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C A U L D R O N A N D C A N D L E #54 -- December 2004 A Publication of The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum website: http://www.ecauldron.com/ message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/ newsletter: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ shopping: http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php http://stores.ebay.com/Doxys-Bazaar?refid=store In this Issue: [01] Editorial Notes * TRIPLE Bandwidth December Sale At TC's Web Host * Cauldron and Candle Submissions Issue Revisited * New Column: Kitchen Witchin * Happy Holidays [02] Cauldron Challenge: December [03] Cauldron News * CauldronMUX Is Now Our Main Chat Area * Message Board Menu Changes [04] Cauldron Discussions [05] Reviews [05-1] Sabbat Entertaining [05-2] Witching Culture [05-3] A History of Pagan Europe [06] First Glance Comments (Received for Review) [07] Articles: [07-1] Cleansing and Charging Stones [07-2] Crystal Grids [07-3] "Christmas" Cards for Pagans [07-4] December -- The Tenth Month [07-5] The Nine Worlds [07-6] WCOT's Pagan Chat [08] Columns [08-1] Kitchen Witchin [08-2] Humor: A Field Guide to Wiccans [08-3] Cheap Web Hosting Report: December 2004 [09] Around the Planes: Notes from All Over [09-1] Fostering A New Generation Of Blood Donors [09-2] Coral Reefs [09-3] Tips To Ensure Pets' Safety During The Holidays [09-4] Family Caregiving... It's Not All Up to You [09-5] Ten Tips That Will Alter Your Life [10] Support The Cauldron by Volunteering to Help [11] Newsletter Information (Including How To Subscribe/Unsubscribe) +++January Issue Submission Deadline: December 20, 2004+++ Guidelines: http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/submissions.php [01] ========= ========= EDITORIAL NOTES ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= ===== ===== TRIPLE Bandwidth December Sale At TC's Web Host ===== I don't usually plug businesses in my editorials, but Dreamhost, the web host ecauldron.com uses (and perhaps the best low cost web host around), is having a great bandwidth sale this December. All new accounts created during December 2004 will receive triple bandwidth for as long as the account exists. 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 not need to worry about bandwidth for years to come. 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! For more info, visit the Dreamhost site at: http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?27905/shared/ ===== ===== Cauldron and Candle Submissions Issue Revisited ===== My editorial last month upset several readers, one of whom dropped their subscription because I dared to state that readers needed to contribute articles and reviews or this newsletter would have to cease publication. Apparently this person thought the editor should just write all the articles himself if that's what it takes to keep the newsletter going. Fortunately, most members did not feel this way and a number of members contributed articles and reviews. In fact, this issue has more contributions by more members than any other issue to date. I also have almost enough articles for the next (January 2005) issue of the newsletter. After that the submission pile is bare. I'd really like to thank everyone who submitted at article in November. I hope that Cauldron and Candle will continue to receive at least that many submissions every month, because without them it will fade away and die. Remember, we even make it easy for you to submit items with a couple of handy forms on our web site: Handy Article Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestart.php Book Review Submission Form: http://www.ecauldron.com/persontestbr.php ===== ===== New Column: Kitchen Witchin ===== Several readers submitted recipes in November. These submissions were very welcome as they allowed us to start a new column of recipes and kitchen ideas, Kitchen Witchin. If you like this idea, please submit your recipes that you think other Pagans might like. This column can also use quick reviews of cookbooks and short kitchen and cooking hints. ===== ===== Happy Holidays ===== The staff of both Cauldron and Candle and The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. Whatever you celebrate, we wish you a very merry one and a very happy 2005. Bright Blessings to all. And to all a good night, ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEND A PAGAN POSTCARD You can send a Pagan Postcard from the menu of any of our web pages at http://www.ecauldron.com/. If you haven't tried our postcard site, give it a try. It has quite a few nice features. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [02] ========= ========= CAULDRON CHALLENGE: DECEMBER ========= by Star ========= This time of year is stressful for a lot of people, so I thought this month a good challenge would be to... RELAX! That's right, all you have to do in December is set aside some time to unwind and de-stress. Use it as an excuse to pamper yourself, or just sit around doing nothing -- whatever you prefer. How are you going to relax this month? http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2897.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LOOKING FOR A PAGAN FRIENDLY WEB HOST? We use DreamHost because it is affordable and reliable, but mainly because its terms of service allow web sites with anything legal: our web site will not be pulled because we review a few books on sex magick or an erotic tarot deck. It's a great host for Pagan web sites. http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?27905/shared/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [03] ========= ========= CAULDRON NEWS ========= by The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum Staff ========= ===== ===== CauldronMUX Is Now Our Main Chat Area ===== CauldronMUX, opened late last month, has proven so popular with our members that we have made it our main chat area. Scheduled chats are now held in the Cauldron Lounge on CauldronMUX. This means that guests are not able to attend our moderated chats. Our Java Chat Room remains available for registered members of our message board, but is no longer being used for moderated chats. In fact, it has not been used much at all since CauldronMUX opened. http://www.ecauldron.com/bookonline.php ===== ===== Message Board Menu Changes ===== Members of our message board have seen some changes to the top menu on our message board in November. Several new menu items have been added and one standard menu item has been moved to a submenu. Three new menu items have been added. The "Chat" menu item provides easy access to the Java clients for our chat areas (CauldronMUX and the Java Chat Room). The "Rules" menu item provides easy access to rules and FAQs for The Cauldron -- hopefully making it much harder for new members to miss them. Finally, we've added and "Extras" menu item which provides access to all sorts of extra features such as the links item that used to be on the top menu, member weblogs, and other interesting places (other forum, online web games) and more. Watch this menu item as links to additional features should be appearing in December. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAULDRON AND CANDLE WEB SITE The Cauldron and Candle has its own web site where we store our back issues for easy reading. http://www.ecauldron.com/cnc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [04] ========= ========= CAULDRON DISCUSSIONS ========= Recent Discussion Topics on our Message Board ========= In an average month, over 150 new discussion topics are started on The Cauldron's message board. Here are a few of the more interesting discussions from the last month. It's not too late to join in. Thanks to Bloglet, 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 Bloglet's free news delivery via the form at the end of the site "News and Updates" section of The Cauldron's main web page. === === Guardianship of Someone Else's Kids === If your beloved sibling/friend were to die and name you the guardian of his or her very young children (4 and 6, let's say) with the stipulation that you must raise them in the faith of their parents, and the faith of their parents was antithetical to yours (or simply very different from yours), would you do it? You can pick and ponder different faiths as you will - I, for example, think I would have less trouble raising a child Jewish than raising a child free evangelical or Southern Baptist. Under what circumstances would you be able to follow those wishes, and under what circumstances would you feel you had to either turn down the guardianship, or take the children but ignore the request? (And assume, for the purposes of this question, that you are willing and able to take on the kids. It's a hypothetical, after all. You may imagine that you are quite wealthy, a healthy 30- year-old, and like children, if it helps.) * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2920.1 === === Ghosts vs. Reincarnation === Ok folks, I have run across this quandary a few times now and after thinking about it myself I still have no good answer. I find that I believe in ghosts and yet I also believe in reincarnation. I question how I can believe in two things simultaneously that seem to be in direct conflict of each other. A ghost, in my understanding, is a soul that has "stayed behind" for whatever reason, which is different from the images or "memories" some places seem to have. You know, the ones where there is no variation or actual being there, the same image walks down the stairs to the pantry and disappears every full moon or whatever. So my question to everyone interested is: How do you explain it? or What are your thoughts and opinions about the conundrum? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2908.1 === === Offerings? === I recently started burning incense as an offering at my altar. I've been using sandalwood, vanilla or dragon's blood so far, b/c that's all I've been able to get a hold of in cone form (I don't really like stick incense on my altar). I was wondering, if any of you burn incense as an offering, what kind (or scent, or whatever you'd call it) do you use and why? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2855.1 === === Christmas For Pagans? Bah! Humbug! === Someone got a bit upset at our thread on Christmas/Yule/Midwinter Preparation and asked "Why are you talking about celebrating Christmas? Christmas isn't a Pagan holiday. It's a Christian holiday. Is this a forum full of closet Christians? Lots of people calling themselves 'pagan' seem to be closet Christians." * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2838.1 === === Patron Deities and Monotheism === I've recently heard someone claim that the tendency among many modern Pagans to adopt a patron deity is a result of the inability to leave monotheism behind, and completely embrace polytheism. Do you think there is truth in that claim? Do we really adopt a patron god or goddess because it's hard for us to handle the idea of multiple divine forces? Does a "real" polytheist have to actually worship, not only recognize, more than one deity? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2829.1 === === Dealing with a Dark Night of the Soul? === The dark night of the soul... periods of your life when you are having a spiritual crisis - whether it's the general unfairness of life, or suddenly your cherished beliefs seem like a big pile of thingy, we all have times when religion either doesn't cut it, or ceases to interest us... To make things slightly different, my question is not 'have you ever experienced this?' but is instead this: When you suffer a crisis of faith, what do you do in response? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2797.1 === === Private Schools for Pagan Children? === With all the changes in public education I have been looking into alternatives for my children. Not being someone with the temperament to homeschool I started looking into private schools. Unfortunately most if not all the private schools I have found are Christian. This and an article on start up schools got me wondering if there are any private schools for pagan children. It also got me wondering what it would take to create one. I would love to see a school where children are taught things such as shielding and grounding along side secular subjects taught from a global perspective. Does anyone know of any such schools already in existence? What would you want to see in a pagan private school? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2777.1 === === Swords/Wands Issues in Tarot === 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 transferring 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. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2261.1 === === How to Introduce Wicca to Children? === As I have been studying and reading a lot about Wicca, my 10 year old has also become interested in it. I would like a book to help her understand Wicca, no so much casting spells, but the history, what it is all about, something written so she can understand it. She reads at an adult level, but I don't want her to read an adult book. I was thinking of getting Teen Witch by Sliver Ravenwolf, but I am not sure yet. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2737.1 === === An Ye Harm None? === Quick question, but why the saying, "an ye harm none"? Why can't a spell harm someone, I mean, generally if you want to curse someone wouldn't that mean some harm would be involved? I know, I know, the rule of three, or the golden rule, karma, what have you. But who says there aren't ways to avoid it? * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2712.1 === === Running Effective Rituals === What are your suggestions for running effective rituals, especially open and larger rituals? I'm not talking about esoterics or magic, just about simple logistics. * Read (or join in) this discussion: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2529.1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DONATE TO HELP SUPPORT THE CAULDRON'S WEB SITE If you like The Cauldron and have a few extra dollars, please donate via the Amazon Honor System or PayPal and help us pay the web site bills. Donate via PayPal http://www.ecauldron.com/donatepaypal.php Donate via Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P3903JRFVQVDN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [05] =============== ============ BOOK AND DECK REVIEWS ========= [05-1] ========= ========= REVIEW: SABBAT ENTERTAINING ========= Reviewed by Christine Moonflower ========= Sabbat Entertaining: Celebrating the Wiccan Holidays with Style Author: Willow Polson Trade Paper, 224 pages Publisher: Citadel Press Publication Date: September 2002 ISBN: 0806524227 US Retail Price: $24.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0806524227 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.   The book starts out with a very small preface, that does not go over the "basic" "let's hurry and get this out of the way," info on magick, Wicca, or paganism in general. It contains no in depth Sabbat information or rituals it just gets down to the simple and fun stuff. Each chapter of the book contains around 30 pages for each Sabbat. Each chapter starts off with a personal anecdote for the Sabbat them goes into activities, games, decorating ideas, crafts, recipes (the recipes are all vegetarian,) and finally a cross stitch pattern with instructions for each Sabbat. Most of the crafts and recipes are such that you would not find them anywhere else.   