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A MAGICKAL ENVIROMENT
*********************
Defining Practical Magick
**Written And Submitted By: Taylor Ellwood
http://www.thegreenwolf.com


When I think of magick I think of practical magick. I'm not into
using magick just for spiritual transformations, but also for
transformations that reach out and affect the world around me as
well as within. I don't think you can really differentiate between
the inner spiritual world of yourself and the outer physical world
around you. For me the outer world is the mirror of our inner
spiritual world. What occurs outside reflects what is happening
inside. So to even try to separate magick into a purely spiritual
phenomenon is to weaken it as a force in our lives. This kind of
divide, this need to define magick in terms of spirituality and
physicality is indicative of a duality, of a need to define
opposites. Good and evil is an example of a duality. However life,
and indeed magick, is not that absolute.

Instead I would argue that practical magick is the realization of
our spirituality in everyday life. It is also the manifestation and
imposition of our needs on the physical reality around us. In truth
reality is not as physical as it appears. We think it's physical
because our senses tell us it is, but to even work magick in a
physical world demands a re-ordering of our perception of what the
physical reality is. A person cannot afford to think of reality as
an objective, physical, separate existence, but rather must realize
that reality is an extension of the self. It is true we share this
reality with other entities, human and otherwise, which in and of
itself highlights to me a reliance on interaction as a means of
validating reality. In other words even as reality is an extension
of the self, so too is the self - yours, mine, everyone's - an
extension of reality. The manifestation of reality and the self as
physical phenomena relies on this inter-actional relationship, which
is, if you will, a consensual agreement that says as you validate me
so too will I validate you. Reality then as an extension of us is a
way of challenging the self to grow.

Where does magick fit into all of this? Magick is one of the primary
mediums used to interact with reality. Even people who do not
knowingly practice magick use it. Whether a person is praying to a
god or firing a sigil, magick is used to imprint on reality the need
and the will of each individual. Reality is extremely malleable as a
result. Every time a person works magick, whether for a spiritual
transformation or to get a job, he/she is working practical magick.
He/she is imprinting on reality and on the self the need for a
particular desire to be manifested. This manifestation comes into
effect due to the belief the person has about the need for this
desire to be manifested into reality. We can also use the following
paradigm of ritual as presented in the paragraphs below.

The working guts of ritual: What makes it what it is, why do results
occur because a ritual is done? My answer will infuriate because
it's vague: Belief, situational awareness and the connection, the
relational matrix of energy that connects us to all things. Also,
our own internal choice to react to situations and thus create
results out of those situations. We make results occur because we
need them to occur, we need them to happen to answer our needs, our
questions. Give me an answer, we cry out. Why do people believe in
gods? They don't want to be alone...they want to have meaning, but
they don't want the responsibility for creating that meaning. So we
create gods and say here you take over, or we create governments.
The mage accepts responsibility by realizing that the results are a
manifestation of him- or herself, but also a manifestation of the
environment, and the environment responding to the mage's need. The
mage does ritual as a reaction to a situation. This event occurs and
in some way, shape, or form, hinders my progress (or helps it!) and
so I do a ritual, a symbolistic representation of my needs. The
ritual expresses those needs to the environment, which accordingly
responds and shapes itself to the mage's will. You see it is not
enough for the mage to want the reality to occur. He or she must
work it into the natural flow of energy, of the multiverse.
Sometimes we use gods to do that, sometimes just ourself. But
regardless of the method we interact with the environment, with the
situation and in that interaction manifest results.

Magick's not so much getting the petition to change reality to a
place, as it is realizing that you in your space/time can interact
with others in their space/time, and can interact with the
environment in its space/time. It's synchronization with the
discourses around and within us. It's acceptance that I can change
reality, but that reality can change me as well. It is interaction
and interaction is not so much getting from one place to another, as
it is realizing that you are in all places, all times when you mesh
yourself with the environment through the interaction, the discourse
you create to understand that environment. Magick, and yes even
religion, are our way of interacting with the environment,
understanding it, and later manipulating it, and doing all of this
through some symbolic form of representation. When we do a ritual to
manifest specific results we re-present the reality with those
results in place. We talk to the reality, to the environment and a
consensus is reached...new reality is manifested. This always
occurs, even if the mage does not realize this. And it occurs for
people who don't practice magick, although generally they do not
realize that they interact with the environment as well as with
others.

Magick is not so much directed elsewhere as everywhere. Think of it
as a spider web. One motion shapes the entire web. So too does
magick (energy) shape reality. I don't need to move to direct that
power though. I just need to know the power is there and then
interact with it. That interaction will vibrate through the web,
because even as reality, energy, magick are part of me, so too am I
part of them. It's not the technique that's powerful...it's the
understanding that's powerful. When we understand how we interact
with reality, then we understand how to use that interaction to
change reality.

Energy's always directed. Every day you direct energy. You just
aren't aware that you're directing it. Think of your morning. What
do you first do every day when you wake up...what do you next,
etc...? It's a ritual, one where the energy is directed to get you
ready for your day. You interact with reality in specific ways to
produce the result that makes the beginning of your day easy for
you. And you do this all the time, even in your sleep. Energy is
never undirected because there is always something using it, moving
it, interacting with it. Interacting with reality. You manifest
results every day and you don't even know it. And why should you? We
take for granted what we do each day. But to truly know magick is to
know magick in every part of your day, to realize that it is with
you always, that everything you do is an act of magick, an act of
interaction with reality.


**The Chinese Faery His-Wang-Mu: Spell of Protection for your Feline
Friends
Written And Submitted By: Boudicca Andarta





This Chinese Faery is called the Queen of Tibet and is reminiscent
of the Lady of the Lake in the Taoist (Daoist) writings, namely the
book Lie Zi. This goddess of longevity's name means "Queen of the
Western Heaven" and sometimes goes by the name Xi-Wang-Mu. She is
one of the oldest deities known in China and her worship dates back
from pre-historic times until present. Originally she was depicted
as having the fangs and tail of a cat, but under Taoism, she became
more benign. She governs the length of the lives of mortals
granting them a boon of longevity and in some cases immortality
itself.




Depending on the tradition, His-Wang-Mu lives in either the western
Chinese K'un-Lun mountains or in the Hindu Kush where she has five
jade ladies-in-waiting. She has left her home to visit earth only
twice, once to Emperor Mu (in 985 BCE) and to Emperor Wu-Ti (in the
second century BCE).



From her realm His-Wang-Mu rules of the west and she is therefore
associated with the season of autumn and old-age. She is sometimes
identified as the Golden Mother of the Tortoise, the animal that is
not only the embodiment of the Universe itself but also symbolizing
the Dark Warrior of winter and death. Her sacred totem-animal is
the Phoenix or Crane, the Chinese symbol of longevity which is often
used in funerary rites.



THE SPELL

If you have a cat as a pet, use this spell to ask His-Wang-Mu to
protect your kitty so that your four-legged friend lives a long
life. If possible, give her an offering of a piece of jade or
better yet, find a piece of jade (perhaps in the shape of a tortoise
or a cat) at your local bead-store and after His-Wang-Mu has blessed
it, add it to your feline's collar.



Hold the piece of jade (or another charm that you can
put on the collar) and say:

"Lady of the Lake, Chinese Faery,

Queen of Heaven and Longevity;

Lady of Autumn, Golden Mother,

Lady of Winter, Dark Warrior;

I give to you this offering of jade

I implore you now, this I bade;

Protect my friend, this little feline,

Extending all its lives of nine.

Please bless this charm of protection,

Lend your energies to this talisman.

So that (name of kitty) lives a long life,

Healthy and happy, free from strife.

My thanks go now out to you,

Chinese Faery, His-Wang-Mu."



Once you feel that His-Wang-Mu has placed her blessing upon it, go
ahead and put the charm on your kitty's collar.



Sources:

· Encyclopedia of Gods by Michael Jordan

· The Mystical Way and the Arthurian Quest by Derek Bryce



About the author:

Boudicca Andarta has been a practicing Witch that follows the Wiccan
Rede for the past 23 years. A Priestess that was called to the
service of Artio, she is continuing her training through the
Fellowship of Isis (www.FellowshipOfIsis.com) and founded the Iseum
of the Emerald Flame (http://IseumOfTheEmeraldFlame.tripod.com).
Living in Northern Michigan, she tends Artemis' deer and cares for
abused and neglected animals. Boudicca also makes hand-crafted
items and for more information, please visit her store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Boudiccas-Boutique-Magick-Mystique

******************************************************************

CRICKS IMPRESSIONS
******************

The Voice of Spirit

Written And Submitted By: Crick




From the realm of spirit to the physical realm we are each sent
forth. And like a babe in the woods we are exposed from the instant
of birth until our final breath, to the cacophony of life. We
experience the intrusion of sound and physical experiences at every
step of our journey. Throughout our lives the voices and actions of
others of our kind seek to influence us to their ways. Like a leaf
caught in the maelstrom of the ocean, we are tossed this way and
that by the opinions and biases of those around us.


Every human on earth seeks to offer answers to questions that they
don't understand. And yet so few will admit to such a lack of
understanding. Rather then admit to being ignorant of the meaning
of life, humans will create endless facades. We create religions
and politics and engage in wars in the name of Deity, and still we
don't follow the most obvious choice and that is to stop and listen
to the voice of Spirit. And yet I wonder if the voice of Spirit is
of a sound that we cannot hear. Unless of course we shut out the din
of those around us who themselves have not the answers.



Every human on earth from an atheist to a member of a religion to
those who follow a spiritual path is a seeker to some degree. And
even though we are all naive students in the course of life the din
of voices never seems to subside. At what point do we admit that we
don't have all of the answers and finally sit back and simply
listen?


Every person on earth has one thing in common. And that commonality
is belief. Whether it is in the belief of something or against a
given belief, it serves as a common ground for all. And so what is
it that drives us to such lengths to establish our thoughts in such
a manner? Could this be the language in which Spirit speaks to each
of us? When a student of life walks into the comforting embrace of a
deep and ancient forest, and thoughts that are not ones own begin to
fill ones head, could this be the voice of Spirit?
Is it that Spirit speaks to us in a way that requires us to set
aside our own voices and simply listen? What if the whole world
suddenly ceased the din of self serving admonishments of each others
beliefs and personal biases and just listened to the voice of
Spirit? What kind of a world would we have then, I wonder?



Would it be the chaotic morass of humanity that we have today? Would
humanity be splintered into so many invectives if we were able and
willing to recognize our lack of existential knowledge and let
Spirit show us the way?


Realistically our species has proven as a whole to be incapable of
such a basic discipline, preferring instead to engage in
insecurities brought on by our lack of understanding of life not
only in this realm but throughout the spiritual journey assigned to
each of us. These insecurities are borne out by our eagerness to
engage in prejudices based upon the color of ones skin, ones
religious/spiritual beliefs, political views, ethnicity and a myriad
of other redundant excuses of why one student is crowing about how
they are superior to another, at least within each ones own minds.
And yet there is a small reprieve from such self imposed roadblocks
on seeking such answers to the Great Mysteries of life.


Fortunately spiritual growth is not dependent on our species as a
whole crossing through the threshold of realization as one. Each one
of us has the opportunity to make an independent decision on whether
to allow the voice of Spirit to filter through the detritus of our
minds. We can each decide on whether to be an attentive student or
simply melding into the mob of lost souls who seek no better
alternatives.


