Beltane 2002

Northern Edition

Many of you have said you didn't know what was inside the article, until you visited each and every page. Following is an index of articles, hyperlinked, and which page you can find them on. Just click on the index item itself to read the articles:

SECTION 1 - HOLIDAY LORE
Beltane Ritual For Family Or The Solitaire - dessteni14
Beltane Astrology - Jeri Noble
Beltane Oil Recipes - Judith Lewis
Beltane Word Search - Part One - Isha Arrowhawk
Beltane Word Search - Part Two - Isha Arrowhawk
Beltane Candle Ritual - Tirgana
April 30th Down Under - AWDU

SECTION II - BOOK REVIEWS AND FAMILY VALUES
Nocturnal Values, By Konstantinos - Review by G. Rain
Mythical Musings Website Reviews - Laurel Reufner
Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene Silverwind

SECTION III - PATH PROGRESS
Your Magickal name - should it be secret? - Kim Robertson
I Walk The Path Alone - DreamDancer

SECTION IV - THE CAULDRON
The Meant-to-Be Meeting - Isha Arrowhawk
I was Cleopatra in a previous life... - Kim Robertson
Spring - Lorelei
Mythical Musings - Laurel Reufner
The Nature of the Universe - Kim Robertson
The Golden Age - William Bond
The Storm - Lorelei
Mystic Moon - G. Rain
Beating A Not-So-Hasty Retreat - Wren Walker

Well, Beltane is upon us! A time of more light, and a time when the trees and all of nature springs forth and sees the world, and flowers spring forth in all their beauty. The return of life and fertility to the world after the winter season. This is the holiday we're celebrating in this issue. The Horned One returning; who is the solar God slain during the wheel of the year, consorting with the Goddess and thereby ensuring his own rebirth once again. A time of bright light, fullness, color and the world is consumed with the beginning of life. The word "Beltane" literally means "bright fire" and refers to the bonfires lit during this season in celebration, along with our favorite custom the May Pole. Ah, this is a time where return of life and fertility is the subject, and with this in mind I bring you the Beltane edition for 2002.

Inside you will find hand picked articles about the holiday, poems, and articles to keep you busy for days. You will find information about practices, projects, recipes, and individual thoughts about this time of the year. The sun is shinning more, and brings out the best in us after our hibernation period of the winter. I'm not going to do what I usually do; and go article by article ..... but will direct you to the index above for you to see what we've brought you. You'll be amazed, informed, and entertained. There are also articles that will make you think, make you love, and make you feel the season at it's best. I'm very proud of our staff with what they've submitted for this very important issue, and I hope you will share that pride.

You will notice though that there is TWO holiday puzzles by our wonder Isha Arrowhawk. No, this is not a mistake. This is to introduce BOTH of our new staffs. We now, as of this issue, have a Northern Hemisphere issue, web page and staff .... And we also have a Southern Hemisphere issue, web page and staff. In the other Hemisphere, things are much different. The seasons are different; they're celebrating Samhain, and they raise energy the complete opposite of our East-South-West-North. They have had to adopt our information for their use for too long ..... but no more. We have brought together the best writers from Brazil, Argentina, and Australia for regulars in their issues ...... and it would not be possible without the help of our dear Brenna. I called her out of retirement to head this project and I'm amazed with what she has accomplished. I told her what I wanted, and she did it. Of course, she calls me a Control Freak which means I kept stepping on her toes, but even with me in the way she and the staff has done a wonderful work here. This is the future of Cauldrons and Broomsticks. Two different Ezines, lists, web sites, and staffs ..... to serve our readers the way I promised to do long ago. And of course, it will continue to be free. This is the staff and my gift to the Wiccans and Pagans of the world. A small gift, but one that I hope is accepted gratefully. If you go to our re-structured web site you can see what your brothers and sisters across the world are celebrating, how they're celebrating it, and what their customs are with a click of your mouse. The world is getting smaller, and we're being given more information to be able to understand each other. This can't help but be a good thing.

Now, I leave you to your Beltane issue, implore you to explore the rest of the world through our web site, and from the staff of Cauldrons and Broomsticks - Northern Hemisphere wish you a Merry Beltane. We are now, as of today, Cauldrons and Broomsticks Ezine, Worldwide.

One more note of a more administrative form. We are looking for new writers to join the staff of the Northern Hemisphere edition. We're mainly looking for people to write about the holidays with their celebrations, crafts and recipes, but will also look at new ideas for series articles. And I'm proud to announce the possible return of the much loved Fiona and Julian series hopefully coming back in the Midsummer edition. At least Selene is starting to work on it, and I'm very excited about it and have my fingers crossed. All submission ideas should be directed straight to me: imzadi@cauldrons-broomsticks.net, and I will send them to the proper editors or take care of it myself. You don't have to be experienced, just want to learn and share. We have editors to help hone your skills. Now, to your Beltane 2002 Issue. :)

Blessings, warmth and love .....
Midnight Grey Wolfpup
Editor/Publisher/Owner
Cauldrons and Broomsticks Ezine, Worldwide
http://www.cauldrons-broomsticks.net