My only compliant with this book is with the recipes, some of them needed further explanation especially on some of the weird vegetarian ingredients like Ives, just what is this and were do I find it. Otherwise, it is a great resource for anyone who celebrates the Sabbat. This review is coming to our web site soon! [05-2] ========= ========= REVIEW: WITCHING CULTURE ========= Reviewed by Pitch ========= Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America Author: Sabina Magliocco Hardcover, 280 pages Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Publication Date: 2004 ISBN: 0812218795 US Retail Price: $19.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0812218795 "Must Have, Double Bag!" is old school comic fandom's term for things that a fan cannot live without -- and have any fanboy or fangirl cred in the eyes of her or his fan peers.   And a perfect, to-the-point description of this book.   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 thoughtful, insightful, fruitful, grounded, and, maybe, provocative.   Witching Culture is well-crafted and a joy to read.   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.   She addresses a broad range of topics shaping and challenging Neo-Paganism,especially Craft in the San Francisco Bay Area, from how magic is envisioned as a working relationship with world and deities to ritual art and artistry to Neo-Pagan shopping habits to identity construction and cultural borrowing, and more. Like the Neo-Pagan bricoleurs she discusses, she takes advantage of theories and insights borrowed from a number of disciplines and discourses, putting the mix to good, understanding use.   Magliocco considers Neo-Pagan culture to be oppositional to dominant culture, postmodern in its world view at a time when the dominant modern culture offers little beyond materiality, consumerism, alienation, oppression, and spiritual--if not economic--impoverishment. She traces some roots of this oppositionality to sources in the Romantic and European nationalist movements. And provides a good account of Neo- Paganism's cultural creativity in shaping magical ritual, even political action, from these sources, among others.   Her approach to the creative and enculturating role that song plays in today's Neo-Paganism alone makes the book worthwhile.   Witching Culture is a "Must Have, Double Bag!" book that all of us should be proud to add to our libraries.   Note: I am Sabina's friend, and the "Pitch" in the book. All I can assure you is -- as an old-school comic guy--if the book sucked, I'd say so. Far from it -- Witching Culture shines bright! This review is coming to our web site soon! [05-3] ========= ========= REVIEW: A HISTORY OF PAGAN EUROPE ========= Reviewed by Christine Moonflower ========= A History of Pagan Europe Author: Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick Trade Paper, 262 pages Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: 2000 ISBN: 0415158044 US Retail Price: $26.95 Amazon Link: http://www.ecauldron.com/cncbook.php?asin=0415158044 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. Even in areas where I felt confident, such as classic Greco-Roman antiquity, I benefited from the reoriented perspective the authors brought to their study. Jones and Pennick turned the intellectual map of Europe upside down, looking southward from the north, thus revealing the kinship and deep structural unity that underlies the ancient western traditions from Iceland to the Russian Steppes.   For instance, instead of presenting classic Greco-Roman religion as a vestige of Mediterranean civilization, Pennick and Jones traced it through its earliest pre-Minoan, pre-Etruscan forms, and in so doing exposed the European core of the religion, as well as its kinship to northern belief. The European tradition itself, as it appears in Russia and the Baltic, the Balkans, in the Celtic and Germanic lands is laid out as a complex, but unified, fabric. Unfortunately due to the completeness of the rendition, holes in our knowledge -- areas where the pre- Christian tradition was all but lost appear in stark relief.   Another strength of the book is its acknowledgement of the differences between the theory and practice of the modern European Pagans, versus their cultural ancestors. Jones and Pennick are scrupulous in their dating of ancient movements, and dedicate their last chapter "Paganism Reaffirmed" to reemerging Pagan tradition. The authors begin this chapter with the High Middle Ages (950-1350), which strengthens the impression of an unbroken line of Pagan activity from ancient times to the modern. Jones and Pennick choose to challenge this possibility, however, demanding solid research rather than simply following the seduction of the nice-to-believe.   "In 1839 the archivist Franz-Joseph Mone of Baden proposed that the orgiastic features of the alleged witch cult had in fact been part of an underground religion derived from Dionysiac worship in the Greek colonies on the Black Sea and brought back to German by the returning Goths. (Such) thinkers drew attention to their regional heritage, but unfortunately failed to demonstrate by reference to contemporary records that any of the people accused had actually taken part in either 'witchcraft' ceremonies or ceremonies of a continuing Pagan religion. As we have seen, modern research tends to argue against these conclusions." (p 206)   Occasionally Jones and Pennick come off as whiney, or petty, even when they have a legitimate point, as on page 202 when they describe the reemergence of Pagan gods into the Christian landscape in the 17th and 18th centuries: "Whenever a Christian temple was erected by a landowner, then it is assumed to be authentic. Yet comparable Pagan temples are not." (pp. 201-201)   A similar note of pique also appears on page 210, where the authors state: "The romantic interpretation of ancient Druidism are no more or less valid than the equivalent mythologies of other hagiographies. Materialist critics of Druidism fail to apply the same criteria of criticism to the prophets of other religions."   A more significant issue arises when the authors blame early Christians for burning the Library at Alexandria. This claim is presented as uncontestable fact and without substantiation, when most historians today believe the library's loss occurred over several centuries, and divide the blame between the Romans under Octavian, the Caliphate, and eastern Christians. An author's occasional slide from objectivism gives ammunition to those who would disregard modern Paganism as a rootless, academically anemic fad. Jones and Pennick seldom step outside their scholarly demeanor, however, and when they do the material as a whole does not suffer for it.   In fact Jones and Pennick usually maintain an even hand. They describe ancient traditions, (or excesses thereof,) which we might look down upon today. On the other hand, Protestant Christians are credited on page 204 for reintroducing to civil life of certain regions the use of their local languages, including translating the bible into vulgate editions. By preserving the local languages these Protestant Christians preserved the local histories, myths, and religion recorded within them.   The few problems with A History of Pagan Europe are far outweighed by the many gifts it offers. I have recommended the book to several friends, and would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone in search of a broad view approach to the history of Paganism in Europe. This review is coming to our web site soon! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOP ONLINE AT THE CAULDRON MALL Shop Amazon, Catalog City, Abebooks, and other stores at The Cauldron Shopping Mall. Every purchase from our one of our mall links helps support The Cauldron and this newsletter. http://www.ecauldron.com/mall.php ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [06] ========= ========= FIRST GLANCE COMMENTS (RECEIVED FOR REVIEW) ========= by Randall Sapphire ========= No new books were received for review in November. [07] =============== ============ ARTICLES ========= [07-1] ========= ========= CLEANSING AND CHARGING STONES ========= by Novitiate ========= ===== ===== Cleansing Crystals and Stones ===== Crystals and gemstones will pick up negative or unwanted energies over time. They are like sponges absorbing and reacting to the environment and working to heal even without our direction. There are two stones that don't absorb energy and never need clearing- Citrine and Kyanite (My personal favorites). These two stones are the only stones that I know of that can clear other stones without needed cleansing themselves. Crystals and stones that are used for healing should be cleared and cleansed prior to any healing work. You will also find that clearing stones makes them more cheerful and positive. List below are a few methods commonly used to clear and cleanse crystals and stones to restore their natural vibrant energy. Some are more complex or take longer, others are extremely simple and quick. Use whichever suits you and your crystals best. Salt Water: While this is a popular way to cleanse crystals, it is recommended to use salt water very carefully, if at all. You need to know about your crystals to be sure that they are not porous or soft, so they won't be damaged by water. Salt water can get into the structure of some crystals and stones and cause them to break. Some stones that don't do well in salt water are calcite, carnelian, halite, hematite, labradorite/spectrolite, lepidolite, lodestone (magnetite), mica, moldavite, opal, turquoise, ulexite, and there are surely more. When you do use salt water, do so cautiously and don't leave your crystals in it longer than absolutely necessary. Sea Salt: Crystals can be placed in coarse sea salt for up to 24 hours to clear them. They can also be stored in sea salt to keep them from picking up energies from their surroundings. In humid areas, using sea salt can sometimes cause the same problems as salt water. It can also get stuck in the crevices of clusters and eventually combine with water in the air and split the cluster. Sunlight or Moonlight: The rays of the sun and moon are very clearing and cleansing. Placing your stones outside where they can soak up the sunlight or moonlight for a day/night to a week is very beneficial. Do be careful though, as some the colors of some stones may fade in the sun. A few of the stones that will fade in the sun are amethyst, celestite, opal, and turquoise. If you have any doubts at all, be sure to use only moonlight cleansing. Earth Burial: Burying crystals and stones is very cleansing and healing to them. You can bury them in the Earth for 3 days to a week, either in your yard or in a flowerpot. Be sure that if you bury your crystals in the yard that you mark the spot. You don't want to have to dig up half the yard to find your stones again. I feel that if taking soil from the earth to use in a flowerpot, even in fully burying, you should thank the earth for its assistance and leave something in appreciation. Smudging: Smudging is a favorite method of clearing crystals and stones of unwanted energy for a lot of people. It's a much quicker way to clear crystals than any of the above methods. To smudge them, pass you stone several times through the smoke of burning cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or incense. Commercial incenses with perfumy smells may not clear as fully or as quickly as sage or a more basic incense like Nag Champa. Tap Water - COOL Tap Water: For a quick cleansing, you can also run your stones under cool tap water. Hot or warm water can fracture some crystals and stones. Again, as with salt water, be sure that your crystals are not porous or soft, before putting them under the tap. Stone clusters and geodes are two types of stones that do not do well with water, as they may break apart and crumble. The stones mentioned as not doing well with salt water may also not do well with tap water. You should also be aware of any minerals, like sulphur, or strong chemicals like chlorine that might be high in your water due to sceptic tanks. Reiki-Seichim: Reiki-Seichim is another method of cleansing crystals. In a sense, it's channeling the universal life force energy to heal the crystal of negativity and unwanted energies. As a Reiki or Seichim practitioner, just treat the stone as you would any other being that needs healing, and set your intent to heal the stone of any negativity or unwanted energies. Stone Clearing: Some stones will clear the negative or unwanted energies from other stones, however will then need cleansing themselves. You can do this with quartz crystal clusters, amethyst clusters, and selenite. Place the stone to be cleared on the "clearing" stone, and leave for 24-48 hours. Citrine and Kyanite are two stones used for clearing, that never need clearing themselves. Flower Water: You can also clear crystals and stones in flower water. Soak the stone or crystal in water with the petals of rose, honey suckle, orange blossoms, jasmine or others for 24 hours. Again, the same cautions apply regarding stones that don't do well in water. Ask Your Higher Power: This is too simple for most peoples' need for ritual, but it does work wonderfully. Simply ask God/Goddess/Universe or whatever your higher power is called to clear and cleans your crystal for you. You can also simply ask the crystal to clear itself. Whichever method you choose, the exact length of time needed for clearing varies according to personal taste and the state of the crystal. Trust your intuition and higher self to lead you to the best methods and lengths of time for you and the stone. ===== ===== Charging a Crystal ===== In metaphysical terms, charging a crystal is to store an energy pattern in a crystal. The energy pattern programmed into the crystal can be any thought, color, emotion, sound, or any other vibration. The pattern is stored in the crystal until it is purposefully cleared out. You must keep in mind that after a while, negative energies can reside in the crystal as well. This is just one way to charge crystals and stones. If you have a different method you prefer, use it. I don't believe there is one way to do it, but rather many, and you should choose the one(s) that suit you best. Needed to Program Your Crystal: Crystal Clear Intent - Know what you want to program the crystal to do. Focused Action - This method is one focused action. Step One - Clear your crystal with whatever method you prefer, and sit down with your crystal at your personal altar or in a place that you're not likely to be disturbed while you are charging your crystal. Step Two - Hold the crystal in your dominant hand (right hand if right handed) and clear your mind of unrelated thoughts. Start to focus on your intention for charging your crystal. Step Three - Focus on your intention for your crystal by saying descriptive words aloud. For instance, if you want to charge your crystal to bring peace of mind, start repeating the words "peace of mind" over and over again. A whisper is fine if a normal tone of voice would attract distracting attention from others. Step Four - Repeat your intent verbally into your non-dominant hand, then place that hand over your crystal to push the vibrations into the crystal. Step Five - Continue holding the crystal and repeating your intention until it feels as though the vibrations have sunk into the crystal fully. If necessary, repeat step four. Once your intuition tells you or you have a sense that the crystal has accepted the vibrations, open your hands and thank the crystal. The crystal is now charged. This method can also be used with tumbled stones, spheres, polished crystals, and natural chunks of minerals, as well as natural crystals. To retrieve and use the programming, simply rub the crystal while asking (silently or out loud) for its charge to be released. [07-2] ========= ========= CRYSTAL GRIDS ========= by Seren ========= Crystals can emit or absorb different energies. The way in which these energies are emitted or absorbed can be manipulated and controlled in the type of crystal we use, its size and shape etc. Even the number of crystals, and the way in which they are positioned is important to get just the right effect.   