As it is, Spirit speaks to us in many different ways. If only we are
willing to take the time to listen.
Have you ever found yourself drifting off into that mysterious realm
of dreams only to encounter a dream that was so vivid and different
from your normal experiences in such an ethereal landscape that it
left you questioning the import of such a dream? Could this be the
voice of Spirit speaking out to you?



Have you ever ascended into the depths of a deep and contemplative
meditation and while on your journey you began to have images from
an unknown source flash across the dark void of your subconscious?
Could this be Spirit seeking to make a connection?


The voice of Spirit comes across as a quiet offering that does not
attempt to shout above the din of noise created by humankind. For
Spirit is indisputably the ancient teacher and not the boisterous
students known as humankind. The voice of Spirit is a teacher that
transcends the dawn of humanity itself.




How many times have you found yourself in a contentious situation
that required a difficult decision to be made and it was suggested
that you listen to your "Inner" voice? Could this Inner voice
actually be the sage voice of Spirit patiently waiting to offer you
guidance in your time of dire need? Could such an inner voice be the
thread of communication that Spirit uses to connect with all of
humanity regardless of the multitude of divisions that we devise to
separate ourselves from one another?


Oftentimes a loud voice is used to drown out that which we don't
want to hear or that which we are uncomfortable with or simply don't
understand. Could it be that humanity as a whole is, through its
very self- destructive actions, doing just this? Could it be that
our ignorance and/or our fear of the unknown is causing us to drown
out the voice of Spirit?


The voice of Spirit is the torch in the night that will lead us
along the path of growth when all else is in darkness. Are you
willing and able to heed it?

*****************************************************************

Loopy's Book Review
*******************

Written And Submitted By: Loopy

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.


The age old question, what to have for dinner, is stuck under a
microscope. Michael Pollan follows the food chains, industrial
food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves. He
follows four meals from the "farm" or source, to the final meal. He
takes us from the cornfields to the food science laboratories, from
the feedlots and fast-food restaurants to organic farms and hunting
grounds.


I admit I was totally grossed out by the feedlots. I suspect I am
not the only one who is unaware of how cattle, chickens, and even
fish are treated, or mistreated. It turns the simple question of
what to have for dinner inside out and makes us examine the moral
and political dilemma behind the choices we make. It made me think
about the phrase, `you are what you eat' because it added the
truthful addendum, you are what you eat eats. Beautifully written
and incredibly enlightening.

*********************************************************************

MABON/HARVEST HOME
******************

The Balance of the Equinox: Grounding and Centering
***************************************************
Written And Submitted By: By Boudicca Andarta



The Fall Equinox, like its counterpart the Spring Equinox, is about
balance; balance of light and shadow, equal day and night. At this
time of the harvest, take time to reap the benefits of keeping
yourself balanced through grounding and centering.



When grounding, you are physically and spiritually reinforcing your
connection with Mother Earth and the forces of Nature; think of it
as anchoring yourself to the earthly plane. When centering you are
reinforcing your connection with the magick within you; think of it
as drawing your consciousness, your center of power, into one place
within you. You can accomplish both at the same time and I
encourage you to experiment until you find the version that works
bests for you.



Ideally, you will ground and center on a daily basis, along with
your daily meditation. During meditation, you are naturally un-
grounded, so grounding will help bring you back to the mundane. As
you can see, these two practices go hand-in-hand. Daily meditation
or grounding and centering may or may not happen for you based upon
how busy your schedule is, so if you cannot commit to a daily
practice, then make sure to devote some time once per week. Make
sure to set the time aside and the results will be worth the work.
Think of it like "muscle memory"; with regular practice you won't
need to "think about it", you will be able to ground and center
lickity-split when you don't have the time to go through all the
pomp and circumstance of ritual. Sometimes life throws you a
curveball and you simply need to be able to react to it!



Prior to ritual, circle-casting, or a Pathworking, you need to take
a few moments to rid yourself of the mundane and align your mind,
body and soul for the task at hand. You're connecting to the Divine
and opening a channel to better listen to Them. Since ritual
happens between the worlds, the mundane and the spiritual, your
energies can feel scattered afterwards, so grounding and centering
is just as important after ritual as it is beforehand.



Performing ritual can lead you to feel "spacey", lightheaded or
queasy because you may have too much energy in your body. There are
many ways to "ground" the energy, just like with electrical systems,
so that you can carry on with your day-to-day life safely. For
those working in a group setting like a coven, grounding and
centering can be a group activity as well as a bonding experience.
The Priest or Priestess can hold a staff upright in the middle of
the circle and each covener grabs a hold of it, imagining their
excess energy flowing form them into the staff and into Mother
Earth. You can eat or drink something, and this is why the "Cakes
and Ale" portion of the evening always follows the closing of the
ritual (note that for those that cannot or should not drink
alcoholic beverages, you may simply substitute fruit juice and
because it is a depressant, some practitioners restrict the use of
alcohol to outside the magick circle). You may have noticed that
when stressed, people tend to gravitate towards food, alcohol or
cigarettes to "calm them down". This is because as you are
digesting the food or liquid; your body is concentrated on the
process of digestion, helping to bring you back to the state of the
physical. Please keep this in mind during your day-to-day mundane
life so that you don't overdo this form of grounding as it is all
too easy to fall into bad habits that can lead to addictions. It is
far better for you to take some deep breaths and ground and center
so that you can calm down to make better decisions.



Becoming ungrounded can occur involuntarily during a traumatic
experience and the spirit-energy of a person can partially leave the
physical body. I can give you an excellent example of this from my
personal life. This involved a man who after I broke off the
romantic relationship, he became my stalker. One particular
instance was terribly frightening to me and I became hysterical. I
called my Goddess-son who told me to take some deep breaths and to
calm down. At the moment, I thought that "calming down" was
absolutely ridiculous, how could I possibly calm down in a situation
like this? But, thanks to his help I did it, and thank the Gods I
did, because after I stopped hyperventilating, I could actually make
logical decisions again. I contacted the proper authorities, and in
time I took my stalker to court where the judge instructed him to
either leave me alone or to go to prison. Thankfully, my stalker
was smart enough to not choose prison.



Grounding and centering isn't just for ritual or emergency
situations. You can also use grounding and centering when having a
particularly stressful day at work. Simply take a "potty break" and
while in the restroom you can employ one of the exercises given
below of grounding and centering. Another option is that you could
go outside and "get a breath of fresh air" to help calm your nerves
and allow you to go on with the rest of your day. Perhaps while
outside on a sunny day you could find a Dandelion, which aids in
grounding and just as you did as a child, make a wish! And while
your out there, you could also work in the garden, grounding and
centering yourself while working the soil of Mother Earth. Copper,
Smoky Quartz, Onyx, Magnetite, Black Tourmaline, Garnet and Hematite
are items that are easily carried and an easy way to ground; carry a
piece or two in your pocket or wear a bracelet so that you can tap
into the grounding energies whenever you're feeling scattered.



After ritual, you can employ a simple yet effective technique of
grounding that involves either kneeling or sitting and placing the
hands and feet upon the floor or ground. If sitting or kneeling on
the floor is difficult for you, then simply kick off your shoes,
place your feet flat on the floor and breathe out the excess energy
through your feet and into Mother Earth. Either way, mentally
connect yourself with Mother Earth and "pour" the excess energy out
of your body into Her. You can also visualize the energy of Mother
Earth entering your body and flowing through you just like
electricity surges through wires and as it exits your body, it takes
the excess energy along with it back into Mother Earth. If you are
having trouble with the "electrical" visualization, try "breathing"
the green energy of the Earth into yourself and exhaling the red
energy of activity into the Earth, repeating your breathing as many
times as needed until you feel relaxed. Either way, you are ridding
yourself of any tiredness or negative energy along with neutralizing
the excess energy.



Here are a few versions of grounding and centering, and I encourage
you to try each one at least three times before moving on to the
next one. Then, find which one that you like the best and perform
that version for the next Moon (28 days). After that, construct
your very own version that is a custom-fit for you and make it a
part of your daily/weekly practice. Some people are naturally un-
grounded; perhaps you can think of someone that you could describe
as "flighty", so they may benefit from these techniques as
well.



Tree of Life Version

When performing this form of Grounding and Centering, you will
visualize yourself as a tree with your branches reaching way up to
the Sky and your roots reaching deep down into Mother Earth. Your
torso forms the trunk of the tree which bridges the gap between the
worlds, the physical (manifest) and the spiritual (unseen). Stand
in a comfortable position, preferably a wide stance with your arms
making the shape of a "V". Your legs form the trunk of a tree and
your toes elongate and transform into roots. Breathe in and out and
with each exhale, "push" those roots deeper and deeper to the center
of the earth itself. Now, with each inhalation, bring the energy of
Mother Earth up into your very core. Then, shoot the energy up
through your body out through your limbs and branches. Like the
gentle breezes that rustle the leaves, breathe the energy back into
yourself, again to your very core. You have essentially formed an
Infinity Symbol or a Figure 8, and at the very center (hence the
name Centering), the energy converges and coalesces into a magickal
ball or unlimited possibilities. At this time you can "pull in"
your roots and branches, becoming less of a tree and more of a human
being by using your breath; inhaling the energy in and in until it
is all within your body. When your awareness is no longer that of a
tree and you are aware of your body and the room that you stand in,
open your eyes.

Try this version at least three times before moving on to the next.
Be sure to record your results!



Planting the Seed Version

Try lying on the floor and closing your eyes. Get comfortable and
imagine that you are seed that has been planted within Mother
Earth. Visualize your self going through the germination process;
your roots form and dig deep within the Mother and your branches and
leaves reach up higher and higher towards the Sun. When done,
wiggle your fingers and toes, stretch and open your eyes.



Wheel of Light (Chakra) Version

Grounding and centering can also be done by cleansing,
energizing and opening the Chakra centers. The Chakras are the seven
major energy centers or colored spheres discovered in ancient India
that are aligned along the spinal column of the body. Either sit in
on the edge of a chair or standing the Goddess Position (making
a "star" with the body, legs and arms in a "V"), keeping your spine
as straight as possible while keeping your body both relaxed and
comfortable. See a ball of white light above your head and one
below your feet. Visualize the one above your head entering your
Crown Chakra (just above the head, color violet) and the one below
you entering your Root Chakra (at the base of the tailbone, color
red). Continue to send the balls of light simultaneously down and
up the spine, awakening the chakras and connecting them to the
energies of the Universe; the Third-Eye Chakra (between and just
above the eyes, color Indigo), the Navel Chakra (just below the
navel, color orange), the Throat Chakra (the hollow of the throat,
color blue), the Solar Plexus Chakra (at the Solar Plexus, color
yellow), and finally meeting at the center at the Heart Chakra (the
middle of the breastbone, color green). As the balls of light enter
each Chakra, see the pure, white light burning away all negativity
or blockages. Once clean, see each Chakra pulsing its color
brightly. Once the two balls of light converge into one at the
Heart Chakra, allow them to engulf the entire body with a brilliant
bright white light to help keep the energies of the whole system in
balance. To center, focus that energy into a condensed marble at
one of the Chakras, the one that you feel is your personal power
center where you will send out any raised energy. If in doubt,
place the energy into the Heart Chakra so that any energy sent form
there will be imbibed with the unconditional love of the Universe.



Boudicca's Version

You will find that my version is an amalgamation of the
above "traditional" versions, bits and pieces that I strung together
into one that works best for me. This also involves me gathering
energy that I will later use to cast a magick circle, so you may
wish to also include this in your magickal workings.



