OSTARA ISSUE 1999

I hope you'll enjoy the new layout. I wanted to make browsing easier and faster, and you're bound to see more improvements with each issue until I'm satisfied :) The issue is now broken into 7 columns, which will always stay the same, although authors and articles might slightly vary. After enjoying our Publisher's Comments, you can access each section individually with the navigation block, which will be located at the bottom of each page, as well as simple navigation buttons below the block, in case you have the time to read page by page :)
If you encounter any problems browsing this issue, please let me know
Brightest Blessings
Sorceress SummerWind
WebMistress

Publisher's Comments

A couple of weeks ago on the way to work, I noticed that there's beautiful little shoots of green starting to peek through in Central Park. What a lovely time of the year. Now I hear on the news we have a major snow storm headed our way this evening through tomorrow. Ah, the time of the Vernal Equinox. That delicate balance between the seasons. The promise of beautiful green ahead, but still the last little touches of winter. In the Wicca faith, we're welcoming back the Goddess from her sojourn into the Underworld. A time when it's tradition to offer cakes and colored eggs to the Goddess Ostre. Eggs and rabbits are fertility symbols found in the ancient worship of Eostre. It's a time of renewal, and rebirth. With this, C&B starts another year in publication. It's my first issue of the second year as Editor/Publisher, and the staff and readers have done a wonderful job.

First thing you'll notice, is the new format. We now have sections. These sections follow almost exactly with what you'll see in our online issue. To keep things consistent, my buddy Sorcy SummerWind has created this format so we can use it in all future publications. You'll always know where things will be, and it'll fit perfect with the issue hyperlinked on our web site. Wonderful job of organization Sorcy. :) It can also be viewed no matter where it's moved by using the link http://fly.to/CauldronsAndBroomsticks as I announced in the test message. All we have to do is change the programming when we move it to the Cyberstreet servers or anywhere else, and you have one link to remember. Now, let's talk about the newsletter ....

Section I starts out our journey of rebirth with looking at the holiday from several different views. All are very good glimpses of how it's thought of and how it's celebrated. And all of them will give you wonderful ideas and backgrounds of this time of the year. Also, I want to welcome Sarolta G. DeFaltay to our family. She is a wonderful person, and what's an Ezine without the views from the stars. :) Oh, it's also time to mention that none of the articles in our issues may be reused without the express permission of the author. The article presented here by Sarolta is the same as what is being published in Sage Woman.

Section II follows the track that I've chosen to take the newsletter. Family Issues. Your going to love the thoughts, crafts, and projects presented here. A lot of things that will help teach our children and families about the equinox. WindSeeker even has a recipe for Italian pane di pasqua; the bread of Easter. Wonderful ideas for food, gardens, and almost anything else you could imagine.

Section III and IV presents our staff and their stories. You'll find Fiona & Julian waiting to share their lives and thoughts, the wonderful world of living with our fur babies, the holiday from the view of our young friend Meagan, and even our new section Ask Auntie Ahn. We have an Ann Landers now.

Section V brings us to what we call our resource section. You'll find information about herbs, and a wonderful new long running article on Wicca 101. You'll love Rhiannon Diana's thoughts on this. It's not following any certain tradition, but is more of an Eclectic view. She has the experience, and the words to be able to help bring things into clarity. As with anything else though, remember that being Eclectic means taking things from different traditions and paths and allowing it to evolve into something your comfortable with and that works for you. This is another tool for your growth, and should be used that way.

Another new section is Section VI , and Sorcy called this The Cauldron. We mix everything imaginable into our cauldrons, and beautiful magic comes out. This is where you'll find wonderful thoughts, poems, and verses that speak straight from the heart. The gifts we've been given for this section are all keepers. And it's my proud honor to present thoughts from Riversong Drusea'. She's a sister to me, as all in this newsletter are. I love the stories that we've been given for this section, and I know you will too. :)

Section VII is Selene SilverWind's private domain. Her Event List. I have such exciting news on this. We're starting to be contacted by other groups that want to share resources and events with us. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to tap into major sources of events and information? That's what's going to happen, and if anyone else is interested in joining the project, and if you want to share events listed in your publications back and forth in a free flow of announcements; contact our Selene SilverWind. Everyone needs to find out about plans that are being made, and happenings all over the world. We at Cauldrons and Broomsticks will gladly and openly share any and all information we come across in regards to this. All of us are here to serve Pagan's and Wiccan's all over the world.

(Note of the webmistress: The email version displays the events list and the Cauldron in the opposite sequence then the webpage due to processing reasons. Online, I need the cauldron to be the last section, for it sometimes will require more then one page and is at last easiest to expand)

Well, you've heard enough from me, so let's start our journey. It's a long and beautiful one. This issue is over 95k in length, so I've broken it up into three parts to make it easier for everyone. Relax and enjoy the wonderful thoughts of your sisters and brothers, and let's welcome back the Goddess and the joys of renewal and rebirth.

Blessings, warmth and love ......
Midnight Grey Wolfpup
Editor/Publisher
Cauldrons and Broomsticks Ezine

SECTION I: HOLIDAY LORE
* Ostara - StormWing
* Oestre - Baboo Kyra Finch
* A Druid's Pondering - LadyToad
* Spring Equinox - Sarolta 

SECTION II: FAMILY ISSUES
* Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene 
* Pagan Parenting - WindSeeker

SECTION III: STORY TIME
* CatCorner - Sorcy SummerWind
* Fiona & Julian - Selene SilverWind 
* Meagan Stories - Kat Dyer 

SECTION IV: ASK AUNTIE AHN
* Online Help Corner - Ahneke GreyStone

SECTION V: RESOURCES
* Herblore - Dor (Poem by Kyra)
* Wicca 101 - Rhiannon Diana 

SECTION VI: PAGAN HAPPENINGS
* Events List - Selene SilverWind 

SECTION VII: THE CAULDRON
* When the Goddess Hides Her Face - Samantha
* Critters - Baboo Kyra Finch
* Return from the Shadows - Riversong Drusea'
* Wise One - Samantha