Crystal grids use the symbolism of the crystals themselves, the symbology of numbers, and also colors and shapes to help create just the desired effect, either focusing on a person or a space. The combination of the crystals laid out then emit a gentle energy that can be used for a variety of purposes, like harmonizing a room, encouraging creativity, or a peaceful space for meditation.   For the most effective crystal grids, you should ideally use clear crystal quartz points that you are used to, and are used to you. They need to be cleansed and charged regularly, and left to rest when necessary. The best crystals to use should emit a gentle and diffused energy, rather than a zingy and focused one. For this purpose, medium-sized crystal points are the best large ones tend to be too grounding and absorptive together, whereas small points can be too focused, like laser beams.   Experiment to see what suits you, and then try different types of crystals once you've got the hang of the basics. Start with clear quartz, then see what amethyst is like, or rose quartz, and so on. As a general rule, crystal points of any type will direct energy, whereas tumbled, polished stones will gently reflect. Rough rocks or massives may act in the same way as tumbled stones, or else be more absorptive depending on the type of rock. =====  ===== The Grids ===== === === Grid One ===   One -- is the number of the individual, the center of power from which power is spread. The oneness of divinity. The self.   Method One - the outer: Although not strictly a grid, this is useful when you are getting used to energies and how they feel, especially in group work, and this one can be used effectively in a circle situation when you are developing a "group mind" to help gel together.   If you are on your own, sit the crystal near you, or in your palms. A fairly big and chunky crystal is good for this one, as the energy it emits will be more noticeable and gentle to start with. In a group, put the crystal in the center, and sit around it in a circle (or opposite each other if there are only two of you).   Focus on the crystal, and feel how the crystal radiates its energy, and spreads it. Try and see the energy, and look at how it moves around, and plays with your aura, and other people's; note any images that it makes you think of, whether it draws your attention into it or around you, and so on. Keep it going for at least ten minutes, then break and note down or discuss your impressions.   Now (or later on) do the meditation again, but with the quartz point sitting in a bowl of water (that has been cleansed first, but not with salt). See how different the energy feels and disperses; note down the impressions, images and thoughts you get now, but try not to be too self-conscious about it.   Also experiment with different formations of crystals: try crystal clusters instead of single points, or massives to see how different each one feels.   Method Two - the inner: This is a useful grid to focus on the inner with, as it is the number of the individual. Meditate on the crystal and its energies. Focus on the crystal, and feel yourself going into it. See the structure of it, and walk around it like a crystal cave. See who and what you meet, what you think and where you go. If the crystal were a living being, what would it be? Experiment with different crystals to explore different aspects of yourself. Record each meditation, so you can look back later on.   Method three: This grid is slightly different to the one above, as it uses a double terminated quartz point, a quartz with a point at each end, in other words. It is best done alone, rather than in a group, unless you can find a way of hanging it perfectly straight. This grid is more to meditate on the oneness of everything, the idea of as above, so below, and your part in it. Or else the oneness of the gods, the God in the Sun or God in Heaven, the Goddess in the Earth etc.   Sit comfortably, with the crystal held vertically, so that one point points up to the sky, and the other down to the earth. Now begin your meditation, visualizing a white beam of light reaching up to the sky, and down into the earth. This is excellent for grounding and centering yourself, but also as you meditate, think of yourself as sitting in between the gods, above and below, think of how it all interrelates and so on. Let your thoughts wander along the symbology of the number one, and feel how the energy feels.   This is an excellent way to protect yourself during certain types of psychic attack, if you feel yourself being pulled out for example, and you need to ground quickly. Imagine yourself in the beam of light, stretching above and below your head and feet, and nothing being able to reach you. Reach your feet into the soil, like the roots of a tree, your branches reaching to heaven. Here you are and here you stay. ===  === Grid Two === Two -- is the number of polarity, duality, opposites and relationships. It is a balancing energy, useful for aligning the yin and yang principles within yourself, for example.   Method one: Useful for practicing raising energy, and energy flow. This is a good way to charge your crystals, and also balance your own energies, removing any blockages. Practice this when you feel a little bogged down and sluggish, or unmotivated to blow away the cobwebs.   Place a crystal point in each palm, the one in your projecting hand facing away from you, and the one in your receiving hand facing into you. Now focus on the quartz points, and their energy being emitted. Feel it make a circuit with you, moving your own energies as well as their own. Visualize the energy as being a bright white-blue electrical light, flowing around your body, cleansing and balancing, removing blockages as it flows around. Feel the crystals charging you, as you charge the crystals, in a mutual exchange. Breathe deeply and slowly, but regularly. Then swap the crystals round, into the other hand, and continue. Feel the difference in the energies. Ground and center when you are finished.   Method two: Sit down, comfortably. Place a crystal in front of you, with the point facing you, and place another crystal behind you, facing towards you as well, and lined up with the other crystal. This creates a relaxed, harmonious yet focused energy to meditate in and do any healing, but you can also use it around your bed or in your room to create a generally relaxed atmosphere.   Method three: Do the same as method two, but align the crystals with the north and south poles. Sit in between them, and feel how different the energy is. It is a very balancing and earthy grid. === === Grid Three ===   Three -- the number of creation, creativity, life and self expression. Three is an excellent number for creative people, especially artists. Method: Place the three crystals facing inwards (to the center of the triangle), laid out in an equilateral triangle in the room, to create an optimistic and enthusiastic environment to work in. === === Grid Four ===   Four -- the number of balance, the material world, the four elements, stability and order. Four is a very grounding and balanced grid, being the number of earth, the square. Method one: Place the crystals facing inwards, diagonally to make an X shape. Sit in the center, where the energy from all four crystals meets. Feel the grounded and centered energy, contained and earthy.   Method two: Place the crystals according to the elemental quarters on the compass, to make a cross, or an X shape (experiment with both). Sit in the center again, as before. This is a very useful grid to meditate on the elements with.   Crystals that relate to the quarters: North: Moss agate, emerald, jet, salt, halite, black tourmaline East: Citrine, mica, pumice South: Amber, obsidian (volcanic glass), ruby, garnet West: Aquamarine, chalcedony, jade, lapis lazuli, moonstone   Place an appropriate tumbled stone at each quarter in circle, instead of candles or other objects. This creates a very earthy, yet gentle circle, perfect for meditation. Tumbled stones rather than points are better when combined with a circle, since the points might created too much of a grounded and balanced environment within which to practice. === === Grid Five === Five -- The four elements, plus the fifth and sacred element, Spirit (or Akasha). This is balance, but without the limitation and contained energy of four. It balances, but allows you to go beyond your own limits, as well as those that others set on you.   Five is the number of quintessence, all that is, and all the possibilities that could be. The number five allows expansion through balance of the four. This grid is especially good if you want to break free of boundaries or limitations you feel have been placed on you - by yourself or others.   Place the crystals on the quarters, as before, but with the fifth hanging in the center, point down. If this is difficult, place it in the center on the floor, point facing up (or experiment with either). Here the quarters are in balance, with the spirit at the center like with the Celtic Cross. ===  === Grid Six === Six -- one of the best energies to work with, in my opinion. It is balancing, gentle, refreshing and protective.   The Star of David Grid: This crystal grid is excellent to meditate in, and do any healing that might be necessary, or to relax in and just be. Six is the number of spirit in matter, male and female together as complementary forces. Six is the number of harmony, and perfection in synthesis.   The Star of David in particular represents the opposing Elements of Fire (the upright triangle) and Water (the upside down triangle) in harmony together.   This grid is especially effective to combine with chakra healing, or auric healing. If you are just using it to relax in, allow at least 10-15 minutes of undisturbed time to get the benefit, and feel balanced and refreshed. Place one crystal just above the head (but not in the crown chakra, above that); place one just below the feet, and one crystal at each shoulder and each knee. All crystals should be facing inwards to your body. Visualize two equilateral triangles formed in white-blue light by the crystals, like the Star of David.   To combine the grid with a basic chakra cleansing, place the appropriate tumbled stones on each chakra, or use a generic crystal like citrine with all of them. Small quartz points can be placed in between the tumbled stones, pointing up the body to encourage energy flow, if you like.   The grid, when combined with a lump of amethyst, for example, strengthens the protective qualities of the grid during psychic attack. Rose quartz creates a gentle, loving atmosphere. The grid is best worked with clear quartz, but experiment with other types of crystals if you feel it is appropriate. === === Grid Seven === Seven -- is a spiritual number, concerned with the inner and self knowledge. It is a useful grid for when you are working with your inner, and introspective meditations, as well as meditating on past and future lives, being associated with eternity. Seven is also associated with the number of the traditional planets - The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, so the grid can help you get in touch with these planetary energies, to encourage harmony.   The grid for this is simple: just place seven crystal points, evenly spread and facing inwards around yourself. This grid is known as the seven rayed star. Allow space for movement or lying down. It is not really a grid to experiment with other crystals in, just get comfy and think inwards, using the star as a symbolic gateway; step through and see where it takes you.   === === Grid Eight === Eight -- is the path to wisdom, the awareness of limitations and the path to move beyond them. Eight relates to material reality as well. It is only when we grow beyond those things that limit us that we can truly be free and enlightened. Material greed is often a stumbling block in the pursuit of these high ideals.   This grid will help us to realize the weight of our actions and limitations in our physical reality. The grid has a heavy quality to it, the balancing quality of four doubled into an eternal path; be prepared for a very honest trip.   Method: Place the crystals pointing in at each quarter, and then equally spaced in between the quarters, creating a second square. It may feel claustrophobic at first, but work beyond this to realize the true extent of your limitations.   === === Grid Nine === Nine -- is the last single number, the number of initiation, and the number that is opposite to one. It is the number of giving away power, rather than receiving it, which is a power in itself. Nine is the number of the mysteries, the self in relation to all and the number of service, how we may serve the rest of humanity. Nine is the microcosm of the microcosm, the macrocosm spiraling into the microcosm, and then out again.   This grid can incorporate the spiral dance, and has great ritual meaning.   Place the crystals in a spiral. To focus on the center, the microcosm (the inner, the self), place the crystals in an anti- clockwise spiral. To focus on the macrocosm (the bigger picture), and a more dispersive energy, place the crystals clockwise.   Experiment with placing the crystals facing in or out as well. The central crystal can point up or hang down. For a more gentle energy, use quartz massives, rather than points. In ritual, the spiral is danced into (usually clockwise), with the right foot forward, the left brought even, the right forward, the left even, and then vice versa, with the left foot forward, and the right even, in a kind of skipping shuffle. [07-3] ========= ========= "CHRISTMAS" CARDS FOR PAGANS ========= by Brhianna Morgaene ========= Nowadays there are a great many cards available for pagans to send for our Sabbats, both e-cards and traditional cards that can be bought online, or perhaps, if you are lucky, in your favorite pagan or metaphysical store. If you can buy them, I suggest you do so. Not only do they help support our pagan community, but many are incredibly beautiful as well. That having been said what if you can t buy pagan cards? Maybe they are not available where you are, or maybe, like me, they would cause all kinds of havoc in your life if you sent them.   