I begin by facing East, standing with my feet lightly apart and my
eyes closed. I breathe in and raise my arms over my head and touch
my fingertips together. With my thumbs touching, I make the shape
of a triangle, and inside that triangle, I form a ball of white
light. Now separating my hands from each other, I pull the ball of
light like taffy into a laser-beam of white light, glowing like a
light-saber.



I hold each end of the "laser-beam" with my hands as if I were
holding the grips of a bicycle's handlebars. With each exhale, I
pull the laser-bean through my Chakras, cutting through the meridian
of my body, cleansing each Chakra, and "burning" it clean. Using
the laser-beam like a cat uses its whiskers, I mentally "check-in"
with each Chakra to see how they feel and if they need any extra
attention. If one does, I spend extra time on it, giving it a
good "scrubbing" like a frying pan that has stubborn residue.



Once I get down to my root Chakra, I "let go" of the handlebars,
flatten my hands and "push" with my palms the laser-beam into Mother
Earth, taking all the negativity and "dirt" with it. I then take my
power-hand and draw a Banishing Pentagram upon the ground and "push"
the star-shape through to the realm of the unseen as if I had just
used a star-shaped cookie-cutter. I mentally sweep away any
remaining negative energy from my body and "dispose" of it in my
newly-made trash receptacle and when it's all gone, I seal the
passage up tight.



At this point I draw an Invoking Pentagram, another doorway to the
astral, but this one is exploding with white light that comes
bursting forth from it. Using my hands, I "grab" it and direct
this "laser-beam" up through my Chakras, starting wit my Root Chakra
and working my way up, one by one, activating them. Each
one "explodes" open, and I see them as a colored flower that blooms
awakened and its tendrils reach out to the Universe around me.
Through the rainbow of colors I go; red (Root), orange (Navel),
yellow (Solar-Plexus), green (Heart), blue (Throat), purple-
blue/indigo (Third-Eye) and purple (Crown).



At the top and above my head, I see the white light shooting up and
out like a fountain. This "fountain-water" of light shoots up, out
and around me, enveloping me like an eggshell as I bring my hands
up, out and back down to my sides. I now hold my hands out to
either side of me, palms up, and I hold in each hand the base of a
rainbow, holding all of the colors of the Chakras, and this rainbow
arcs over my head.



At this point, I let go of the rainbow visualization, but I still
hold my palms up. Now is when I gather all of the white-light
energy and begin to condense it into a ball that begins like an
enormous beach-ball and ends like a cantaloupe. Each time in
inhale, the ball of light gets smaller and denser and I literally
feel Goosebumps prickle my arms as I do this. As my center of power
is my Heart Chakra, I breathe the energy ball of white-light in and
out of it three times, changing the energy to pink and green. I
mentally "tell" the ball of energy that it will later become my
magick circle, but for now I will hold it in my Heart until it is
needed. I "breathe" it in into my Heart Chakra once last time, open
my eyes, and go about my magickal working.



Now its your turn

Now that you have all of these "seeds" that you have
planted, choose which one(s) to harvest. Construct your very own
method of grounding and centering and perform it on a regular
basis. Bring this sense of balance into your everyday (mundane)
life so you can fully reap the benefits!



Sources:

The Book of Wicca by Lucy Summers
The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan
Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living by Dorothy
Morrison
Instant Magick by Christopher Penczak
Making Magick by Edain McCoy
Wiccan Warrior by Kerr Cuhulain


About the author: Boudicca Andarta (Rev. Merrie Hutchins), priestess
of the goddess Artio living in Northern Michigan, is a Witch who
follows the Wiccan Rede and has been practicing for more than 23
years. She received her Priesthood training through the Fellowship
of Isis (www.FellowshipofIsis.com) and founded the Iseum of the
Emerald Flame (http://IseumOfTheEmeraldFlame.tripod.com). Later
this year she unveil Our Lady of the Lake Healing Sanctuary
(http://OurLadyOfTheLakeHealingSanctuary.tripod.com), dedicated to
many magickal forms of healing so as to better serve the Pagan
community. Available for Handfastings as well as other ministerial
services, she can be reached via email
IseumOfTheEmeraldFlame@lycos.com.


Mabon - Overview by Christina
*****************************
Written And Submitted By: Christina Aubin

The Autumnal Equinox, in the Northern Hemisphere, is the point at
which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from north to
south. The equinoxes, which lie at the intersections of the
celestial equator and the ecliptic, are points moving in a westward
direction along the celestial sphere. This is known as the
precession of the equinoxes (first noted by Hipparchus around 120
B.C and explained in 1687 by Sir Isaac Newton). It takes 25, 800
years for the equinoxes Êto pass through all the constellations of
the zodiac, meaning this occurs at a rate of 50.27 seconds of arc a
year.

Equinox literally means "equal night", day and night are equal in
length - as if the scales are perfectly balanced. It is at this time
the sun truly rises in the east and sets in the west., and the point
at which we can observe the most rapid change in the Sun's apparent
motion. It is now that the nights dip into the "below freezing"
temperatures, while the days can still be warm and delightful and
the trees increasingly change into their fall finest colors.Ê It is,
as if at Mabon, the harvest erupts with overwhelming abundance,
symbolized by the horn of plenty - the cornucopia brimming with
bounty. The full moon closest to the Equinox is know as the Harvest
Moon, for the simple reason that the full moon enabled folks to work
into the night harvesting by it's gentle light. If the full moon
closest to the Autumnal Equinox is actually in November then the
September moon is typically named the Corn Moon.

Autumn Equinox is the second in the trilogy of harvest festivals.
Mabon marks the completion of the grain harvest begun during
Lughnasadh. Celebrations revolve around the gathering of crops and
thanksgiving for the abundances of the harvest, and rituals to
insure the success of next year's harvest are characteristic during
this harvest time. The making of corn dollies from the last sheaf of
corn that is harvested is a typical custom. She is kept until the
spring - keeping the spirit of the corn, when she is ploughed back
into the field to breath the life of the corn back into the soil.

A harvest supper, also known as a harvest home, a dinner of
thanksgiving and celebration, is also traditional. The home is
decorated with wheat sheaths, bundled together gold cords, corn
stalks, cornucopias overflowing with seasonal fruits and nuts,
gourds, pumpkins, garlands of autumn's colorful leaves, acorns and
pinecones. A table full of stews, meat pies, hams, roasts, potato
cakes, cheeses made from spring's milk, custards, cakes, fresh fruit
tarts and pies, corn bread, caraway seed cake (it was said that
caraway seeds kept a person from stealing), ale, poteen (a very
potent drink - was banned in 1661 - legalized in 1997) and cider.
Typical fruits of this time are apples, cranberries (original name
crane-berries - named for the cranes in the marshes where
cranberries grow), fen-berry (the American cranberries English
cousin), grapes, hazelnuts, corn, squash, pears, and peaches.Ê

It is a time of great joy and great sorrow, it is the time of great
change. Mabon is as much about life as it is about death, it is the
reminder that within life there is death and within death there is
life. It is about the dance that partners life with death.Ê

Mabon is a time when we are poised between the worlds of life and
death, of light and dark, of day and night. We mourn that which is
passing, celebrate that which is bountiful and are consciously
reminded that the Mother will hold the seed of Light in Her womb
until the time of rebirth. Once more the realization that the Wheel
of Year has turned, as it always has and will always continue to do
as our time is circular not linear, there is no end without new
beginnings, it is the continuance of life eternal.

For the second time in the year, day and night are once again equal,
creating for us the time to look at our own scales, the bounty of
our own personal harvest weighted against our life's experience. A
time to take the gifts given from experience hard wrought, make them
apart of who and what we are. These past experiences, regenerate
into wisdom, which is reborn within. By doing so we honor these
events, people, and experiences that have so impacted our journey,
our being, and in honoring these we make them sacred and their
passage one of distinction and consequence. For we can not know what
we have not experienced. The journey of life is one of knowledge and
through that knowledge growth.Ê

As the sun crosses the equator and heads south, he signals the end
of summer's impassioned days and the beginning of the journey into
the quiet winter months. We celebrate the story of Mabon ap
Modron, " the son of the mother", the Divine Youth, the Son of
Light. Mabon is taken when he is three nights old. His whereabouts
are a shrouded in mystery, it is through the wisdom and memory of
the most ancient animals (Blackbird, Stag, Owl, Eagle, and Salmon)
we understand where he is and why.

Mabon, dwells in the Earth Mother's womb, the Otherworld. It is a
place of challenge, a place of cultivation, a place where one is
renewed and regenerated, a place of new life. So that He maybe
reborn, the source of Light and Joy, the champion of His Mother.
Just as Life is being drawn into the earth as seed, accumulating
strength and wisdom, to become the new harvest, Mabon has returned
to his Mother's womb. For as the winter begins, the earth incubates
the tender seeds, throughout the winter, the seeds are kept deep
within Her womb so that they maybe reborn and bring forth new life.

It is during Mabon that we are reminded of the necessity for fallow
periods, for it is the fallow periods which allow us to assimilate,
regenerate, and incorporate that which we have progressed through.
Just as fields need to lay fallow to better support new growth so do
we.

For in life events happen, choices are made, and actions generated,
we cannot go back and change that which has passed, but we can reap
the harvest of wisdom these have brought us. Life can present us
with great tragedy. Tragedy that rips at the very fiber of our
being, tragedy that is not necessarily a result of our own actions
and decisions, but tears through our world without warning or cause,
like the horrific events in NYC and DC. Even in this, if we can find
grains wisdom, kernels of insight, sheaths of understanding and
through this we are able to find new directions, new insights, new
lessons learned and understood, then perhaps maybe, just maybe from
the ashes of these tragedies - we can find the seeds to plant a
greater forthcoming future. One that would not shine as brightly had
the tragedies, which we thought would finish us, didn't.Ê

We may not be able to change the past, but we can most certainly
change the future, and in this action we do honor to not only
ourselves but to those who have so impacted our lives and loves. Let
us do ourselves, in the larger sense of ourselves, honor by not
allowing this country's tragedy to break us, but allow tragedy to
propel us into a new undiscovered world - a world without fear, a
world of greater understanding and acceptance, an evolution of being.

Blessed Mabon!

Christina Aubin

*********************************************************************

MAGICKAL FAMILY
***************

Children's Story for Mabon
**************************
Written And Submitted By: Patrick McCleary
http://pagandad.blogspot.com/


"Grandfather, is the next story of the Gods, the one for Mabon, is
it sad?" asked the little girl as she looked up with tears in her
eyes. "I don't know if we can take another sad story".


The Grandfather paused for a moment and looked down at her upturned
face and said, "The next two stories are sadder then the last. But
they only make you sad because you have forgotten how it all ends
and begins at Yule."


"You mean the rebirth of the Sun King and the Goddess becoming young
again?"
"Yes children that is exactly what I mean. For you see there must be
sadness if there is to be happiness or we wouldn't appreciate it.
There must be winter for every summer so that everything can have a
chance to rest.


"And that is what this Sabbat is about. It is the finishing of the
work to prepare for the winter. The harvest of the fruit and vine
and the storing of supplies and repairing of tools and such.


"But it is also the time that the Goddess leaves us on her annual
journey to the Underworld in search of her lost love, the Sun King.
For with his death, the magick that they had laid in the Spring had
began to fade and Winter was coming fast. And this was a fitting
time for her to leave because the fruit that is harvested is like
her. They are the womb that holds the seed with a promise of new
life. And she is the same.\


"So She went to the shore and lit a bonfire of the sacred woods and
began to chant and to dance. Longer and faster did She dance. Around
and around she spun and finally Her spirit lifted from Her body and
began its long journey down into the Underworld.
"I will not speak of all the scary things that she faced. From
Giants and Ogres to Dragons and other Wyrms all seeked to block her
way. But none were strong enough to block her path. For she came in
love everlasting and of course, having been this way before, she
knew the ways to avoid most dangers.


