makes it great for Pagan sites -- you don't get your account canceled because some fundie complains about your review of a book that mentions sex or your image of a classical statue.)
Here's the major features you get on their lowest cost $9.95 a month plan: 120 gigabytes a month bandwidth (normally 40), 800 megs disk storage, up to 600 email accounts, up to 75 shell/ftp accounts, POP3/IMAP/Web access to email, spam filtering, host 3 domains and 15 subdomains, announcement and discussion lists, php4, crontab, perl/cgi, ssi, webdav, daily statistics, and more. A new feature was added this month that will appeal to bloggers: automated installation of Wordpress blog software.
If you sign up be sure and say rssapphire referred you. Referrals help support The Cauldron!
| Vertigo and Meditation Posted Friday, December 03, 2004 by Randall |
When I pray or meditate at night I find myself getting vertigo to the point of nausea. It feels like when you are drunk and have the world spins around you every time you close your eyes.
Needless to say it is very disconcerting and uncomfortable. Last night I had to break off my concentration and sit up and open my eyes to let it pass and then I just lay back down and breathed in and out slowly and went to sleep finally.
Has anyone else had a problem with this or have an explanation as to why I am experiencing this? It has been going on for awhile and I am getting tired of it.
| Should Wiccans Give Christmas Gifts? Posted Thursday, December 02, 2004 by Randall |
I'm a new Wiccan. I've been told that I should not send people Christmas cards or give Christmas presents because doing so will anger the Lord and Lady.
Is this really true? If I don't give my family Christmas presents, they will hate me. I don't think I can stand my son and daughter hating me -- but I suppose it would be better if they hated me than the Gods hated me. Maybe -- I doubt the Gods scream and throw fits.
If this is not true, can you give me a reference in a authoritive book on Wicca to prove this so I can give presents without getting in trouble with those who say I should not? If this is true, how do you handle upset family and friends?
| How to Choose A Wiccan Tradition? Posted Thursday, December 02, 2004 by Randall |
How should I select a Wiccan Tradition? There seem to be hundreds of different traditions to choose from. How do I know which one is right for me? How can I even learn about them all so I can make an intelligent choice? Is there a book or a web site that lists them all and explains what makes them different from each other?
| Chaos Magic Posted Wednesday, December 01, 2004 by Randall |
What do you think it is? What do you know about it?
On other forums, in other places, Chaos has been depicted as something dark and evil (lol), yet in other forums, it's just another way to view things and do things. What do you think?
| Winter Holidays Posted Wednesday, December 01, 2004 by Randall |
We've covered Christmas in other threads, of course -- but what other holidays are people celebrating this month? How do you celebrate them?