I myself am in the position of having a very few open and/or pagan friends, and a lot of people I love and care about that are not pagan and might even be alarmed and upset if I sent them a Yule card.  I have found a few cards to order on line that are general enough that they might not offend- but they are pricey- so I will save them for the people I know who will really appreciate them. For the rest I will engage in a practice I call stealth carding.   Mind you, I am not trying to convert anyone. I am simply looking for cards that appeal to my feelings and ideas about Yule, that have enough common denominators to make their recipients feel loved and cherished in THEIR season of Christmas. And as we all know there is a plethora of pagan symbolism to draw from.   I have found cards, reasonably priced in boxed sets; with symbols of the horned lord, in the form of handsome stags; the lady, in the form of rabbits; and Father Yule, in the form of the traditional old world Santa. I have found cards with moonlit snow scenes, evergreen trees, and with holly and ivy.  I look for cards with tidings such as: Season s Greetings, or Happy Holidays. I even once found one humorous card with the Looney Tunes in a sleigh, that told everyone to have a  Cool Yule !   I also try to employ the technique in reverse, to examine the cards sent to me. Can I think of the nativity scene sent to me as the Mother goddess giving birth to the newborn sun?  How many pagan symbols have crept into each card?  And no matter what the card says or shows I remember to look behind it to the love that sent it. For as the popular pagan carol, Share the Light states:   On this winter holiday, let us stop and recall That this season is holy, to one and to all Unto some a son is born, unto us comes the sun And we know if they don't, that all paths are one   [07-4] ========= ========= DECEMBER -- THE TENTH MONTH ========= (Chapter XII of The Stories of the Months and Days ========= by Reginald C. Couzens [1923]) ========= The chief festival of this "tenth" and last month of the Roman year was the Saturnalia, held on the seventeenth of the month in honour of Saturn, the father of Jupiter. Saturn, or Cronos, as the Greeks called him, was one of the Titans, the six giant sons of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth). Uranus ruled before the days of Man, but he was overthrown by his son Saturn, who became for a time the supreme ruler of the universe. Uranus, however, prophesied that Saturn would one day himself be overthrown by his children, and in order to avoid this, Saturn, when his first child was born, immediately swallowed him! As other children were born, he swallowed each of them until at last Rhea, his wife, succeeded in hiding her youngest son, Jupiter, and deceived Saturn by giving him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, which, in his haste, he swallowed without realizing the trick played upon him. Jupiter was thus saved, and when he grew up he overthrew his father, as Uranus had foretold. Saturn, having lost his power, took refuge on the Earth, and became king of a part of Italy, which, as Virgil tells us in the eighth book of his Aeneid, he called Latium, since it was there that he lay hid (Latin: lateo= to lie hidden). "Saturn was the first to come from heavenly Olympus, fleeing the arms of Jupiter, an exile deprived of his kingdom. He it was who made into a nation a people untaught and scattered on the mountain tops, and gave them laws, and chose that the land should be called 'Latium' because in safety he had lain hidden in this region." Jupiter's rule was very soon threatened by the Titans, who refused to bow to his will, but after a long and terrible struggle, the giants were overthrown by Jupiter's thunderbolts. One of the giants was imprisoned under Mount Aetna, where, breathing out fire and smoke, he still struggles to free himself, thus causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Another of the Titans, Iapetus, had two sons, Prometheus (Forethought) and Epimetheus (Afterthought). To these two gods fell the task of making man, who was to rule over all living creatures. Prometheus was very anxious to give to the race of men that he had fashioned a power that would make them supreme on the earth, and nearer to the gods themselves. The way in which he could best bestow this power upon them was by the gift of fire, for fire belonged only to the gods and was jealously guarded by them. In spite of the terrible punishment which he knew awaited him should he be discovered, Prometheus determined to steal fire from heaven, and during one dark night he brought down to the earth a burning stick from the home of the gods on Mount Olympus. Jupiter, seeing an unaccustomed light on the earth, discovered the theft, and his rage knew no bounds. He seized Prometheus, carried him off to the Caucasus Mountains, and there bound him with chains to a huge rock. Then he sent a vulture that, day after day, might feed upon his liver, which grew again during the night so that the terrible torture of the god should have no end. After hundreds of years of this ghastly pain and suffering, Prometheus was rescued by Hercules, who came to him to ask him where he might find the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. Hercules killed the vulture, broke Prometheus' chains, and released the tortured god, who in return advised Hercules to go to the giant Atlas, who knew where the apples were, as we have seen in the story of Atlas' daughter, Maia. Prometheus' brother, Epimetheus, married the beautiful Pandora, and at first lived with her in great happiness, for in those early days the earth was free from pain, sickness, and ills of every kind. One evening they saw Mercury, the messenger of the gods, coming towards them and bearing on his shoulder a huge box which seemed to be of great weight. Tired out with his burden, Mercury begged permission to leave the box to their care, promising to return for it in a short time. Pandora and Epimetheus readily granted permission, and Mercury placed the box in their house and hastily departed. Pandora was at once filled with great curiosity as to what the box might contain, and suggested to Epimetheus that, they should just peep inside. Epimetheus was shocked by Pandora's lack of good manners, and, replying that they must not think of such a thing, he went out, calling to Pandora to follow him. But Pandora's curiosity was now thoroughly aroused, and the temptation overcame her when she found herself alone. Quickly she undid the cord which bound the box, and, thinking she beard sounds in the box, she put her ear close to the lid. To her surprise she heard voices calling, "Let us out! let us out!" Pandora, filled with excitement, slowly raised the lid a little, just for a peep, as she said to herself. But no sooner was the box opened than out flew little winged creatures, some of which settled on Pandora and Epimetheus, who had now returned, and stung them so that they knew pain for the first time. Then escaping into the world, these insects, Evil, Sickness, Unhappiness, and all the little troubles of life, became a cause of endless pain and suffering to men and women. Poor Pandora was broken hearted, and her eyes filled with tears at the thought of the harm she had done. Then again she was startled to hear a voice still calling from the box. It sounded so kind and gentle and pleaded so sweetly to be let out, that Pandora raised the lid a second time, and out flew Hope, who had been shut in with the cruel insects, and now fluttered busily over the earth, healing the wounds made by her evil companions. This cheery little creature, Hope, may well be associated with the winter month December, when Ceres and her trees and flowers mourn for the smiling Persephone, yet cling to the hope of her return. It is Hope who bids us say with the poet, "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?" On December 25th, the Romans held a festival of the winter solstice, the turning point of winter, when the days begin to grow longer. It was called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun), and it is very probable that for this reason the Christians chose the 25th of December for the birthday of Christ. In early times Christmas (the Mass or Feast of Christ) was kept at different times in the year, but it was finally fixed on December 25th, since on that day there was already held this heathen festival to the sun, which had a meaning in some way similar to that of our Christmas. It was an easy thing to make the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, which wakes all nature from its winter sleep, into the Birthday of the Unconquered Son of God, who brought new life and hope to the world. The same thing took place among the northern races of Europe and in our own islands. The first Christian missionaries found that, at the time of year we now call Christmas, the Northmen kept a festival called Yule, the greatest feast in the year. "Yule" means "wheel", and the festival was so named because the sun was thought to be like a wheel revolving swiftly across the sky. It used at one time to be a custom in England and Germany for the people to gather each year on a hill-top, to set fire to a huge wooden wheel bound with straw, and to send it rolling down the hill. The Christians made this festival into a Christian festival, and we still speak of Christmas as Yuletide. The origin of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas, who was the patron saint of Russia. He was famous for his kindness and generosity, and a festival was held in his honour on the 6th of December. The custom of giving "Christmas boxes" comes from the Romans, and in later days these gifts came to be called "boxes", because at Christmas time boxes were hung up in the churches in which people might put money, for the poor. On the day after Christmas Day these boxes were opened, and the day was thus known as "Boxing Day". Another custom which comes from the Romans is that of having a Christmas tree hung with toys--a custom which dates back to the Saturnalia. Virgil, in his book called The Georgics, describes how the farmers, when holding a festival in honour of Bacchus, God of Wine, "hang from the tall pine tiny waving masks" of the god. December also had two names among the Angles and Saxons: "Wintermonath", and "Heligmonath", that is, "holy month", from the fact that Christmas falls in this month. [07-5] ========= ========= THE NINE WORLDS ========= (Chapter II of Teutonic Myth and Legend ========= by Donald A. Mackenzie [1912]) ========= The Asa-gods built for themselves Asgard, the celestial city, which is set high above the heavens. It stands there in beauty and in glory upon a holy island in the midst of a dark broad river flowing from the thunder-vapours that rise through the great World-tree from Hvergelmer, "the roaring cauldron", the mother of waters. The river is ever troubled with eddies and fierce currents, and above it hover darkly thick banks of kindling mist called "Black Terror Gleam", from which leap everlastingly tongues of vafer-flame, (lightning) filling the air and darting like white froth from whirling billows. Round Asgard is a dark and lofty wall, and the great boiling river breaks angrily at its base. There is no entry-way save by Odin's mighty gate. And if anyone who is unworthy, be he god or giant or mortal, should cross the river unscathed by the vafer- flames, and seek to open the gate of Asgard, he would be caught suddenly by a chain which springs from the lock of strange mechanism, and crushed and utterly destroyed. In the middle of Asgard was built stately Idavoll, the Court of Judgment, the High Thingstead of the Gods, in which their own divine affairs are discussed and arranged. The beauty of the great hall is unequalled in the nine worlds, for its roof is of shining silver and it is resplendent without and within with burnished and graven gold. Therein was set the great golden throne of Odin, the chief ruler of Asgard, and around it were placed twelve golden seats for the gods who sit with him in judgment, and to whom the All-father gave power to rule and to issue decrees. When Odin sits on his high golden throne he looks over the homes of giants and elves and mortals and sees all things. He is silent and he listens. Another fair and stately structure did the gods cause to be made as a sanctuary for the goddesses, and by singers of skalds who echo its praises it is called Vingolf, "the abode of friends". In Asgard was shaped a smithy which was furnished with anvils and hammers and tongs. With these the gods had made for them, by the cunning elf-smiths, Ivalde's sons and Sindre's kinsmen, every instrument they had need of. They worked in fine metals, and so great was the treasure of gold that all movables were made of it. On a green place in the celestial city were found the golden tablets with which was played the Game of the Gods. This was in the Golden Age, which lasted until there came from Jotun-heim three giant maids, who brought corruption. To the gods in ages past it became known that there dwelt in Midgard a race of dwarfs. In the deep, dark mould of Ymer's body they swarmed as do maggots in rotted flesh, and they went hither and thither with no purpose or knowledge. All the gods assembled in their high Thingstead, with Odin seated on his golden throne, and there took counsel one with another. To the dwarfs they gave human shape, but their hue was the blackness of earth in which they had being. Over them the gods set Modsognir, who is Mimer, to be king. In the mounds of the earth dwell one tribe of these earth-black elves, within rocks another, and a third have their habitation inside high and precipitous mountains. Besides these are the Trolls, who fly hither and thither carrying bundles of sticks, and have power to change their shape. Now the wonder of the Universe, which was set in order by the will of All-father, is the great ash tree, Ygdrasil, the Tree of Existence, which nourishes and sustains all spiritual and physical life. Its roots are spread through the divisions of the worlds that fill the yawning gulf, and its boughs are above the high celestial city of the gods. It grows out of the past, it lives in the present, and it reaches towards the future. The World-ash has three great roots. In the realms below Midgard is one root, which receives warmth and life in Hela's glittering plains from the deep fountain of Urd, the goddess of fate and of death; another root reaches the egg-white well of Mimer, who is Wisdom and Memory; and the last root is in gloomy Nifel-heim, where it finds hardening sustenance in Hvergelmer, "the roaring cauldron", the fount of primeval waters, ice-cold and everlasting, which springs up on Hvergelmer mountain. In the realm of Urd, which is Hela, the souls of good men be. Nigh to it, in the underworld, is Mimer's well in Mimer's grove, where dwells the race which will regenerate the world of men. Below cold and darksome Nifel-heim are the nine divisions of torture in which the souls of the wicked are punished. At Hvergelmer the watchman of the root of Ygdrasil is Ivalde, who with his sons contend against the storm-giants who threaten Hela. The roots of the great World-tree suck up the waters of the three eternal fountains, and these mixed together give imperishable life. In the well of wise Mimer the fibres are made