"But finally She came to a pool glowing with Golden Light and the
scent of roses filled the air around Her. She had finally found her
lost love. But he slept with the sleep of Death on the edge of the
pool.


"With Her voice raised in song, she began to wash the body of the
fallen Sun King. She sang of power and love. Of racing across the
green grass in spring and the warmth of the Sun in late summer. The
smell of all the flowers in bloom and the feel of swimming in cool
water on a hot summer day. All the things that the Sun King could
bring back to the Earth if he only lived.


"Finally after what seemed an eternity the Sun King awoke and looked
at Her and smiled. 'My Goddess,' he said, 'I have not the strength
to return in this body. I will not survive the journey back into the
land of the living. But I will dissolve my body and go into you as a
spark of life that you can foster and grow until the time is right
and ordained.'
And with a last breath He did just that. With a burst of light his
body turned into energy and infused the Goddess, further aging her
but giving her the strength to make the new Sun within her.


"And so with this She began her journey back to the land of living.
Now see children there is always hope even in the darkest of times.
The Sun has begun his journey back to join us in the land of the
living. And the Goddess while apart from us is soon to return."
With this the children smiled, for the story wasn't as sad as they
had expected it to be. And it let them know that all was going to be
OK.


What is more important Faith or Religion?
******************************************
Written And Submitted By: Patrick McCleary
http://pagandad.blogspot.com/

This is one of the great questions of our age. Faith vs. Religion.
Which one do we need more of? Is there a difference between them?
Can you have one without the other?
To me there is a huge difference between the two. We have all met
the Sunday School Christians. You know, those Christians who have
the religion (i.e. they go to church on Sundays or as little as
Christmas and Easter) but don't have the faith that backs that up.
They may believe in God but they do not have the faith in Him. And
yes there is many Pagans that fall into this category as well. They
celebrate the Sabbats, if there is a public ritual, and worship with
the best of them but they don't have the deep faith that others have.


So what is faith? I guess that this is the next question to answer
and probably the most important next to the question in the title.
Faith is the belief in something greater then the sum of yourself.
But it goes beyond just belief or dogma, it is the life altering
realization that changes our outlook. It is what makes me Wiccan
always. I am just not Wiccan at the Sabbats or in other rituals I am
a Wiccan in all parts of my life.


So now that we have defined faith, can one have faith without
religion? In other words can a atheist have faith? Is belief in a
Divine Presence a requirement for faith? For me the answer is yes to
the first and no to the second. I have met atheists that have faith
in mankind and the spirit of hope that can arise in man. This can be
a powerful motivating force.


So yes we can have faith without religion. And we can have religion
without faith. But we cannot survive without faith. If you don't
agree, look around at the hopelessness and confusion that is the
hallmark of our age. Our youth have nothing to believe in and so
they have no drive. They are easily led astray by anyone or anything
that promises a better future. Without direction the youth cannot
lead themselves, much less the country that they are going to
inherit, in a productive direction. A direction of growth and new
life.


It is not the lack of God in schools that is the problem, contrary
to some people's belief, it is lack of faith that our children hold.
The push away from organized religion has stripped generations of
their faith. And so it is time to bring back faith to our youth.

But what do you do if your family (or yourself) is lacking in the
faith department? I mean it is understandable, we live in a
stressful, non faith conducive world; so it is easy to do, to fall
away from faith and stop living a spiritual life.
Well, there are many things that one can do to both connect with
your family and to connect them (and yourselves) to faith.

* Family Altar
* Meals together with Prayers
* Bedtime prayers said together
* Worshiping in Circle together
* Acting as living reminders to each other

Some of these are harder to do then others but they all will work to
remind each of you to have faith. For space reasons, I personally do
not have a family altar up, but it is in my plans for the new year,
when I can afford to buy smaller furniture which will clear up room.
Yet the idea of a house altar that serves as a focal point for the
faith of the family is a very ancient idea.


The best placement for the altar is up to you. But strive to place
it somewhere that everyone will see it often. You can decorate it
for the different Sabbats and make it a center of your family
rituals.


Praying together, whether at meal times or at bedtime or any other
time, strengthens the bonds of family with the glue of faith. So do
it. Pray together often. And when the occasion arises take the time
for all to say thanks to the Gods for all that they have received.


When the children get old enough they should be included in ritual
with the family. This serves at least two purposes. The first being
of course to increase the bonds of family. And the second being to
prepare them for the ritual outside of the home in the public eye.
The last one may be the hardest one and is one that I have borrowed
from Christianity. We all "backslide". You know, get tired of the
effort and the daily grind. Yet if we have someone at hand to remind
us of why we do what we do and to hold us up through the trials our
faith can survive and even strengthen. This is really what family is
supposed to be for, to increase the strength of the individuals to
multiply the strength of the whole family.


So as we come up to Mabon, the time to give thanks for the bounties
we have received, why don't we make the resolution to bring our
family together in faith? Take a moment to bow your heads in prayer
and offer up thanks for all that you as a family have received
together. And in the next year let us all make family our focus, as
it should be.

*********************************************************************

POWER OF STONES
***************

The Earth's Harvest Stones
**************************
Written And Submitted By: Nyna Shtern


Once again the harvest season is upon us! It is a time for reaping
what we've sewn. It is the evening to October's night.
Energetically it is a time of high power, and much magic is in the
air to be used for bringing good things to fruition. The many types
of rocks and gemstones Mother Earth offers us should always be fully
appreciated by us, but especially now. At times like this, specific
stones may call to us and draw our attention. Those stones would be
the sorts that respond best to this sort of active evening energy.
For that reason, many shall be spoken of which are best suited to
making the most of a good harvest time.

In this season earth calls to us to gather...to harvest, not only
the things she has grown for us over the planting and growing
seasons, but also those hopes, dreams, and magics we've planted.
Moss agate is an earth and nature stone as is green fluorite. The
energy of both can serve well to draw our attention to the earth and
to ourselves in the ways we respond and connect to it. Working with
such stones at this time, allows us to be fully in tune with inner
and outer happenings.

The grounding yet expansive energy of clear quartz crystal is an
asset to have around in this season. It grounds us during these
moments of busy activity so we remain focused and energized. It
also opens us so we may expand to take in all the possibilities of
the harvest time for our own benefit. It serves as well, to amplify
our own abilities and assist us in feeling all the magic in the air.

Meteorites are useful friends to have about during the harvest time
if you've plans to make use of the magic. Their other-worldly
energies attune us to the near realms which are easily reached
between now and Sow'in. This is because between the time of harvest
and the time of Sow'in, the veil between the worlds grows ever more
thin. This gives greater access to all sorts of magic, and these
wonderful other worldly stones help us to be open to receive it.

Jade and citrine are both lucky stones. If your plans over the past
year were carefully laid for success, they are good ones to have
around for the harvest. The yellow to orange color of citrine can
also help to keep the aura in touch with the harvest time energy.

The magic of amber is also quite helpful during this time of year.
Amber is very balancing, and during the changes of the seasons,
balance is always good. Many things are shifting, so it is
important to give ourselves balance while they're doing it.

Such seasonal shifts can leave us often feeling a bit unprotected
when so many things are changing at such a rapid pace. Even though
many of those changes can be good ones, they still often bring their
own sorts of stress with them. In such moments, we can feel in need
of protection. Because of its fitting seasonal color, tiger eye,
like amber, can be a good friend. Its form of protection manifests
itself in a gentle loving way which serves well to reassure and set
the aura at ease.

Another good protective stone to have about during this time is
hematite. It is a very earthy stone due to its grounding
properties. Its high iron content serves well to protect our immune
system. That is a good thing especially when the season for colds
and such is upon us. Hematite is a lovely silvery black in color,
and like most other black stones, it is protective. Its earthy
grounding abilities keep us safe from psychic attacks. During
slumber, they protect us from wandering into dangerous areas of the
astral relms. In giving mental clarity at all times, hematites also
assist in keeping us focused in our tasks, what ever they may be.

With any of these stones in your collection, the true spirit and
magic of the time shall be fully open to you. Have a wonderful
harvest!

Nyna Shtern lives in Riverside CA with her husband Ishamael, and a
magical parakeet named Goblin. She is a medical massage therapist,
healer, and past life regressionest. She has worked with the magic
of stones, the earth elders, for over fifteen years. They are used
in her healing work, and she uses them in wands and jewelry for her
personal custom designs which are sold locally and online.

*********************************************************************

SEPTEMBER INTERVIEW
*******************

CW: Ellen can you share a little bit about how you got started on
your pagan path and what got you started writing books?



Ellen: As a girl I was fascinated with folklore, faery tales and
mythology. I loved the garden, the woods and all of nature. I had a
connection to the cycles and seasons of the natural world — they
simply seemed sacred to me. I always felt at home in a garden or
forest, but out of step everywhere else. As a teenager, my psychic
abilities developed, and so did my interest in magick, and the
Craft. Back then, my clairvoyance and psychometry were really
causing problems for me, and I needed to learn how to control them,
or at least to understand what was happening. As a young woman, I
was often overwhelmed by the images and impressions that I received
and I was very tired of being afraid, so I determinedly began to
search for answers. I taught myself the Tarot and used my
clairvoyance to do readings at the local psychic fairs in order to
test myself. That was a wonderful learning experience for me. A
typical Virgo, I had studied pretty much everything metaphysical
that I could get my hands on, and discovered natural magick and
Wicca along the way. I was pretty surprised, all those years ago, to
discover that what I had believed in my heart all along had a name.
For me, it just fit. I was home. As to how I started writing books…
I always carried around three-ring binders filled with my own
stories and ideas. As I grew older, it was just a matter of finding
my niche. I started out writing contemporary romance — no kidding —
and I became frustrated with that right away; it's a tough market to
break into. My goal was to get something in print before I turned
40. Finally, I decided if I was ever going to succeed then I should
write about what I knew and loved — the Craft and the natural world.
I started out writing articles for the Llewellyn annuals and had so
much fun and positive feedback with those that I dove into writing
my first book, Garden Witchery. Ten books later and here we are.



CW: What really gets your creative juices going when starting a new
book?



Ellen: It depends. Sometimes it's an idea that pops up and won't go
away. Other times it's an idea that's been brewing in my mind for a
while that slowly takes over and demands to be written down. When I
need to jump start my creativity I do something else creative. Scrap
booking, working on my altered book of shadows, or gardening.



CW: What do you want people to get from your books?



Ellen: Well honestly that depends on the topic of the book.
Typically, I want them to enjoy them, to learn and to laugh along
the way. My goal is always to inspire the reader to get up and to go
learn "more". Basically to put what I have taught them into practice
by working their magick in their own unique and personal ways. I
always stress that to make your magick powerful- to give it "spark"
it has to have your own personality stamped on it.



CW: Your Newest Book "How to Enchant a Man" sound very intriguing.
Can you tell us about it?



Ellen: How to Enchant a Man is about female empowerment. It is about
personal improvement and on looking at yourself and men in a whole
new light. It is full of humor, real life advice, magick, ways to
work your "charm", and of course spells, and enchantments, for
single and married women. I let my sense of humor rip on this one…
Trust me you'll be laughing so hard while you read this book. By the
time you are finished with the book you'll only then realize just
how much you actually learned. The feedback has been amazing so far.



CW: Why this Kind of book?



Ellen: Because all women, married or single are always looking to
improve their love life. Whether it's to find the right guy, or to
learn how to make themselves more enchanting, Maybe they'd like to
put some spice back in their love lives, or are looking for ways to
keep on enchanting the good man they already have. If you are
single, this book is for you. If you are in a committed
relationship, or are married and surrounded by kids, this book is
for you. I have a whole chapter devoted to "Keeping the Flames
Burning". If you have college aged kids and are finally able to
enjoy alone time with your guy for the first time in 20 years…. Or
if you are starting over after a breakup or divorce, This book is
for you too.



CW: I have had the honor of taking one of your classes At Panthea-
Con 2008 In February. The thing I heard you say the most was learn
your Basics. Why do you feel so strongly about people knowing their
basics of Witch Craft?



Ellen: The basics- the daily correspondences are like the building
blocks of the Craft. Once you learn those you can do anything. No
matter what phase of the moon it is or what day of the week. There
is always a way to work your mo-jo. People will look at me and
say "The basics? Oh come on." They roll their eyes and sigh. Then I
ask them what are the magickal correspondences for lets say…
Tuesday. What planet, flower, stone, color, deity and magicks go
with that day? When they look at me blankly. I point out with a
smile that once they learn their daily correspondences they will
open up worlds and creativity to their own spell writing abilities.
This is the reason I wrote my book, 7 Days of Magic.



CW: You also talk a lot about keeping it Simple. Why do you think
People have such a hard time working magick into their lives
everyday.



Ellen: Because they think the process to death. It does not have to
be complicated. And if you know your basics, you can just dive in
and work your spells. Instead of wasting time looking things up and
agonizing over every detail. Just get in there and do it.



CW: What tips can you give our readers on how to keep it simple?



Ellen: Magick is about being connected to nature- it's not about how
many dozens of books you collect, how many degrees you receive, or
how many pagan functions you attend in a year. It's about
connection. If a Witch has a natural connection to the earth and
works in harmony with the daily energies, the phases of the moon and
the seasons, then he or she is simply an unstoppable force of
nature.



CW: So why do they call you the Garden Witch?



Ellen: I coined the phrase when I wrote my first book Garden
Witchery. I am a Master gardener for the state of Missouri, and I am
a magickal gardener. I know and celebrate nature as a sacred place.
I work with the elemental energies all around me, these being earth,
air, fire and water. I grow, tend and then gather my flowers and
herbs and use them for various charms and spells. Everything in the
garden is sacred and magickal and I treat it as such. Green magicks,
and magickal herbalism is what I specialize in. I am the Garden
Witch.



CW: I heard you are putting a new look to one of your Books called "
7days of Magic". When can we expect to see it?



Ellen: Good question. I have heard through the grapevine up at
Llewellyn that this may happen within the year. It will be up to the
folks up there when this actually occurs. At this point of time I do
not have a re-release date yet.



CW: Ellen, in closing you talk a lot about your family in your
books. Any good advice for people that want to introduce it to their
children and make family traditions.



Ellen: Sure. Keep it simple. (You knew I'd say that, didn't you?)
Make it fun and get the children involved in nature. Plant a garden,
and celebrate the Sabbats at home with your kids. Go camping. Go
fishing in the summer and apple picking in the fall. Learn to
identify local birds, trees and wildflowers. Take the kids to
museums, planetariums, zoo's parks, and introduce them to culture,
history, and most importantly teach them a respect and a love for
the natural world. That is a great way to begin. If our children are
to carry our faith onward, then it is up to us to give them a solid
foundation. One that is filled with laughter, wonder, joy and
magick.

*********************************************************************

SEASONAL CRAFTS
***************

Painted Gourd Pitcher
Submitted By: Heather Ranson



Create this stunning Gourd Pitcher, with these step by step
directions, and add beauty to your home and hearth.

Materials:
gourd
stick
wood putty
epoxy
sinew
tin foil
plaster impregnated gauze
wax shoe polish
acrylic paints
artist paintbrush
paint palette
beads
rotary tool
sharp knife
warm soapy water
sharp stones
paper star template
pencil
wood-burning tool with fine tip
bowl of water
power drill
rotary tool or hand sander

Step 1

Remove the top of the gourd, with knife or saw.

Step 2

Clean out the inside as much as possible.Then fill with warm soapy
water, and let soak for at least an hour.

Step 3

Add several small stones and shake to loosen the rest of the inside,
and pour water out.Wipe gourd dry.

Step 4

Trace a design onto the outside of the gourd with a pencil, add
small and intricate detail around the gourd.

Step 5

Burn the design into the gourd with a wood burning tool, and a fine
tip.



Step 6

Paint the design with acrylic paint and let dry.

Step 7

Shape the stick into the spout and lightly sand.



Step 8

Shape the tin foil for the base of the handle.Add water to the
plaster cloth and cover the foil with plaster cloth at the bottom of
your handle.Let dry.

Step 9

Paint handle and base with acrylic paint, and let dry.



Step 10

Drill hole for the handle in the side of your gourd near the top.Mix
epoxy according to pkg. and glue the handle to the gourd, allow
ample time to dry.



Step 11

Add wood putty to fill any spaces around handle and base.Attach the
handle base with plaster cloth and add putty to shape your handle
and give it a firm handle.

Step 12

Repaint any areas touched up with putty and don't forget to touch up
your handle and base, and the edge of the spout.

Step 13

Apply wax shoe polish to the entire gourd pitcher and buff with a
brush.



Step 14

Wrap the top of the handle with sinew and add beads as a final touch
for your beautiful creation!

*********************************************************************
THE GARDEN GATE
***************

Loopy's Harvest Home
********************

Written And Submitted By: Loopy

My ancestors, for the most part, are of good farmer stock. Up until
my mother's generation, that is what most of them did… farm. My
parents were the first to break out of that pattern, and I was
raised a suburbanite. Oh, we had a pretty substantial garden, fruit
trees in the back, lots of tomatoes and cucumbers, and my mother
canned and pickled. But she was `unusual'. Most of my neighbors
didn't do such things. Not in my neighborhood.

These days, I live in a `village'. No, not conceptually… we're not
big enough to be a town. I live right in the down town area of this
village, and I do have a wee garden. In the spring, the earth calls
to me and I must plant something, anything. Every year, I usually
plant lots of herbs; basil, cilantro, rosemary to name a few. You
can usually find a couple tomato plants, maybe some peppers, and an
onion or two. I plant just enough to make a few nice salads over the
summer. Though I always plant enough basil to freeze for pesto to
last me until February or March, such is my love for basil.


This village I live in is in a rural area. I can see cows if I
drive a mile down the main road. So, I suspect there are more folks
canning and freezing around me these days than in my youth. But
truth be told, I think this art of preserving will be making a come
back soon. Consider the cost of food, the amount of energy used to
ship it all over the world, consider what goes into the food you buy
at the grocery store. Why increase your carbon footprint and
ingest a virtual chemistry set of preservatives when you can quite
easily make your own and preserve it?

In addition to growing some of my own food this summer, I have also
taken part in a CSA (for Community Supported Agriculture). A CSA is
a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a
farm and receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial
commitment to a farm, people become members or shareholders of the
CSA. In my case, I picked a local organic farm and split a full
share with someone. That way I have a weekly crop coming in all
through the summer. It's fresh, organic and local. I'm helping out
a local farm, and in turn they're supplying me with a food source
that is much better than the way over priced organic foods at the
grocery store, and much of that stuff comes from the other side of
the country.

This year, I've got my raspberry jam, and blueberry jam, as well as
frozen berries, and I'm thinking about putting up some peaches and
pears. I'll be freezing basil, after running it through the food
processor with some extra virgin olive oil, and I thought I'd try
putting up my own soup. So, when winter hits, I can be reminded of
summer by biting into a warm piece of blueberry pie, and thank my
lucky stars my mother passed along the knowledge of how to can and
freeze!

********************************************************************

THE LIBRARY
***********

Rejoice In The Goddess
Written And Submitted By: "White Witch"

Rejoice In The Goddess, for She is everywhere.
She is in the rain that falls gently, in the thunder that rolls like
a drum.
She is in the trees that shade and protect, in the glorious sunrise
and sunset.
She is in the oceans that change daily, in the clouds all around.
She is in the Fire that cleanses and heats, in the air that is warm
on a gentle summers' night, or on a cold dark winter's evening.


She is everywhere and everything.
She is giver of Light and Dark, warm and cold,
She loves unconditionally, is always there for us as a Mother should
be.


Rejoice in The Goddess, for without her we would be lost and alone.
Love and respect Her in all ways. Be true to Her, and She will be
true to you.
Rejoice in The Goddess, love and honor Her.
She is us, and we are Her.
Night Time Prayer
Written And Submitted By: Nicole M. Anderson


Isis, Great Mother Goddess

Protect my child as they sleep

Wrap them in your wings of love and protection

Keep them safe

And their dreams sweet

EVENSONG

Written And Submitted By: Cynthia Lilith Grove

Moonlight treading on an open sea

Of sapphire sky

Transparent clouds in rhapsody,

Amid evening lullabies.



Shimmering diamonds of lucid stars,

Confront the onyx night

While exotic planets, eons away

Exult the pale moonlight.



Twilight wishes and evening dreams

Blending in unspoken prayers

Midnight secrets, within passion's sonnets

Meant only for lovers' ears.



Mother's songs and children's wishes

Rise in tender unison,

Alongside gentle caresses and tousled tresses

Of angel hair, within fairies' lair.



Night time treasures, in classic measure

With Heaven and Nature adorn,

The soul of Dark, they beckon us "Embark"

On a voyage through Evensong.



MOONBEAMS

Written And Submitted By: Cynthia Lilith Grove



Ascending stars, mid rapid waves

Of rampant tides and gentle sways,

Descend upon my fearful heart

To soothe the beast and ignite the spark.



Planets raging through the sky

Of mind and soul, mid alibis

Of excused intentions, and reasons how

One chooses not to proceed right now.



Then seemingly, without a goal

The lightning strikes your inner soul

And bares the wounds that would not heal

With savage tearing, and thunderous peal.



The gentle rain of Love's caress

Of humankind and quietness,

Salves the pain of the cancerous growth

Till the spirit heals beyond control.



And now, mid calm and gentle breeze,

Through starry nights, I lie with thee

One in spirit with the Universe

`Mid dancing moonbeams, we compose Life's verse.

*********************************************************************

THE PAGAN COMMUNITY
*******************

Pagan and Witch Community Commitment
Written And Submitted By: Lady Abigail


A short time ago I moved from the Orlando Florida to Indiana. I have
to admit that I have had a few adjustment issues with the weather
and living in an area that proudly calls itself the "Bible Belt."

I am a practicing Witch and Pagan who is way out of the broom
closet. Each time we have moved I quickly seek out others within our
Pagan/Witch communities. A place of home. I think we all like to
find that fellowship with others of like minded spirit. This has
also allowed me the opportunity to be a part of numerous Pagan and
Witch communities all over the world. A blessing I consider myself
extremely privileged to have received.

Being the new Witch in town can be both wonderful and heartbreaking.
Sometimes people accept you openly without judgment. Sometimes they
judge you before they get a chance to know you. From my travels, I
have been fortunate to receive the joy of acceptance as well as the
lessons from the disappointments of rejection.