white with the holy mead which gives wisdom to men, and poetry also, and is the very elixir of life eternal. On the high branches of Ygdrasil, which overshadow Asgard, sits a wise eagle, and between its eyes is perched a hawk named Vedfolner. On the topmost bough is Goldcomb, the "cock of the north", which awakens the gods from sleep and puts the demons to flight. From Hela answers the red cock, whose fire purifies what is good and destroys what is evil. But the great World-tree bears a more painful burden than mortals can conceive. In the well of Hvergelmer, in the black realm of Nifel-heim, is the corpse-eating dragon Nidhog, "the lower one", which chews constantly at the root; above, four giant harts are ever biting its buds and its leaves; on its side, Age rots it; and many serpents gnaw its tender fibres in the dark underworld. For there never was good to which evil came not, nor growth which has known not decay and the wasting of time. The Norns of Hela sprinkle the great ash-tree each morning with precious mead from Urd's fount of life, so that its leaves may ever be green. Thence comes the honey-dew, which drips upon the world and is stored by the bees. And in Urd's fountain are the two mystic swans which are the ancestors of the swan race in Midgard. Up and down the World-tree runs constantly the squirrel Ratatosk, which bears gossip between the eagle on the highest branches and the dragon Nidhog at the root, and is thus ever the cause of strife. Greatly dreaded is Nidhog, who flies to the rocks and cliffs of the lower world with the bodies of dead men beneath its wings. The three Fates, who are called Norns, are Urd and her two sisters--Urd, "present"; Verdande, "past"; and Skuld, "future". By them are spun at will the fates of men and women. There are also Dises, who are maids of Urd, unto whom various duties are assigned. The Hamingjes are those Dises who are guardians of men through their lives, and appear to them in dreams to give warnings and noble counsel, and he whom the holy elf deserts for wrongdoing is indeed lost. The decrees of Urd are executed by the Giptes, and men who are favoured are suddenly awarded good fortune and treasure; other Dises attend upon families and even upon tribes. There are also the sweet elf-maids who have care of babes unborn in the fair realms of Urd, and find them kindly mothers in the world of men; and there are maids who conduct the souls of the dead to Hela's glittering plain. Now in Hela is the lower-world Thingstead of the gods, where the souls of the dead are judged, and rewards and punishments are meted out by Odin. There is but one road thither from Asgard for all the gods save Thor, and that is over the curved bridge Bif- rost, "the rainbow", which has its foundation beyond the edge of the world of men. The southern span reaches to the fount of Urd in the realms of green verdure that never. know decay. Bif-rost is built of air and water, and is protected by red fire flaming on its edge. Frost giants and mountain giants ever seek to capture the bridge, so that they may ascend to Asgard and overcome the gods; but its sentinel, Heimdal, is constantly on guard against them. The gods set Heimdal, son of the waves, to protect the bridge forever against the enemy. He is clad in silvern armour, and on his head is a burnished helmet with ram's horns. Horsed on his swift steed, Gull-top, he now watches at the highest point of Bif-rost from his fortified citadel, Himinbjorg, "the ward of heaven", where his hall is supplied with precious mead. Anon he crosses over from side to side of the bridge. His sight is so keen that he can see by night as well as by day the length of a hundred leagues, and he listens so keenly that he can hear the grass growing. He sleeps as little and as lightly as a bird. When the giants and monsters come to assail the gods at Ragnarok, Heimdal shall blow a thunderblast on Gjallar-horn which is hidden in the deepest shade of the World-tree. With his great sword he shall combat with the Evil One in the Last Battle. Heimdal is loved both by gods and by men, and he is also called Gullintani because his teeth are of gold. There was a time when he went unto Midgard as a child; he grew up to be a teacher among men, and was named Scef. Every day the horses of the gods thunder over Bif-rost as they descend to and return from the lower-world Thingstead. Thor, the thunder god, cannot travel thus because the fire of his thunder chariot might set the bridge aflame and destroy it. He must needs wade across the four great girdling rivers in the underworld to reach Hela's glittering plains. When the gods come unto Hela they leap from their horses and take their seats in the Thingstead. The dead are then brought before them. A weary way and long these dead men and women have travelled. Down the valley of thorns they came, and those who were given hel-shoes in their graves, because they had shown mercy to others while they lived, suffered indeed little; but the feet of the wicked were torn and bleeding. Then they crossed a river full of weapons. The just walked over on boards, but the unjust waded, and were sorely wounded and covered with scars, so that their bodies dripped blood. To the Thingstead come men and women in full attire, with the jewels and ornaments which those who loved them placed on their bodies ere they were laid in grave-chambers. Warriors carry their weapons, and all are clad so that they may be recommended to the gods as the well-beloved among men. But silent are the dead, save the happy ones under whose tongues were placed, ere yet they were laid in their graves, magic runes, so that they might make answer when accused, and give reasons to justify their deeds. But the Hamingjes can also speak for the dead, and those who have not Hamingjes to speak for them are known to have done evil and to be deserted by their Dises in sorrow and wrath. Those who are justified pass to the eternal realms of Hela, where joy prevails, because they have lived upright lives, and have been honourable and full of pity and have helped others; because they were brave and feared not to die; and also because they worshipped the gods and gave offerings in the temples. But those who are condemned are sent to Nifel-hel, the region of torture. They are judged to be unworthy if they injured others by falsehoods or wicked deeds, if they were adulterers, or murderers, or despoilers of graves, or cowards, or were traitors, and profaners of the temples. Those who are to share eternal joy are given to drink from the horn of Urd, which imparts to them enduring strength. In it are mixed the three meads from the wells which sustain Ygdrasil, the World-ash. But the doomed are given a draught of burning venom which changes them to monsters. Their tongues are then for ever bereft of speech and they can moan only. The happy dead disport themselves on the green plains of Hela, where they meet lost friends and ancestors from the earliest years of the world. And many beauteous ways they travel, and wonderful tales they hear. The children are cared for in the realm of Mimer, "memory", where joy is theirs forever and their food is honey-dew. The doomed are fettered and are driven towards Nifel-hel by black elves, who carry thorny rods with which they lash those who falter or seek to turn back. Their first punishment is received when they must needs pass through the regions of eternal bliss, and behold with grief unutterable the joy of the blessed. Then they cross the rivers which girdle Hela, and climb towards the dark mountains of Nifel-hel. The wolf dog barks at them in the shadowy valley where it guards the borders of Hela, and there is blood on its breast. And as they climb tortuous paths and tread the narrow path on the edge of dizzy precipices they hear the barking of the terrible watchdogs at Nifel-hel's gates. The dreaded dragon, Nidhog, hovers near them, and ferocious birds of prey sit on the rocks. Then they enter the Na-gates and die the second death. Punishment is given in the nine realms of torture according to the sins that were committed. Some are seized by the dragon and some by the birds of prey, according to their deserts. Others are tempted for ever by illusions of sinful things they sought in life, and there are those who are torn to pieces by the great wolf. In the Venom-dale is a river called Slid, and it is full of daggers and sharp spears. Through it must wade the perjurers and murderers and adulterers, who are continually suffering new and fierce wounds. Others sit together on benches of iron, while venom drips on them, within a hall which is full of stench unbearable. Traitors are hung on trees, and cowards are drowned in pools of foulness. Eternal night broods over all. Naglefar, the "ship of death", lies in the Gulf of Black Grief, in the outer regions of Nifel-hel, made fast to a dark island with chains that shall not sever until Ragnarok, "the dusk of the gods". It is constructed of the parings of dead men's nails--the wicked men, hated by their kind because of their evil deeds, whose bodies were cleansed not at life's end, and whose nails were not pared ere they were laid in grave-chambers. When Naglefar breaks loose the avenging hosts shall sail in it to battle against the gods. The warriors who are slain in battle, or drowned at sea, are borne to Valhal in Asgard by the maids of Urd, who are called Valkyries. They are horsed on swift steeds, and first they pass to Hela, where the gods give judgment and reject the unworthy. Then they are carried by the Valkyries over Bif-rost, and the hoofs of their steeds resound in Asgard. In great Valhal the heroes feast with Odin in eternal triumph and happiness. Now these are the divisions of the Universe. In the midst is the earth, Midgard, which is encircled by the ocean. On high, and above all else, is Asgard, and below it is the realm of white elves, who flit between the branches of the great World-tree. Then Vana-heim, the home of the Vana-gods, is in the air and in the sea; and in the depths of the western sea is the hall of Aeger, god of Ocean. Alf-heim, the home of elves, is to the east. In the lower world, below Nifel-heim, are the Nifel-hel regions of torture, and under Midgard are the Hela realms of Mimer and of Urd. Far below the path of the gods towards Hela's fields of bliss are Surtur's deep dales on the borders of Muspel-heim, where the great giant Surtur, the swarthy sentinel, keeps watch with his flaming sword. Jotun-heim is to the north and the east, beyond the world's edge. Billing is the elf-guardian of the western heaven, and when the cars of Day and of Night and of the Sun and of the Moon enter the forest of the Varns, "the protectors", they pass through the lower-world realms of Mimer and of Urd towards the gates of Delling, the elf of dawn, in the east. When Nat reaches Hela, where she must rest, darkness falls around her, and the blessed are given sleep, and light comes again with Dagr, as Nat covers the earth above with shadow and deep slumber. The Descent of the Gods . . . the Gods arose, And took their horses, and set forth to ride O'er the bridge Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch, To the ash Ygdrasil, and Ida's plain; Thor came on foot, the rest on horseback rode. And they found Mimir sitting by his fount Of wisdom, which beneath the ash-tree springs; And saw the Nornies watering the roots Of that world-shadowing tree with honey-dew. There came the Gods, and sate them down on stones. --From "Balder Dead", by Matthew Arnold. [07-5] ========= ========= WCOT'S PAGAN CHAT ========= by Anthony Ford, host of Pagan Chat ========= Pagan Chat is a radio talk show dedicated to discussing issues surrounding paganism and other alternative spiritualities.  The host and guest take questions and comments via telephone, email, and AIM.  These questions and comments are presented, and then discussed by the guest, host, and interacting listeners. Also, the guest and host may write short articles containing hints, tips, and other tidbits of helpful information to share with the pagan community. The goal of Pagan Chat is three-fold.  First, to air the truth about paganism and other alternative spiritualities.  Second, to generate discussion about paganism, whereas the listener can be exposed to diverse and interesting opinions.  Finally, Pagan Chat also strives to present helpful tidbits of information to the practitioners of paganism.  Of course, the most important goal of Pagan Chat is to have fun, and learn while we do so! Pagan Chat is on every Tuesday from 8pm to 10pm EST.  To listen, go to http://people.sunyit.edu/~wcot/ To contact the show to pose a question, start a discussion, contribute to a discussion, or generally say HI!!!, you can call (315)351-7363, email the host at forda@sunyit.edu, or use AIM at the screen-name WCOTPagan. Hope to hear from you!!! You can also discuss Pagan Chat with Anthony on our message board: http://www.ecauldron.net/cncboard.php?m=2331.1 [08] =============== ============ COLUMNS ========= [08-1] ========= ========= KITCHEN WITCHIN ========= by our readers ========= === === Kitchen Witch Blessing === Author Unknown === Submitted by Novitiate === Kitchen Witch Blessing Blessed Be this kitchen of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Be warmed by the Sacred light of the Goddess May all that is Created here by means both magickal and mundane. Bring nourishment, healing and sustenance, and cause harm to none. With love and peace, with joy and Magick, be now and always filled. So Mote it be!" (author unknown) === === Chasmodai's Magickal Veggie Burgers === Submitted by Chasmodai === These are also known as Valkyrie Veggies   This recipe takes two evenings or one full day to make, but it's worth it because it makes about 50 veggie burgers, they freeze well and reheat beautifully. To make this recipe, I used an electric rice/veggie steamer, a food processor, and a crock pot. I also used a very large mixing bowl, a couple of smaller bowls, a skillet, a pie plate, several cookie sheets, waxed paper, and freezer bags.   2 bunches of spinach, (washed and stems removed) 2 packages of mushrooms (cleaned and coarsely chopped) 1 onion (cleaned and coarsely chopped) 1 pound carrots (peeled and coarsely grated) 2 cups whole wheat berries 2 cups brown basmati rice Approximately 5 1/2 to 6 cups of vegetable broth 1 cup rolled oats 1 quarter cup bulgur wheat 1/4 cup parsley stems removed, coarsely chopped 1 15 oz can white beans (drained) 1 cup hulled unsalted sunflower seeds 2 cups toasted slivered almonds, unsalted 1/4 cup sesame seeds 2 cups pumpkin seeds 1 pound of mozzarella cheese (shredded) 1 8 oz package of Mexican cotija cheese, goat cheese, or other soft cheese 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 15 oz package bread crumbs Seasonings such as spike, paprika, garlic and onion powders, pepper Peanut oil or other oil like canola   Day one, or in the early morning: Place the two cups of wheat berries in a crock pot with four cups of vegetable broth. Add spices such as Spike and garlic and onion powder to taste. Set to low, for about 8 hours.   Wash the spinach, remove the stems, and steam it until it s wilted. If you use the type of steamer that allows the vegetable liquid to collect separately from the steaming water, reserve this liquid and add it to the crackpot -- it improves the flavor of the vegetable broth.   While the spinach is steaming, clean and coarsely chop the mushrooms and the onion. Set the steamed spinach aside, and steam the mushrooms until they are reduced. Again, if possible reserve the liquid. The vegetable liquor that forms is a wonderful flavor enhancer. Next, steam the onion, and again, reserve the liquid. Grate the carrots, and either steam them or saute them in a pan with peanut oil on medium high heat until softened.   Next, steam the brown basmati rice in about a cup of vegetable broth. (If you don't use a steamer for this, cook according to package directions)   Combine the vegetables and place them in the refrigerator until chilled. When the rice is finished steaming, refrigerate it also.   Day two, or eight hours later: Remove the wheat berries from the crock pot, and drain. Reserve the thick broth -- it makes wonderful vegetarian gravy -- and test the wheat berries. They should be chewy but soft enough to eat.   Warm up some vegetable broth (I zapped it in the microwave), and pour it over the bulgar wheat, just enough to cover it, for about ten minutes. (I used about 1/2 cup broth for ¼ cup of bulgar wheat.)   Remove the veggies from the refrigerator, and squeeze them to remove all extra liquid. You want them as dry as possible. Pulse them a couple of times in the food processor, along with the parsley, beans and nuts. Do not over process them, but make sure there are still large pieces to give your burgers texture. Place all of the processed ingredients in a large bowl, and add the cheeses.   Squeeze all of the extra moisture out of the bulgar wheat, and add the bulgar to your veggie burger mixture. Thoroughly mix all of the ingredients in the bowl. (At this point you may find it necessary to use your hands) Add the cornstarch and spices, and stir it in.   Now here comes the tricky part. The texture of the burger mix determines the outcome of the burger. If the moisture is too wet and sticky, the burgers will have an unpleasant mushy texture. Add in breadcrumbs, maybe 1/2 cup at a time. Mix them in, until your mixture has the texture of play dough. When enough breadcrumbs have been added, it won't be dry but it won t stick to your hands either.   Place some breadcrumbs into a pie pan. Form your mixture into patties, about 1/4 cup each. Roll each burger in the breadcrumbs, then fry in hot oil until golden.   As the burgers brown, remove them and cool them on paper towels. Place the cooled burgers on cookie sheets covered with wax paper and flash freeze them. Leave them in the freezer about 30 minutes to one hour, then wrap them for long term freezing -- wrap each burger in wax paper, then fill freezer bags with burgers.   To warm them up, zap them in the microwave, fry them on a skillet, barbeque them, or even warm them in a toaster oven. === === My Mom's Easy After Thanksgiving Pot Pie === submitted by Christine Moonflower === The holiday season is upon us and so are the left overs. Here is something that you can do to get rid of them and clear space in the fridge.   2 pie crusts Turkey Mashed Potatoes Peas Corn Stuffing (optional) Sweet potatoes (optional) Cranberries (optional)   In one pie shell layer the ingredients as you wish. Take the other pie crust and remove it from the pan, roll it out and lay it on top of the other. Crimp down the sides, cut slit in the middle of the pie and bake at 375 for about an hour.   Variations: you can use any left overs from beef or pork roasts. === === Greek Avgolemono Soup === submitted by Christine Moonflower === This soup is easy simple and delicious it's great on cold nights and when you are sick. It seems to give me an energy boost every time I eat it. I see it as a very solar soup; and associate it with the Sabbats of Yule or Ostara.   4 Cups chicken or veggie broth Juice of 1 1/2 lemons Zest of 1 to 1 1/2 lemons 1/2 Cup rice 4 large egg yolks Salt and pepper   Heat broth until steaming. Stir in lemon zest and juice. Stir in rice, cook rice thoroughly. Slowly whisk enough of the broth into the egg yolks to temper them. Then add the egg yolks to the broth, whisking thoroughly. Heat gently until steaming.   Serves 3-4 people. === === Orange Medley === submitted by Goaoe === To energize you throughout the holiday season, try some Orange Medley:  A refreshing "energy spritzer".  Gather 2 oranges 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil or herb 2 lemons 1/2 grapefruit 16 oz of water 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla. You may substitute oil fragrance but use small amounts as these are very potent. Some are costly as well.  The basic "natural" juice is a bit more refreshing than the oils, but either will work.   Take your fruit and use a processor or just squeeze as much juice as you can (minus the seeds) and put in one bowl.  Gather your peppermint oil/and or herbs, vanilla, and water and mix together. Add the juice from the squeezed fruit and mix well. Pour into a saucepan and place on the stove to boil.  Boil for 10 full minutes (no more than that as you don't want the nutrients to dissolve from the fruit).  Once this comes to a boil, remove pan and let cool for 10 minutes.  Pour into a small spritzer bottle (or you can divide into 2 small bottles) and refrigerate.  Keep this in the refrigerator and spray on first thing in the morning, for an afternoon "pick me up" or anytime you want to feel refreshed!!  This should only take about 30 minutes from start to finish to prepare.  For the more detailed, if you want to keep slices of orange peel and lemon peel in the spritzer bottle you can, just make sure they are sliced very thin as this will enhance the potency and last longer.   You can double the batch, make as much as you want, you can give this as a Yule gift as well, makes a wonderful stocking stuffer or to add to any decorative basket.  Blessed Be!! [08-2] ========= ========= HUMOR: A FIELD GUIDE TO WICCANS ========= by Roger Tory Pentacle ========= Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft has undergone many changes due to its emergence as the favored "alternative religion." As with any religion that becomes popular, people start adapting it to suit their own requirements, purposes, and agendas. This leads to the formation of many offshoots or, if you will, denominations. Most of those who follow the core values of Gardnerian Witchcraft either delineate their path by using its name (e.g. Gardnerian, Alexandrian, British Traditional) or have dropped the Wiccan label altogether. For those interested in observing the Wiccan religion, this still leaves a huge number of Wiccans to sort through and classify. To assist you, I have created this field guide to the major classes of Wiccans one is liable to run into in the course of observation. Please note that these are high level delineations and that Wiccans can belong to several classes and often drift from class to class. There are also many other classes that are not prolific at this time that have been left out of this guide. As these classes become more prevalent, they will be added. Please enjoy this first edition of The Field Guide to Wiccans. I hope it assists you in your studies. - Roger Tory Pentacle === === Christo-Wiccan === As the name suggests, the Christo-Wiccan is merely a sheep in Wiccan clothing. This person has not shaken the fetters of xianity and does not want to. In fact, they basically have taken xianity, changed a few nouns (e.g. "Jesus" is now "Goddess," "hell" has morphed into "karma," and "sin" has become "negativity") and reduced the commandments from 10 to 1. They practice what is called "Xianity with Tits." It is easy to spot this type. Christo-Wiccans demand to set standards of behavior for others. They love endless lists of rules, standards, and requirements. They don't like rudeness, harsh language, or discussions of bodily functions outside of those related to having babies. They always sit in judgment of others. The first thing they tell people who ask about Wicca is "We don't worship Satan!" Any remarks about past Xian atrocities against Witches will result in them spouting fire and brimstone against the speaker for "intolerance" and "bashing xianity." These Wiccans are universal, you will have no problem finding one. Just walk into a Pagan group and say "*****." The ones that scowl are FB's (see below), the one's that tell you that "your negativity is not appreciated" are Christo-Wiccans. They favor being called "reverend" and like to hang with FB Wiccans. Both groups are likely to be the next Witch burners. === === Crone-ometer === This is a person who thinks that, just because they have managed to get through several decades without dying, they are somehow imbued with wisdom and authority. They are almost all DIEanic (see below) and can cite a different, painful, childhood experience to excuse each shortcoming they may have. They expect everyone to treat them with the highest honor and respect because they have "earned it." These Wiccans can be identified by their imperial airs. They have everything they need yet never do anything for themselves. They do not even have to ask for things. They usually have a court surrounding them that is trained perfectly to make the proper response to each groan, sigh, and whimper. They will not tolerate disobedience and expect their followers to drop any and everything at a moment's notice least they face the constant threat of being "kicked out of the group." Crone-ometers can be found in the center of a group of adoring younger people and they like to lead large, public rituals. In their favor, these are the folks most likely to conduct public classes. They prefer to be called "Mother " and they often take the name of queens or motherly Goddesses. === === Crafty === Named after the movie, these are the people (usually teenagers) who are attracted to Wicca by the movie "The Craft." Their first question is usually "How can I change my hair color?" These wide- eyed, inquisitive newcomers have been treated horribly by mainstream Wiccans. Often denigrated for their "simplistic" mindset and never appreciated for their wide open attitude (they do, after all, believe that magick works) and great enthusiasm. This is an endangered species. As the movie gets older, we see less and less of them, although a few will pop up whenever it is rerun on late night cable. Most Crafties become Mall Rats (see below) while the rest simply drift away. Wiccans did themselves a great disservice by shoving this source of vital energy to one side. There was a small ripple after the movie "Practical Magic" but this film was not very popular and those attracted by it are lumped in with Crafties as are "Charmers" (inspired by the TV show charmed) and anyone else who is drawn to Witchcraft by works of fiction. Shunned by the self-righteous Wiccan community, these folks are usually found around other Pagans only when they make their initial foree. They are very difficult to locate subsequent to that. They look like the kids on the front of "Teen Witch" (which was designed to appeal to them) and are often confused with Goths. They like to be called vampire names and males will often take the title "Lord" usually followed by something of an evil nature. === === DIEanic === These are the extremely militant followers of Z Budapest's brand of Marxist feminism disguised as Wicca. Every problem, every hurt, every disappointment in their lives has come at the hands of a man. If it has a penis, they hate it but justify this hate by claiming they have been "deeply hurt" by men. They usually belong to "Women's Spirituality" (i.e. let's sit around and ***** about men) groups, are lesbian, bi, or, at least, bi curious. They NEVER mention the God or do even the simulated Great Rite, and think men's role in religion is moving heavy things and tidying up. The penis is their enemy. These ladies occasionally visit gay bars but can usually be found wherever there are no men. They like to be called "Lady," "Queen," "Mother," or the name of a death Goddess. NOTE: It is extremely dangerous to approach these Wiccans if you are male. === === FB Wiccan === Fluffy Bunny Wiccans are universally known. These people live in Never Never Land and hang with Faeries. They think the world is a wonderful place of goodness and light and will not tolerate any disagreement (also called "negativity"). They have had several past lives and were always the Queen, the Royal Stud, or some other person of note. They think magic is in the heart and that Marion Zimmer Bradley was "the best Pagan author ever." These Wiccans are, surprisingly, very militant and favor doing battle with those of the Asatru faith, even thought the result is always the slaughter of the FB's. They are great fans of passive aggressive attacks and think that, as long as you don't use bad words or say mean things, you are "harming none." Lies and gossip are two more of their favorite weapons. Our furry friends love the Internet. They (usually allied with Christo-Wiccans) infest mail lists, news groups, and chat rooms demanding that everyone heed their message of peace and love. If they don't, these champions of censorship harass them until they leave or get into lockstep. Should they still persist, FB's have them banned, warlocked, shunned, "Sent to Coventry," or otherwise eliminated. FB's love moderated mailing lists and newsgroups. As mentioned, they often associate with Christo-Wiccans. Their screen names and their magickal names are usually one and the same. They also heavily favor "Lord," "Lady," and names with the word "faerie" in them. === === Glam Wiccan === These are the high profile Wiccans, who often see themselves as being leaders. They have the names we all know. They are always with the right people, belong to the right group, and are in the right place. They drop the name of a famous Pagan author they know at least once every hour. They are never more than one person away from someone who was "initiated by Ray Buckland." Fingers in the wind, they manage to flow with every change in social structure. Always smiling, always your buddy, they will not hesitate to stab you in the back if it benefits them. When a Witch War starts (often by a Glam Wiccan seeking favor), they are quick to choose which side the think will win and doggedly fight for it. If a Wiccan ever wins a political election, it will be one of these people. You find Glams anywhere there are Pagans of consequence, especially at fests. They favor "Lord,", "Lady," or an NA sounding, Witchlike name that includes a reference to ravens (apologies to RBB). === === Green Meanie === Another offspring of the Marxist Socialist movement of the late 60's/early 70's, these are the radical environmentalists, the militant vegans, and the people who have copies of the Mother Earth News from * before * they accepted ads for cars and lawnmowers. These people would belong to ELF, PETA, or Greenpeace were they motivated enough. Instead, they preach that "saving the Earth" is what Wicca is all about and recycle aluminum cans. They often call themselves "Green Witches," but this is a misnomer. They think "real" Wiccans only vote for Democrats and that George W Bush stole the election. This breed has found new life in protesting the war that they feel is the fault of the "evil colonialist" US government. This group is mostly made up of (surprise) students and other academics. They can be found on college campuses and at any