Over the years I have talked with many within our community: Witches
and Pagans, groups, hives, and covens. In talking with both Elders
and those new to learning this path, there is a fear that our
communities are becoming somewhat selfish. We are beginning to
compete and criticize one another. The one and perhaps greatest
point of concern to many in each community is, "How can we build our
Witch and Pagan communities as we embrace the principles of
individual freedom?"

This is not to say any of us have all the answers but only that
perhaps we see and may understand a little more. Also most of us
have had to deal with and heal from the same growing pains you may
be straining from today.

Seeking Within Pagan and Witch Communities.

A community is a social group made up of individuals and/or groups,
of any size, whose members reside in a specific or social locality
and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A
community is a group of people that share social, religious and/or
occupational commonalities. These can be in shared interests and
perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger
society within which it exists.

We are a community within ourselves for we are the believers of
magick and energy. We are Witches, Pagans, and Neo-Pagans or by
whatever name brings you comfort and distinction. We are not the
same, however we can learn, grow and expand ourselves within our
diversity. For any community to thrive, it must be a cohesive group
that stands together with the shared belief that within
understanding all things are possible.

Within every community, each member brings his or her own unique
skills and understanding. It is within these communities that we
share and are allowed our own personal freedoms.

If we begin to judge each other, to criticize how one person or one
group works because it is differences, then we are no different that
those who burned, tortured and hung the Witches of old. In our
judgments, we not only weaken ourselves but we weaken the entire
community. Once damaged, it can take years to heal the spirit
within.

We can protect ourselves from some of the growing pains if we
understand why this happens and that it is a natural part of a
community's maturity and growth. Every new group of people, be they
Witch, Christian or Pagan, will have some form of growing pains when
coming together as one group.

It is extremely important to remember as you begin to work within a
community that growing pains are normal. Once a group or member of a
group moves past the "NEW" stage, you will find there will be fewer
bumps along the road. You will have members come and go for various
reasons and have to make some adjustments for each. All this is
normal and natural when a new group or community of any kind is
forming.

You will need to work not to blame yourself or assume the
responsibility for what happens or for every little problem that may
arise. All groups experience disappointments, setbacks, and some
level of conflict occasionally. `Especially in the beginning.' It is
how we deal with those conflicts that show how well we can grow as a
community.

When a community or group comes together for the first time, they
are taking the step in `forming'. Even in joining an already formed
group, you put your best foot forward. While forming, you know very
little about each other, the common beliefs and hopes for the group
drew everyone together. Everyone is on his or her best behavior ...a
little on eggshells because there is so much you don't know about
each other.

As you became more familiar with each other, you became more
comfortable. Individual differences emerge, sometimes in contrast
with your own practices and beliefs. As a group, you will find you
sometimes make assumptions with regard to each other's personalities
and sensitivities. Sometimes those assumptions are off the mark.

When working with a new group or with new people, especially if
there is little experience with each other, there can be a testing
of each other. Disagreements, conflicts and differences can boil
quickly between people and tend to take their own course.

In distinguishing your group and community's path, you must work to
resolve each difference as you stumble through the storm. This
storming (growing pains) is a natural occurrence in every group.
It's a passage that helps the group and community grow together to
validate common beliefs and to determine new agreements in dealing
with challenges as they arise.

This storming or growing results in the "personality of your
community." To emerge as a community, each member needs to put their
individual preferences secondary to the greater vision for the
community's uniqueness. But remember that you are each a different
spirit with a different personality.

Once a problem arises, you work to resolve it. But more importantly,
you grow with new agreements and understanding on how to deal with
such issues next time they arise. The coming together and new
agreements allow everyone to move forward, to be strengthened, and
to center on its true vision.

It's the common vision that will keep you all together. It's the
diversity within the community that will make it strong and will
enable you to achieve a greater vision than any of you could ever
hope to attain! You are again individuals working as one within a
community and a group of people with the vision to grow in spirit
and kinship.

When the storms come, don't quit. Don't assume blame. Recognize the
storms for what they are... Storms. Don't forget the feelings of
excitement and great expectations you all had when coming together
for the first time and when you first meet.

Making a Community Work.

If there is a desire for a strong, true and lasting community, there
must be a commitment to the fellowship by all its members. The
members being those who live and work within the community itself.
No, you don't have to all meet someplace once a week, although that
would be nice. (That might not be possible if and when a community
grows into the thousands.) Yet you must get together in the meeting
of one spirit.

Make a commitment to work with and act responsibly with one another
and to do well and make positive discussions for each member as well
as for the community as a whole. Even if you have never met the
other members in person, this should be foremost within your desires
if a community is to survive.

A community is much like any other group. When first formed none of
us had ever met each other before. From the oldest to the most
recent members, we all have the same ideals for making our community
strong and positive. We want to be a part of a group of Witches,
Pagans and spiritual people who are dedicated. This means to many of
us being involved and working within the community as best we can.

This does not mean that everyone has to think alike, or has to do
the same thing on the same day. We are not the same people; our
backgrounds, beliefs and lives are different. But it does mean that
we do all that we can, as we can, not leaving all the work to
someone else. But if everyone shares in the work that they can do
then you will see growth in your community.

A community is also not made up of one person, one group or one
family. It is again the shared responsibility of every person within
the community. Sometimes we (myself included) will, for whatever
reason, try to do it all. I don't think it is because we can't get
others to help so much as we just get carried away.

I know that I personally don't know how to stop and I had problems
asking others to help. I didn't think they would have said `no, '
but I never give them the chance to say `yes.'

So, being a part of a community means asking others within the
community to help when needed. It also means letting them help and
stepping back so they can, good or bad. No one can grow if they are
always standing in the shadow of someone else.

If you have made the decision to be a part of a community then do
your best to be fully committed to the collective energy that makes
up your community. It is hard not to become complacent and even lazy
within any group of people. Sometimes we become drained in all that
is going on, especially if there are growing pains to deal with.

A community is like a fellowship and should come together with five
core beliefs and principles. (A Pentangle of Power.) These five core
beliefs are: Purpose, Balance, Responsibility, Unity and Growth.
Together, they are encircled by the understanding and desire to join
as one all encompassing influence within the universe.

Within a community there must be balance. It is like watching the
seasons turning naturally within the wheel of life. First you have
the beginning; it is like watching the birth of spring. Soon you
find comfort and relax; it is what we desire in the long life of
summer. Then we have moments that are fragile like the tender leaves
of autumn and the death that comes from winters cold. With each
breath we take in life and with each breath we release it again into
the universe.

You come to understand the respect necessary for the Earth and to
embrace the light and dark in all things. You must work to learn how
to stand together and to protect and encourage your brothers and
sisters in times of turmoil. The storms and icy winds from within
your own circles will at times cut you with its devastating blast,
yet you learn and grow stronger by means of the experience.

There will be negative people and situations. This happens in every
group of people in history and society. Negative situations can be
learned from and can be an opportunity to gain strength and insight.
You may have to work hard to bring the positive back after a
negative situation. This is all part of growth.

Positive situations give energy and light to all within the
community. You can draw on the freedom within these times and apply
this energy to the progress in the growth of your community as a
whole. The positive situations will help others around you to
remember there is a balance and that we all have an individual
responsibility to each other to seek out the good within.

Sometimes you may feel that you are standing alone. Hold strong to
your spirit and power. First steady yourself and then give unto the
community you have chosen to work with. You can then look at the
work, the growth and the commitment therein as a pledge made for the
shared purpose of good.

The shadows and light grow and wane within any community of people.
When we accept this, we no longer need to be defeated by every curve
that life throws us. Once we have learned where the shadows are, we
need never fear them and freedom from that fear allows us to take
control and grow in the positive energy.

Once a commitment is made you must be ready to consider what you can
do within that commitment. How you can Work, Volunteer, Hold Ritual,
Sabbaths, Esbats, Teach, and be a part of Gatherings within your
community. What are you able to do both physically, spiritually and
emotionally to help your community grow.

There are times when being a part of a community requires enormous
determination. You will not agree with everyone. You will not get
along with everyone.

Sometimes you will feel it is a great calling and a great honor.
Sometimes you will feel like you just walked through a fire. But if
you look around, you might notice the person beside you smoldering
as well!

You can't always expect to have someone else come and put out the
fire. You might just have to find the water hose yourself. Yet the
good thing about a community is that once you pick up the water
hose, you will notice that more and more people are running over to
help keep it steady.

We are Pagans and Witches … Dance, but dance together.

In the spirit of a magickal community,
High Priestess; Lady Abigail



Copyright: Copyright © 05012008
High Priestess; Lady Abigail
Ravensgrove Coven, Greenfield IN

*********************************************************************

THOUGHTS..........
******************

A ROME AWAY FROM HOME
Written And Submitted By: Janice Van Cleve

How to make a house a home
How to make a city your own
The former's done with possessions neat
The latter requires you use your feet!



The alarm clock rang at 5:00 am. My roommate on the ship grumped
out of bed
and threw her stuff together. The tour had arranged bus transfers
from the
ship to the airport at o'dark hundred in the morning and she was in
a hurry
to catch her bus. I, on the other hand, was going to Rome on my
own. I had
plenty of time for one last workout in the gym, a hot shower, and a
delicious leisurely breakfast on deck watching the last of those
poor souls
struggling onto their transportation. I suppose tours have to do it
that
way to make sure everybody catches their flights and there is always
somebody who lags behind and holds up the whole operation. Watching
them, I
enjoyed my cup of coffee and mused about how our paths in life come
together
for a brief period and then we go our separate ways.

Disembarking at my own pace gave me the opportunity to get around
the ship
one more time to thank all the crew and staff who had made this
cruise so
enjoyable. These people had taken good care of us and, since this
was a
small ship, we had gotten to know them by name and they us. I took
a free
shuttle down the long dock to the terminal and on my way I met a
nice couple
from Vancouver, BC, who were also taking the train to Rome. That's
one of
the features I appreciate most from independent travel – the constant
opportunity to meet new people and share a little connection with
them. The
train station was only a block or so from the port terminal. We
paid our
4.5 euros and fifteen minutes later we were settled into comfortable
seats,
whisking away across the Latin countryside to the Eternal City.

Rome! The center of the universe (after the People's Republik of
Fremont in
Seattle). I stepped out of the station onto sunny cobbled streets,
cracked
and heaving sidewalks, ancient buildings, and green trees. It was
spring!
The air was fresh, even in the city, and sky was blue. Flowers
adorned
window ledges and in my imagination I could almost hear the
accordions and
violins. Motor scooters and cute little cars whizzed along the busy
streets. Yet I found that if a pedestrian steps out into a cross
walk, the
traffic actually comes to a graceful and even polite stop. And why
not?
How can anyone have road rage in such a beautiful city where they
take naps
in the afternoon and spend hours at their dinners of pasta and good
wine?
Armed with my trusty map, I launched into a foreign world of fable
and
history.

It really only takes 20 minutes to walk from the station to Hotel
Grifo, but
I had plenty of time and it seems at every corner I had to stop and
gawk. I
must have looked the typical tourist. Past the church of S. Maria
Maggiore
and down the Via Panisperna I strolled, my suitcase wheels
clattering along
behind me. I found Hotel Grifo wedged into a tiny side street and
walked in
the door. "Buon Giorno, Janice!", Alessandro greeted me
cheerfully. I
checked to see if I was wearing a name tag. Alessandro was my very
genial
host and spoke fluent English. He was expecting me. This would be
my home
for a week and already it was looking good.

My room was on the fifth floor which in Europe is the fourth floor
because
they count the ground floor as ground. I had a simple room – a
comfortable
bed, an armoire, a desk and lamp with chair, a small refrigerator
and a
television. A large glass French door opened onto a charming tiled
terrace
full of geraniums. It had a plastic corrugated roof and each of the
three
suites on my floor had its own table and chair outside separated
from each
other by a planter. The spacious bathroom we shared across the tiny
hallway
was very modern, clean, and fully equipped. Down the steep narrow
stairs
was a small dining room for our breakfasts and a bar with free
internet. I
had all the comforts of home for only 80 euros a night. Thank the
Goddess
of the internet for helping me find and book this place! After
unpacking, I
was eager to explore my neighborhood.

What a perfect neighborhood it was! Around the corner were two
Indian
restaurants, a pharmacy, about 15 Italian restaurants, several
delis, a
fabulous gelato store, a wine store, a plaza with fountain and two
enotecas.
I got a bottle of wine and slice of the finest pizza I have ever
eaten.
Pizzas are rectangular in Rome. You tell them how much you want and
they
sell it by the gram. Then they fold it like a sandwich and wrap it
in
paper. I sampled cheeses and olives, a few tastes of wine, and a
gelato.
Nothing makes a place your own like eating it.

THE PALATINE , THE FORUM, AND THE COLOSSEUM

Archeologists have found evidence of the first settlements in this
area on
the west corner of Palatine Hill and legends claim that this was
where
Romulus founded Rome. It was a desirable location on a defensible
hill
about a block from the Tiber river with farmland in the valleys. As
Rome
grew to encompass the six other hills – Capitoline, Quirinal,
Viminal,
Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine – the Palatine became the street of
dreams
for the rich and powerful. It is conveniently located between the
Circus
Maximus and the Forum where senators spent their days and these
features
also help make it more exclusive from the rabble that made up the
rest of
the population.

Augustus Caesar made his home on the Palatine and most of the other
emperors
followed suit. As they concentrated their power and wealth, they
bought out
all the other property owners and turned the entire hill into one
huge
palace. Septimus Severus found even this too crowded and extended
the
foundation of his addition to the east, held up by huge brick
arches. Not
much is left of the splendor of the imperial homes. Renaissance
princes and
popes looted the statues, columns, and even the marble facings to
adorn
their palaces and churches. They left only bare brick skeletons to
echo the
wealth and grandeur they used to house.

Still, even these remnants are staggering for their size and
complexity. I
was fortunately up there early on a Sunday morning when I had the
whole
place to myself. There were green lawns, fields of bright poppies,
and
stately cypress trees. The palace of Augustus is crowned by a
museum which
is filled with treasures recovered from the ruins. The palaces of
Tiberius
and Caligula are covered over in formal gardens while archeologists
work in
the lower levels. I did walk through the cryptoporticus, which is
the
tunnel where Caligula was assassinated, and I did get into Augustus'
dining
room and bedroom. They were ornately decorated like the villas I'd
seen in
Herculaneum.

I was just leaving as the tourist crowds began to pour in. Guided
tours are
cute if you are fortunate not to be in one - all these people with
cameras
and water bottles trailing a stick with a feather or flag on it
which is
attached to a guide underneath trying to make herself heard over the
other
guides. I love to watch and listen to the cacophony of languages
being
spoken and what they talk about. To Americans they talk about
history and
spectacles. To the French, it's the art. To the Germans, it's all
about
engineering. Very entertaining!

The Roman Forum was built for crowds and it seemed to welcome them
all
without anyone feeling crushed. I walked the Sacred Way from the
Coliseum,
past the Temple of Venus and Rome, through the arch of Titus, around
the
house and temple of the Vestals, to the temple of the deified
Julius. The
dictators and emperors of Rome liked to be made gods after they died
because
gods get a free pass from Chiron at the river Styx. In front of the
temple
to Julius is a small mound marking the spot where he was cremated
after his
assassination. People still lay flowers there.

In spite of its size, the old Forum was not big enough to handle all
the
business it attracted. Julius Caesar built another one next to it
behind
the senate building. Augustus built one next to his. Domitian,
Nerva, and
Trajan all got in on the act, too. This created a huge area in the
center
of Rome filled with ruins. Mussolini cut a road right through it to
join
the major thoroughfares of the city. Near the senate building is a
cave in
the side of Capitoline Hill. This is Marmatine prison. In this
dark and
forbidding place many famous prisoners of Rome were executed. The
plaque
lists who they were: Vercingetorix the Gaul, Jugurtha the Numidian,
etc. –
and how they were killed: decapitato (decapitated), suppliziato
(tortured),
strangolati (strangled).

I was not really interested in seeing the Coliseum. One stadium is
pretty
much like every other and we have two too many in Seattle.
Nevertheless my
ticket included it, so I went in. My expectations were fully met. I
wondered what it was like in ancient times to sit in the bleachers
eating a
folded pizza and drinking wine, while watching gladiators splatter
their
guts all over the sand. Not very appetizing to me.

THE TIBER AND THE PANTHEON

The Tiber flows south through the west end of Rome. It makes a
large bend
toward the Vatican and then bends back to kiss the Palatine before
it flows
on another 15 miles to the sea. Along the south edge of the
Palatine runs
the Circus Maximus. Today it is a long, flat depression in the
ground – the
stone seats have long since found their way into other structures –
but
people still jog along the path once used by the likes of Ben Hur.
In the
middle of the Tiber is an island. It is only a block long and is
connected
to either bank by ancient bridges. The Romans had a shrine there to
Asclepios, the god of healing, and it has ever since been the
location of a
hospital. The river carries a healthy volume of water in the
springtime so
the base of the island has been built up with concrete, giving it a
strange
likeness to the Confederate Merrimack.

The bridges from the island take one back into old Rome, to the
theater of
Marcellus. As with many large Roman ruins, medieval people built
houses
inside, on top of, an around the basic structure so that the outline
remains
the same but it is stacked apartments now and no longer a theater.
A little
further on is the Sacra Argentina, which translates as "holy
silver." Five
temples were discovered here when a block of flats was being removed
for a
development. Construction was halted and instead the ruins have been
exposed and somewhat restored. Here is the portico of Pompey. The
senate
was meeting in the portico on the Ides of March in 44 BCE, because
the
senate house was under renovation. It was there that Julius Caesar
was
killed.

With all these ruins, it is a relief and a wonder to arrive finally
at an
ancient Roman structure completely intact. The Pantheon is a
breathtaking
monument to the glory of Rome. Built by Marcus Agrippa, Augustus's
right
hand man, it was destroyed by fire and then rebuilt in its present
magnificent form by Hadrian. The round drum shape surmounted by its
soaring
dome with a hole in the top is famous the world over. The marbles
and
travertine are as polished and fresh as when Hadrian built it
because it was
taken over by the Christians for a church. Strange irony that a
temple that
was originally dedicated to the worship of all the gods is now
reversed to
the worship of only one. Yet even the destructive hands of the
Christians
have not marred this pagan masterpiece. I had to stop and just sit
inside
and take it all in. Even in spite of the hordes of tourists with
their
little flag waving guides, the Pantheon is so huge and stately that
it
easily embraces them all without losing any of its dignity.

Well, there is one indignity that the Pantheon shares with modern
structures. We grouse today about corporations buying naming rights
to
stadiums and other public buildings yet naming rights is not a new
phenomenon. Across the façade of this magnificent structure in large
letters are the Latin words: "Marcus Agrippa made this." The
ancient
Romans anticipated modern times in so many ways.

MUSEUMS OF ROME
Alessandro sold me a Roma Pass. This is one of the best deals in
the city.
For 20 euros this pass includes a credit card for free entrance to
two
museums of your choice and reduced rates at all the others for three
days
from time of purchase. It also includes a free metro pass for three
days on
all the subways and busses, plus a very detailed map of the city. I
used
the two free passes for the Capitoline Museum and Trajan's market.

Capitoline Hill is the highest yet smallest of Rome's original seven
hills.
With the Tiber to the west, the forums on the east and northeast,
and the
Palatine Hill to the southeast, Capitoline Hill was in every way the
"capitol" of the city. Today it still serves that purpose as the
location
of the municipal government. The hill originally rose to a
promontory on
either end with a slight saddle in the middle – something like the
back of a
dromedary camel. The north hill was crowned by the Arx, a temple
which
served as a mint for Roman coins. It was no doubt dedicated to the
goddesses Moneta and Financia. The south hill was dominated by the
Temple
of Jupiter which actually contained chapels for Minerva and Juno as
well,
providing a balance of two to one in favor of females. The temple
was
dedicated by king Tarquin the Elder in the 6th Century BCE atop an
earlier
Etruscan temple and was from the beginning the chief temple of the
city.

Capitoline Hill was also ancient Rome's chief defensive position.
In 390
BCE, the Gauls invaded lower Italy and sacked Rome. The citizens
holed up
on the on Capitoline Hill and were quickly surrounded but the Gauls
could
not break in. One night during the siege, the Gauls came creeping
up a back
way when they upset a flock of geese. The geese made a racket which
woke up
the garrison and the attack was repulsed.

Today the Arx is completely built over with the Victor Emmanuel
memorial – a
temple in the truest Roman sense of the word, celebrating the
reunification
of Italy in 1870. This structure demonstrates beyond any doubt that
the
Italians are masters of monumental architecture in the classical
style.
Behind it is one of the ubiquitous churches which cling to every
street
corner in this city like barnacles on a pier. The southern hill is
built
over by the Campidoglio – a cluster of buildings around a piazza
designed by
Michelangelo. These buildings house the Capitoline museums and the
Palace
of the Roman Senate or city hall. Inside one wing of the museum
complex are
displayed the foundations of the Jupiter/Minerva/Juno temple.

The museums are stunning and no visit to Rome would be complete
without a
lengthy visit to the one on the Capitoline. The many unique and
beautiful
treasures housed in these buildings are too numerous to list. Even
the
rooms themselves are a museum of baroque ornamentation taken to its
utmost
extremes. Original busts and statues of most of the famous people
of Rome
are here as well as gods and goddesses and huge paintings of the
most famous
historical scenes described by Livy.

North of the Victor Emmanuel Memorial, built into the slope of the
Quirinal
Hill, is the so-called markets of Trajan. This massive complex of
offices
and stalls climbed arch upon arch up the hill, complete with its own
internal streets and covered courtyards, similar to the idea of an
enclosed
shopping mall. This complex is a fascinating honeycomb with many
interesting displays and of course a gift store.

South of the city is the Museo della Civilta Romana – the Museum of
Roman
Civilization. Begun by Mussolini in 1935 to celebrate 20 years of
fascism,
it was completed in the 1960's as part of the EUR complex – a very
modern
planned city. This museum houses plastic and plaster casts of all
those
things in other museums you can't photograph. Here you can flash to
your
heart's content! It contains many small scale models of buildings
and town
sections as well which are enormously helpful in understanding
spatial
relationships.

The Castel S. Angelo is another fascinating museum. It started as
the
Mausoleum of Hadrian. Built in the Etruscan style, it is composed
of two
massive drums, the smaller atop the larger, which were planted in
trees.
The popes took it over and converted it into a fortress with outer
walls and
even cannons – which gives new meaning the phrase "canons of the
Church."
They tore out all the trees and remodeled the upper story into a
palace with
elaborately painted rooms and features. Today there is even a small
restaurant and several clean restrooms for tourists.