rally, protest march, or anti- globalization riot. This group heavily favors Native American- esque names. === === Healy Feely Crystal Weenie === Also called "Crystal Suckers," these are new agers whose world view leans heavily on Eastern thought. They can name the proper herb, crystal, color, and sound frequency for every purpose from whipping up a thunderstorm to healing an infected fingernail. They love to talk about chakras, mantras, and tantra. They practice Reiki and they feng shui their houses (even the garage). They are the most fun to have sex with and often own bookstores. At first glance, they appear to be heavily sedated. These particular Wiccans hang at Pagan bookstores, coffee houses, or anywhere Inya is played regularly. They greet each other with phrase like "See a rainbow!" or "Thou art God/dess." They call themselves by Hindu names, the names of Hindu Goddesses, or anything esoteric. === === IRAB === I Read A Book (thanks Wolf) Wiccans are very annoying. These are the Wiccans who have read a single book and are instant experts on Wicca. Not only that but they don't hesitate to chastise others who have been at it for years because they are "doing it wrong." From working with the Gods to making a poppet, this Mr. Know It All can answer any question you have about the path. An IRAB will be found in any discussion dispensing their new found knowledge. They are named according to the instructions in the particular book they follow. === === IRALOB === At the opposite end of the literate spectrum is the I Read A Lot of Books Wiccan. These are the highly educated, intellectual Wiccans. They feel that your proficiency at Witchcraft is based on how many cites you can give for a particular subject. They know Celtic myth and history, the most ancient origins of every word in the Pagan lexicon, and what Gardner "really meant." They often grow frustrated with other, less cerebral Wiccans (especially IRAB's and McWiccans). They eventually feel that calling themselves Wiccans is not a proper acknowledgement of their superiority. Many drift toward the Druid path and the rest usually start calling themselves "Traditional Witch" which, to them, means "superior Wiccan." Many of them adopt Celtic or Scottish personas and like to talk in the dead languages of those races and laugh when someone does not understand them. They have very little chance of discovering true Witchcraft. These Wiccan rocket scientists can be found hovering near the edge of any discussion ready to pounce with corrections, diatribes, and other demonstrations of their vast stores of knowledge. They are very dangerous when they clump together as they take great sport in ganging up to make outsiders feel stupid. McWiccans (see below) are their favored prey, but will feed on any species except DIEanics or Green Meanies. They like to take the names of bards, people found in the Arthurian cycles, and very obscure characters from myth and legend. === === Mall Rat === Another group of predominately teenaged Wiccans (almost all female), these folks usually start out as Crafties. Shunned and rejected by mainstream Wiccans, they create their own brand based on what they know best: suburban American consumer culture. They love expensive robes, flashy Witch jewelry, Pagan bumper stickers, and just about anything money can buy. They see Wicca more as a fashion statement or a way to rebel than a religion. The average age of an HPS in this genre is around 16 and she is usually an IRAB (which puts her a step ahead of most of her peers). There are many "girls only groups" thus they form a source of future DIEanics. Mall Rats also tend to have strong Healy Feely Crystal Weenie, FB, and Christo-Wiccan leanings as this is the predominate theme of the books they can readily purchase. Mall Rats may be considered to be the "caterpillar" stage of Wiccans because, as they mature, they are usually assimilated into one of the above mentioned groups. As their name suggests, Mall Rats can be found in shopping malls, especially near the food courts. They also flock in the New Age/Occult section and coffee shops of the large chain bookstores. It is not unusual to find an HPS in a training bra holding forth there. The names they choose cover a wide range as the only criteria for selection is "something cool." === === McWiccan === I coined the term "McWiccan" after encountering a person who asked "What is a Book of Shadows?" and then, less than a month later, claimed to be an HP initiated by someone who was trained by Buckland (see "Glam Wiccan"). Unfortunately, this is the most common form of Wiccan. These are the people who want everything now and with no more effort than ordering a hamburger through a drive-up window (thus the name). In fact, this is how they approach life in general. They will not accept the idea that Wicca requires a certain amount of study but rather will show up and say things like "I want to know all there is to know about Witchcraft. E-mail me at . . ." They are noted for making long- winded railing speeches (usually their very first communication) criticizing the rest of the group for not being devoted to educating them. Although tolerated to an extent by most other varieties of Wiccan, McWiccans are the natural prey of the IRALOB's and are almost helpless before them. Getting members of the two groups together usually results in a severe bloodletting. A subset of McWiccans, the Spell Beggars, simply demand to know how to cast spells, usually love spells. This species is noted for a very brief lifespan. The McWiccan variant has found its perfect niche in the online environment as it is much too much effort to seek out teachers or enroll in classes. Their naming convention varies as they usually take the information on the first web site someone gives them in response to their demand to know how to come up with a magickal name. === === Playgan === This species, also known as "Party Pagans" or "Drummers and *****," are into to Wicca just for the fun of it. When they looked up "Pagan" in the dictionary, they never got past "hedonist." As their name suggests, they are into Wicca for the all night drumming circles, the freely available sex, and because they like to go naked in public. To them, Wicca is a fashion statement, the "thing to be," and a social circle. They could not care less about religion or ceremony. Absolutely nothing is to be taken seriously. This species is the natural enemy of Christo- Wiccans, who consider them to be "toxic," will often boycott any Pagan event that allows Playgans to participate. They also try to force event organizers to make Playgans "behave" by having them add reams of rules for the participants. Strangely enough, this does not seem to bother Playgans (little does) which are one of the more prolific species. Playgans can be found wherever there are two or more Wiccans and a drum, a bottle of mead, attractive members of the opposite sex, and/or a "peace pipe." They seldom adopt magickal names but can often be recognized by their common greeting of "Hey dog! When did you get out of jail?" Look for vast areas of skin covered in tattoos and body piercings in the most painful of areas. === === Wiccan Little === These "Nervous Nellies" are so scared of the Burning Times returning that they can smell the smoke. They worriedly scan the news each day and, every time they come across someone wanting to post the Ten Commandments in a public place, a kid being told they can't wear their pentacle in school, or Jerry Falwell blaming sinners for the latest ill to befall the country, they go into a blind panic as they are sure the sky is falling. Emails fly and phones ring as they all convince each other that they are indeed the most persecuted group in the history of mankind. This is their most cherished idea and they constantly talk about the need to bravely "come out of the closet." They may even go as far as mailing postcards or organizing rallies (which are always poorly attended) but Wiccan Littles are noted for a lack of both energy and attention span. Soon enough, whatever it was that got them squawking is forgotten as the next "outrage" comes along. The very strange thing about Wiccan Littles is that they actually defend the one group that actually persecuted Witches. They see the Burning Times as being caused by some nebulous entity and any direct accusations toward xianity will result in the same "xian bashing" accusations one gets from Christo-Wiccans. Wiccan Littles are always found huddled together in flocks. They all talk at once and seldom hear what anyone else says once an alarm is raised. They have no standard naming convention however most of them have stopped using or have even changed their legal sobriquet in favor of their Wiccan name. . Note: Maybe you've spotted a new type we shoudl add to the list? Don't take it too seriously as if you can't laugh at yourself your inviting other to do it for you. [08-3] ========= ========= Cheap Web Hosting Report: December 2004 ========= by Gridspace ========= With thousands of web hosts to choose from, it can be hard to find cheap web hosting with the quality and dependability you want. Many web hosts now advertise extremely low prices and promise more features than anyone could ever want. Unfortunately, many cheap web hosting offers turn out to be too good to be true. Either the service is poor or the fine print in the terms of service make many of the features effectively useless. Low cost web hosting with excellent service, reliability and features does exist -- if you are willing to spend many hours researching offers and user experiences. Many offer to help you select cheap web hosting by listing 10, 20 or even more cheap web hosting companies with offers they consider good. However, that's still a lot of cheap web hosting companies and plans to research. We are more selective in our Cheap Web Hosting Report. We check out the sites and the user comments and list what we believe are the current top five general purpose cheap web hosting plans. We also list several additional plans that provide special features (such as "root" access or a Windows server with ASP and an Access database). This means less work for you. ===== ===== Top Five General Purpose Cheap Web Hosts for December 2004 ===== These are the top five general purpose cheap web hosts selected for December 2004. All of the following hosting plans include a web control panel, a cgi-bin directory, php4, perl, and at least 1 mysql database. Many offer a number of additional features. The prices listed are the monthly price based on the shortest prepayment period offered (1m = one month, 3m = three months, 6m = six months) and for annual pre-payment (1y = annual rate). The setup fees we list are for the shortest prepayment period offered and for the annual pre-payment plan. === === #1 Dreamhost === Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $24.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB (December Sale: 120 GB) Disk Space: 800 MB Mailboxes: 600 Comments: Dreamhost has long been -- and still is -- listed as the best affordable web host for unusual content (as they will host just about anything legal) in the Special Needs Hosting section of this report. Improvements in their plans in 2004 have made them very competitive in terms of bandwidth, web space, and features offered for the price, so they have moved onto and then rapidly up our "Top Five" list. New and improved features are announced in the Dreamhost newsletter almost every month. Their tech support is the best I've seen in the low cost hosting industry. If you are looking for low cost, high quality web hosting with truly excellent tech support and very friendly people, check out Dreamhost. Update: For a December sale, Dreamhost tripled the bandwidth on all their accounts which raised the bandwidth on this, their least expensive account, from 40 GB to 120 GB. (This site hosts with Dreamhost.) More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zdreamhost.php === === #2 midPhase === Price: 3m: $11.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: unlimited Disk Space: 1500 MB Mailboxes: unlimited Comments: midPhase is a young hosting company (launched in late 2002). They offer a strong hosting package with many features at a reasonable, although not super-low, price. It has grown quickly -- and, thus far, without a lot of complaints from their customers over service. If they can continue to provide good service, expect them to rise on our list in the future. At the end of August, they switched to unmetered bandwidth for most sites (60 gig limit for download sites and image galleries). While unmetered bandwidth sometimes causes hosting companies problems, midPhase says that they have been planning this switch for months and do not expect any problems. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zmidphase.php === === #3 iPowerWeb === Price: 3m: $9.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: $30.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: 500 Comments: iPowerWeb is only a few years old, but it already hosts over 200,000 web sites, has won numerous awards for its service, and has successfully managed rapid growth with only a few visible customer service hiccups. The company and its offerings are not perfect, but they provide featureful, reliable, low cost web hosting -- and do so very well from the point-of-view of the average customer. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zipowerweb.php === === #4 Lunarpages === Price: 3m: $9.95 1y: $7.95 Setup: 3m: $30.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: Unlimited Comments: Lunarpages has over 5 years experience in shared web hosting and hosts over 50,000 web pages. While they have not pushed for the huge growth of some of the other low cost web hosting companies, Lunarpages customers seem generally very happy with their service and appear to this reviewer to be more loyal to their hosting company than the customers of other hosting companies. This speaks well for Lunarpages. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zlunarpages.php === === #5 PowWeb === Price: 3m: $7.77 1y: $7.77 Setup: 3m: $20.00 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB /day Disk Space: 1000 MB Mailboxes: 650 Comments: PowWeb has been in the low cost web hosting business since 1999. They are best known for their one-size fits all web hosting plan. They have recently raised their bandwidth limits from 45 gigs a month to a whopping 5 gigs a day (but you get an email warning at 4 gigs in a day according to their policy). We have seen a few more customer complaints over performance and customer service recently, which has caused this web host to drop a bit in our rating, but they are still a good choice for many. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zpowweb.php ===== ===== Special Needs Cheap Web Hosting ===== If you have special hosting needs, one of the following cheap web hosting solutions may meet those needs better than one of the above plans. While the following companies generally do not offer as much bandwidth and disk space as the Top Five Cheap Web Hosts listed above, they provide more than enough of both for most sites and their special features, if you need them, will more than make up the difference. === === Fewer Content Restrictions === Dreamhost Price: 1m: $9.95 2y: $7.95 Setup: 1m: $24.95 2y: Free Bandwidth: 40 GB (December Sale: 120 GB) Disk Space: 800 MB Mailboxes: 600 Comments: In an effort to avoid arguments and complaints, most web hosting companies are fairly restrictive on questionable content -- to the point that some will terminate a site for displaying a picture of a classical (but bare breasted) statue from ancient Greece. Dreamhost not only has an excellent, cheap web hosting package but is far more liberal than most web hosts on acceptable site content. Basically, if your content is legal in the US, Dreamhost will probably have no problems hosting it. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zdreamhost.php === === Windows Hosting === Easy CGI Price: 1m: $9.95 1y: $7.96 Setup: 1m: Free 1y: Free Bandwidth: 50 GB Disk Space: 3000 MB Mailboxes: 50 Comments: Easy CGI provides Windows 2000 servers instead of the standard Unix servers. Their accounts come with ASP and one Access Database. They are one of the most affordable and most popular Windows hosting providers. Customer service reports are spotty, however. Most people report excellent service but minority report major problems. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zeasycgi.php === === Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting (Root Access) === Jumpline Price: 1y: $9.95 Setup: 1y: Free Bandwidth: 5 GB Disk Space: 500 MB Mailboxes: 75 Comments: Jumpline uses special technology to provide each account with its own virtual server. You have your own Apache web server, your own email servers, your own database server, etc. and you have root access to the virtual machine running them. These types of accounts can be more stable and provide better control, but are best used by Unix experts who understand the ins and outs of running servers. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zjumpline.php === === Dedicated Server Hosting === ServerPronto Price: 1m: $29.95 Setup: $149.00 Bandwidth: 40 GB Disk Space: 200 GB Mailboxes: unlimited A dedicated server gives your site its own physical computer as a server. The upside is that you have full root access so you can install whatever software you want on it and have very few restrictions on scripts (even if they hog CPU time). The downside is that you have to maintain the system yourself. ServerPronto has some of the most affordable dedicated server prices we have seen, although there are many options that can increase the monthly price or the setup fee. Windows and Windows 2003 dedicated servers are also available at higher prices. In mid- September, ServerPronto started a special offer of $80 off the above listed setup fees on several plans. The length of this offer is unknown, but it was still going at the end of October, so check their website for more information. More Information: http://www.ecauldron.com/zserverpronto.php === Notes The information in this report was checked for accuracy on November 31, 2004. Web hosting companies, however, can change their pricing and plans at any time so the information may no longer be accurate when you read this report. Gridspace is not responsible for errors nor for what use you may make of this information. Looking for even more hosting options or more information on web hosting? See the Cheap Web Hosting Report web site at http://www.cheapwebhostingreport.com/ [09] =============== ============ AROUND THE PLANES: NOTES FROM ALL OVER ========= Corporate America (and many large non-profits) keep a small army of publicists busy writing copyright-free articles that busy newspaper and newsletter editors can use in their publications. Many are nothing but shill worthy only of a cartoon version of used car salesman. Others contain useful information with only a subtle plug. Your editor has found a good online source for these and will be including a few that he feels may be of interest to Cauldron and Candle readers in issues of this newsletter. Remember that publication of an article in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the authors' position or any products and companies mentioned therein. [09-1] ========= ========= Fostering A New Generation Of Blood Donors ========= Each year, nearly five million Americans need a life saving blood transfusion and 38,000 units of blood are needed daily in this country. Critically low inventories nationwide frequently result in public appeals for donations. About 60 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but only five percent does. Almost 20 percent of non-donors cite "never thought about it" as the main reason for not giving. Few people realize that blood has a shelf life of only 42 days or that eligible donors are allowed to give blood every two months (or 56 days). As additional donor restrictions are implemented and the population ages, the country could lose more and more willing donors, which could cause an even greater threat to our national blood supply. The Advertising Council is partnering with AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks), America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross to launch the blood banking community's first national, unbranded public education and awareness campaign. Geared towards young adults, the public service advertising (PSA) initiative is designed to raise awareness about the importance of and need for blood donation in order to foster a new generation of lifelong donors. This thought-provoking new initiative was developed to catch the attention of young adults, especially 17-24 year olds, to increase awareness of the need for regular blood donation and to set the foundation for lifelong donor behavior. Created pro bono by ad agency Euro RSCG Worldwide New York, the campaign includes television, radio, outdoor and Internet advertising and directs young adults to visit a new, comprehensive Web site, http://www.bloodsaves.com/, where they can learn more about the need for a robust blood supply and obtain information and resources to help them donate blood in their community. Titled "Save the World," the new campaign features young adults discussing the extreme lengths they have gone to try to make a difference in the world in an effort to show how donating blood is an easy way to positively and significantly make an impact. Each PSA concludes with the tagline, "Saving the world isn't easy. Saving a life is. And just one pint of blood can save up to three lives." The PSAs are being distributed to more than 20,000 media outlets nationwide and will air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media. To donate blood, one must be healthy, at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and meet other donor requirements. Those interested in donating blood are urged to visit http://www.bloodsaves.com/ to find a local blood collection site and to schedule an appointment. [09-2] ========= ========= Coral Reefs ========= Rising ocean temperatures caused by global warming pollution threaten to wipe out many of the world's coral reefs, including popular reefs in U.S. waters, say leading coral reef scientists. They project that a majority of the world's coral reefs could be lost if average temperatures increase more than about 3.5 degrees, a conservative estimate of what is expected in the coming decades if we fail to curb global warming pollution. "Many of the most popular reefs for diving are nearing a point of no return," said Patty Glick of the National Wildlife Federation. The Florida Keys experienced extensive coral bleaching in 1997 and 1998, which scientists attribute to a half-degree rise in ocean temperature. Coral reefs are important nurseries for millions of commercially valuable fish. In Congress, Senators John McCain, a Republican, and Joe Lieberman, a Democrat, have teamed up to push the Climate Stewardship Act, a plan to reduce global warming pollution. [09-3] ========= ========= Tips To Ensure Pets' Safety During The Holidays ========= Holidays can be happier if pet owners follow a few easy tips to make celebrations both a safe and pleasurable experience for dogs and cats. According to Dr. Susanna Hinkle, D.V.M., an emergency room veterinarian and surgery resident at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, you can easily "pet proof" your house in the following seasonal ways: === Pets as holiday gifts "The holidays are too hectic to properly select and introduce a new dog or cat into your home," said Hinkle. "Regardless of when you bring home a new companion animal, you both need time to bond with each other and other people and animals in your household. Start your relationship off on a good foot by developing a consistent schedule free of the demands holidays may make." === Food Treats that are delectable to humans can be deadly to pets. "Never give your companion animals chocolate; rich fatty foods; or pork, poultry or fish bones," said Hinkle. Chocolate can be toxic to animals; fatty foods such as turkey skin and gravy can cause pancreatitis; and bones can puncture your pet's throat, stomach or intestines. Alcoholic drinks can also be lethal, especially to smaller animals. "Don't feed any of these foods to your pets and make sure you keep the lid on your trashcan closed tightly," said Hinkle. === Medications The holiday season is often flu season and your own medicine is hazardous to your pets. "Childproof bottles are not necessarily pet-proof," said Hinkle. "Ibuprofen tablets can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure in dogs, and aspirin tablets can do the same in cats. Even your seemingly safe vitamins and herbal medicines can be lethal to your pets." Hinkle warns that the best strategies are to keep all medicine in secured areas and only give your pets medication approved by your veterinarian. === Decorations "Candles, electrical cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, potpourri, ribbons and seasonal plants all pose dangerous side effects if your dog or cat chews or consumes them," said Hinkle. "If you must use them, keep them out of your pets' reach." Hot wax from unattended candles can burn pets and can also be fire hazards if your pets knock them over. Angel hair and glass ornaments can cut your pets' paws, mouths and intestines; and tinsel can cause intestinal tears or blockages requiring surgery. Some pets will try to drink liquid potpourris or rub against their warming pots, resulting in mouth, skin and eye damage. Tying bows and ribbons around your pets' necks can strangle them, so buy standard collars in your favorite holiday colors instead. Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe leaves and berries can also cause moderate to severe toxic effects. === Other Poisons "Batteries, rodent bait and antifreeze are common household items that can cause tremendous physical harm to your pets," said Hinkle. === Stress Humans aren't the only animals that suffer from holiday stress; companion animals do too. "Adhere to your pets' regular schedule of feeding and walking," said Hinkle. "Remember that visitors, loud noises and a disrupted schedule can throw your pets into a tailspin." Make sure your pets' identification tags are up to date in the event that they slip away from your watchful eye. [09-4] ========= ========= Family Caregiving... It's Not All Up to You ========= One out of five adults finds him or herself as the designated caregiver for a loved one who can't manage alone. In an era when extended families are supposed to be getting weaker, more families are moving their aged relatives into their homes to care for them. Concerns over nursing home placement coupled with the soaring costs for long-term care are contributing to the trend. It is not unusual for family caregivers to take on more than they can realistically handle and many have feelings of guilt if they ask for help. Yet, asking for help is often the best thing they can do for their loved one. If you manage or provide direct assistance to someone who needs help with day-to-day activities because of a chronic condition, cognitive limitations or aging... you are a family caregiver. Acknowledging your role, being open to solutions and understanding that seeking help is in the best interest of everyone, are important steps toward re-establishing a quality of life for all. You are a family caregiver if you provide Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as helping your care recipient with getting in and out of the bed and chairs, dressing, getting to and from the toilet, bathing, dealing with incontinence or diapers, and feeding. You are also a family caregiver if you provide Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) such as providing transportation, housework, grocery shopping, preparing meals, arranging for outside services, managing finances and giving medications. Recognizing the "symptoms" of burnout, anticipating needs and getting assistance can help families adapt and enjoy the personal rewards of family caregiving. Signs that may indicate a need for help include an escalation in job-family conflicts, family caregiver exhaustion and stress, the disruption of family relationships, prolonged feelings of sadness, and loss of sleep. The National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving can provide new ideas and resources that can help you get help, feel better and do better. Visit http://www.familycaregiving101.org/ a non-profit Web site made possible by the generosity of Eisai Inc. [09-5] ========= ========= Ten Tips That Will Alter Your Life ========= Dr. Kathleen Hall ========= Are you overworked, overbooked and overwhelmed? Don't panic, with a few simple changes you can make a huge difference in your life. Here are ten tips that will not only reduce stress but will allow you to find the extraordinary meaning in everyday activities. 1. Stress reduction in a minute. Studies show that during the day, as little as five minutes of meditation, deep breathing and yoga can lower blood pressure, release healing hormones, increase creativity and production and help your ability to handle stressful situations. 2. Exercise at least 30 minutes every other day. Walk at lunch, set a treadmill up in your television room. Take up Pilates. Exercise lowers your risk of stroke, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. 3. Laugh as often as possible. Laughter releases endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and boosts your immune function. 4. Play. Playfulness increases creativity and increases disease- fighting immune cells. 5. Pay attention. Become aware of emotions (stressors and calming forces) and how these affect your choices, relationships, home life and work. 6. Eat breakfast. People who eat breakfast consume less fat and have a higher intake of essential vitamins and minerals, resulting in lower serum cholesterol and a lower heart attack risk. 7. Get a pet. Studies show that owning a pet can help reduce blood pressure. Emotional life savers, pets help people experience intimacy and deal with changes in their lives. 8. You need a friend. Friendship is not a luxury, but is essential to work-life balance and your health. Studies show isolation decreases immune functioning. 9. Maintain an attitude of gratitude. It's impossible to be grateful and experience stress at the same time. Studies tell us daily gratitude exercises result in higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. 10. Altruism and philanthropy. Altruism neutralizes negative emotions and makes people feel stronger