Rome is filled with museums. Art, ancient and modern, proliferates
in this
city. There are two sites, however, that are particular jewels for
anyone
with an archeological interest. The crypts below the church of S.
Clemente
on the Via della S. Giovanni in Laterno, which runs east of the
Coliseum,
house a fascinating series of earlier structures, including a
complete
Mithraeum. The religion of Mithras was very popular in Rome
especially
among the soldiers – more popular even than Christianity. When the
Christians finally took over in the 5th Century, they destroyed or
absorbed
as much of their competition as they could. Under another church on
the
Caelian Hill are the remains of the Temple of the deified Claudius
and a
jumble of 2nd Century CE houses. These houses still have much of the
original wall decoration and floor mosaics in place just as they
were when
they were originally painted. It is a wonderful and scarcely
visited peek
into ancient Rome.

After a day of exploring old tombs and broken buildings, even I need
a
respite. Setting out in search of supper is an excellent way to
discover
modern Rome. Waiters at some restaurants stand outside the sidewalk
tables
and eagerly invite you in. At other places the menu is described in
such
delicious terms that it does the inviting. Still others attract by
the
heavenly aromas wafting from the kitchen. I had many good
restaurants right
around my block and I visited two of them. Fettuccini in oil with
watercress! Linguini with mussels! Tasty pizzas with rich
cheeses! Fish
and meat dishes to tempt every palate! It was so hard to decide.

One evening I was browsing in the beautiful park where Trajan's
baths once
stood and I spotted a familiar friendly sign. A flag proudly
displaying the
colors of the rainbow waved over a sidewalk café named Coming Out.
Yes! I
had found a lesbian bar! In fact the streets just east of the
Coliseum are
becoming a kind of gay neighborhood. I was thrilled to find my own
people.
Sometimes we forget in oh so progressive Seattle that being gay or
lesbian
is still a bold statement, and often a dangerous statement, in many
parts of
the world. And in a foreign city with nobody really to talk to, I
craved
being among my own again and having conversations with people who
all get
the same jokes. Flavia and Alicia were both very cute and made me
feel
right at home. It was so nice to sit back, speak English, and share
laughs
with the other patrons. I do not recommend the food, however.

On my way home from Coming Out, I passed a restaurant outside an
aeronautical school. It was a pizza and gelato place catering to
students
and the staff was all young and hip. One of them noticed my
tattoos. He
had some, too. Even without speaking each other's language we
showed them
off to each other. I've found that people who get tattoos often
feel an
affinity with each other, perhaps from sharing a certain rite of
passage.
It's another family of choice and another bond that crosses cultures
and
classes. He gave me a friendly wave every day after that when I
passed his
shop.

All too soon this wonderful week in Rome came to an end. I trundled
my
suitcase back over the familiar cobblestones in the early morning
light. It
was Saturday and few people were out and hardly any traffic. I did
not gawk
this time nor did I drink in one last time in sad parting the sights
and
smells and sounds of this great city. I didn't have to. My feet
would
remember.

===============================================================
Janice Van Cleve is a writer who loved her stay in Rome – and she
did buy a
t-shirt. Copyright 2008.

*********************************************************************

TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
***************************

Storytelling: The Importance of an Oral Tradition and the Creation
of Immortals

Written And Submitted By: The Tribe of The Spirit Bear


As I see it, there are two ways of becoming Immortal: Spiritually
and through Memory.

The methods of achieving spiritual immortality are explained in as
many different ways as there are religions and philosophies and it
would take far too long to write a list here, but to sum it up, the
general beliefs are that either the soul travels after death to
another plane of existence or that the spirit becomes one with
nature.

This chapter deals with what I will call memory, or ancestral
immortality, which can most easily be attained through the art of
Storytelling. Some of these stories even tell us of how the
characters achieve their spiritual immortality.

In This method of achieving immortality, we do not achieve it by
ourselves, it requires that our actions be deemed worthy of
remembering and talked about.

We are, in a way, bidding for immortality against others who are
doing the same. It requires that we become so notable among our
community that we will, never be forgotten

The Myths, Legends and Stories that tell us of our tribal past, such
as the heroic deeds of our ancestors immortalize the events and
people in an artistic form that can be told and retold with minor
changes to meet the times in which it is being told. In this way we
can remember the deeds and lessons of our ancestors and in this we
can learn from them, in a way, we turn them into ancestral teachers.

We find in these stories, inspiration to keep going, joy and victory
to lift our moods, or sadness and tragedy to remind us that life
contains pain as well as pleasure.

Over the centuries, and millennia since the stories of our ancestors
were first told, they have changed and evolved. Heroes have become
gods, and some stories have become legends.

In the ancient past, stories were not written; rather they were kept
in an oral tradition, told, retold and passed down by a class of
people that, among the Celts at least, were called Bards. The Bard,
with his ability to remember a huge amount of stories, tell them at
exactly the right time for someone to learn a lesson or receive
insight into their present circumstance, and create new stories to
tell based on the events and people of the time, was seen as a
magician, and it is these skills that can be used to immortalize a
person or event.

So how does this happen? Let's look at an example.

Obviously not every story is worth telling, "Mrs. Miggins went to
the shop and then went home" isn't exactly inspiring, so a story
like this would hardly make the criteria of a Bardic tale.

But if "Mrs. Miggins went to the shop and along the way saw a bird
with a broken wing. Using what little energy she had left in her
frail and aging body, she gently lifted the bird and walked the mile
to the vets to have it treated, then after collecting her shopping,
took the bird home to feed it and make it strong again before
setting it free." then the story would be an inspirational one.

Now, if the story were to be written down, it would never change.
Eventually it would lose its power to inspire compassion and
selflessness, it would never evolve into a legend. But, if this
story were to be kept as part of an oral tradition, then over time,
and with the dramatic retelling that so often accompanies a Bardic
tale. This story would be told and retold, perhaps to teach
compassion and one day, Mrs. Miggins would be perhaps seen as a
Goddess of healing.

It is not just in the fact that the story can be told, but also in
HOW it is told, that turns a story into a legend.

One could tell the story as "Mrs. Miggins went to the shops, on the
way she found a bird with a broken wing and took it to the vets,
then took it home, made it strong and set it free."

Or, One could tell it: "Mrs. Miggins, an old and frail widow, lived
a simple life. Her day consisted of a journey to the shops, that
every day seemed more and more like an endurance race, and then home
again, by which time poor Mrs. Miggins had only enough energy to
prepare a little food and eat it before heading off to her old and
frail bed.

"One day however Mrs. Miggins witnessed something terrible. She saw
a small bird get hit by a driver who, even though he saw the bird,
just ran it over, and then carried on driving. With what was left of
her strength she braved the oncoming traffic to save the bird who
looked into her eyes as if to thank her. Then, looking deep within
herself, Mrs. Miggins found the energy to lift the bird and carry it
to the vets, at the other end of town, where they were able to mend
what was a broken wing.

Mrs. Miggins then took the bird to the shops with her and paid for
her food. She knew the weight of the bags would hurt her old hands
on the journey home, but she braved the pain, and, carrying both
bags in one hand, she carried the bird in the other, all the way
home.

There she spent every day looking after the bird, feeding it,
talking to it and praying for it until the day that it was strong
enough to fly again.

On that sad day Mrs. Miggins, who had very few friends, opened the
window and watched with a little tear as the bird made for the open
sky. Just before it jumped out into the air the little bird turned
to look at Mrs. Miggins. She could have sworn that it winked at her,
but it might just have been a trick played by her aging eyes."

Not only does this example show great dramatization from the bare
facts, but also it's a story that could be told to children who have
been making fun of a lonely old lady, or that have hurt an animal,
or just need cheering up.

You could also add to this story an ending such as: "One day, sadly,
Mrs. Miggins passed away, but as her eyes dimmed to this world she
looked to the window and there, sat still on the windowsill, was the
bird she had rescued and looked after. She thought that it even had
a tear in its eye."

And even, perhaps, to that you could add. "As soon as Mrs. Miggins
passed away the bird flew in through the window and landed on the
pillow next to her head and began to sing to her.

Mrs. Miggins son, Bert, a cynical man with no wife and no faith,
shouted at the bird, who calmly looked at him and then flew away,
but to Bert's surprise, it was joined by a gentle and young Mrs.
Miggins and they flew together upwards towards the heavens. They say
that even now she watches over the birds."

In this way, a simple act of kindness has been transformed into a
tale that teaches about the benefits of kindness, humility,
compassion and caring, and has immortalized Mrs. Miggins as a
guardian spirit.

Storytelling can be used to exaggerate a simple story into a life
lesson. But just as it can turn acts of kindness into beautiful
lessons and the characters into great beings, a story can be used to
demonize a character too.

This skill is used to great effect today by the popular media as
they often blow the facts of a story out of all proportion,
exaggerating what they feel are the important parts of the story and
leaving out what they feel does not fit with their needs.

In a way, the reporters and editors of modern newspapers and news
channels are playing the part of the Modern Bard, committing to our
memories or to paper the events of the day, that they might be told
and retold, and more importantly, remembered and learned from.

It is in this way that our ancestors came to become heroes and Gods.
Perhaps Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed did not enter the otherworld and
defeat the foe of a God. Perhaps he merely went to the next county
with whom his own county was at war and defeated a common enemy thus
bringing a peaceful alliance to the two counties. And like this, one
day, a long, long time from now, Hitler will have been "a demon,
incarnated on the earth to control all mankind, but the free
people's of the earth put aside their petty squabbles and joined
together to defeat him."

So long as the story survives, Mrs. Miggins will never die, a part
of her spirit will be with each person that tells or hears the
story. And in this way, storytelling can create an immortal.

Here follows a short piece on the need to keep the art of
storytelling alive. The lady who wrote this piece is a friend of
mine and has studied Irish Literature, History and Mythology.

This piece was written in answer to me asking her to write about the
old Irish stories and I feel that this piece has answered more than
my question, it conveys the need for those stories. My friend wishes
to remain anonymous.

"Dear Sunbird, Today you asked me to write about the Celtic Myths
and Legends I grew up with, but I could not. The art of story
telling is not in the written word but the spoken word, and has been
used for centuries by all peoples of the worlds. Why do we tell
stories?

Stories are told for many reasons: to impart knowledge and law
making, to record and tell news, as an education tool, to keep the
histories of our peoples alive.

In childhood, we are told stories of lands and times far off, and
people who may or may not have been real. Our parents and
grandparents tell these stories to us. They tell us of our lands and
peoples and the history of our tribes. We are to young to understand
the philosophy or moral meaning of the tales but will often beg for
one more story because it makes us feel safe.

During our youth, we grow away from the family, explore our own
environment, and tell tales of our own. Today we often forget to
return to the stories of our childhood, to re-examine them and look
at them with older eyes.

It is at this age we can begin to understand some of the moral
complexities of the story, and the laws we have taken from our
ancestors to live by.

In turn when we have children, we use stories as a soothsayer and
educational tool. Today we often forget to keep the stories close
and to tell and examine them as our children grow. Our children
forget and move onto other things, and the thread of the storyteller
is broken.

In old age we tell stories, to reaffirm our place in our family, to
record family history and in turn pass this information onto the
grand children to carry into a time when we are not here.

All families have stories, unfortunately, with the modern world, we
spend little time exchanging stories or remembering them within our
family groups. Often grandma or grandfather will be the storyteller,
and too often the child will not want to be associated with story
telling as they grow.

If we lose the art of story telling, who will remember us when we
are gone?"

Long live the old ways!
May your stories be told till the end of time!
Sunbird