SECTION III - THE CAULDRON
September 11, 2001 - Antigone
An Angel in Your Pocket - Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
Abby - Mystickally
Mystic Moon - ~Rain
Michael and Beth Chronicles - Selene SilverWind
Mewsings from The Alley - Mystickally
Dreams - Lorelei
Witch Like Me - Book review by ~ G. Rain
A Whisper In the Darkness - Antigone
For Newbies, Rich or Poor - Isha Arrowhawk
Our Ritual - Lorelei
Oils, Ointments and more - Judith Lewis
Raven's Rants - Raven
One - Lorelei
September 11, 2001:
The opinion of someone that lived through it.
By Antigone
Writer's Notes: I wrote this several weeks after that tragic day. I don't know that it makes
a whole lot of sense, but I thought I should say something after the get-well wishes I
received. Thank you to everyone that did - it's nice to know that nobody is truly alone in
this world.
I was there. It was like any other day. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
I was there visiting with friends. I used to work there. Then the lights and computers
flickered on and off. The building seemed to shake.
A few minutes later we were told to stay where we were, for our own safety. Everything
was under control. We would be informed of when we could peacefully exit the complex.
I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that told me to get the hell out of there as fast as I
possibly could.
So I took off running. Men in uniform ran after me, threatening to put me under arrest.
All I remember is that I didn't care, and kept running down the stairs. Eventually, I was
running alone, and they had given up trying to stop me.
I got to the main entrance and ran out. And that's all that I can remember.
I'm told that I got out just in time because the tower came crashing down after literally
seconds of my running out of the doors. I had a concussion after being hit by falling
debris. I woke up a few days later in a hospital. My friends and family couldn't find me. I
had no identification on me. My mother found me after going to a few different hospitals.
Somehow, she knew that I was alive.
All of my friends died that day; Fifteen of them altogether.
I was supposed to go to a concert with 3 of them in February. Now I have 4 tickets to a
concert that I can't bring myself to go to.
This country has its many perks. We have freedoms and luxuries that many people don't
even have a clue about. And we take many of these things for granted. It's one of the
many reasons why these tragic events took place. A friend and I have always claimed to
hate this country. In many aspects, we both still do. We're all too preoccupied with
ourselves than with things that matter. We care about appearance, we care what people
think of us, we care what kind of house or car we have or how much money we make.
For a few days, people remembered how important it is to spend time with loved ones,
whether it is family or friends. Then all of a sudden, waving a flag in front of your house
or in your car was supposed to show support and caring.
But it's all bull, isn't it? People are "proudly" waving flags around, but how many of
these people know what it truly means to display an American flag? Where the hell were
those flags before September 11th? Why didn't you cry and laugh and make love to your
family and friends and partner before this all happened?
No, now we're back to our old selves. We go to work, we ignore our loved ones, and we
revel in our luxuries. We don't have time for anything anymore.
But, we wave those damned flags around in honor of pride and support and
remembrance. Like any of us is forgiven for being such poor excuses for human beings.
Does it make you feel better to donate money for the greater good? Do you feel guilt free
after hanging a big American flag out of your car or front door?
I don't defend the bastards that killed my friends. I don't even try to understand why.
But the sudden collective peace, love and happiness oozing out of people that really
believe they are being genuine . THAT makes me ill.
God Bless America.
An Angel in Your Pocket
By Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
An Angel in Your Pocket by Rosemary Ellen Guiley is an enchanting guide to the angelic realm. This cute
4 «" X 5" size is created so you can keep it anywhere; in your purse, desk draw and yes, even in your
pocket!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this 182-page book was packed with information! To start you off and
get you thinking Rosemary provides the reader with some angel encounters. Then she get down to business
explaining how angels came to be, how we as a society view them, and she also sheds light on a common
misconception: Angels don't belong to any one religion.
One of the things I found most interesting was the authors understanding of these beings. For example, on
page 68 she says,
"All of these changing perceptions of angels show how we ourselves mold their image. Angels are
vibrations of love and light - they are truly formless. In order for us to be able to perceive them, and to
comprehend them, we ourselves project shape, features and identities onto them. We are best able to relate
to angels as human-like beings, at least in appearance. They reveal themselves to us in a manner fitting the
circumstances and needs of the moment."
As a Wiccan, I was quite happy to see that she didn't continuously use one faiths ideology of angels. Instead
she explained about several faiths and how each views these celestial beings.
Now more than ever, people are looking for guidance. Rosemary's book, An Angel in Your Pocket may
stretch your mind, open your eyes, and touch your heart. I recommend it as a gift for yourself, or someone
you love.
Rating: 5 out of 5 wicked broomsticks!
Please Note: An Angel in Your Pocket is only Available in the UK. For further info on this book and other
related metaphysical books please visit www.thorsons.com.
Abby
By Mystickally
"Thanks for meeting with me, man."
"No thanks necessary. I probably would have come out here even if you hadn't asked.
But I have to admit that I was surprised to hear your voice."
Shaene had run out of ideas. He finally called on Tim to bounce ideas off of, to figure out
the best way to reach Abby.
"If Abby's not all depressed and mopey, then what do you think is the problem?"
It's true that Abby wasn't actually walking around like the living dead, but Shaene knew
better. She just wasn't acting like her normal self. She didn't laugh anymore. She didn't
even smile anymore. She functioned enough to go to school, to take care of the cats, and
to carry on evening conversations with Shaene.
Outwardly, Abby seemed perfectly normal.
"It's just a feeling I get when she's around. She seems OK, but I get this shiver down my
spine, like she's here, but it's not really her. Do you know what I'm saying?"
Tim then commented that Abby had reacted the same way when Seth died.
"It's just how she deals with her unhappiness."
Both Abby and Kat dealt with their grief on their own. Cal was, of course, a major part of
both of their lives. Kat wanted so much to grief together with Abby, but Abby couldn't
bring herself to talk with Kat about him. In fact, the pain in her eyes when she even
looked at Kat was apparent.
Unlike Abby, Kat wasn't able to go on with her life. Her grief had taken total control
over her, and she spent all of her time either asleep in her apartment, or else hanging
around Abby and Shaene's. She looked as if she had aged 20 years since Caleb's passing.
Shaene tried to be the glue for both women, but it was starting to wear him down too. He
had hoped that Tim's short visit would spark up some life into Abby. She was definitely
happy to see him, but not as enthusiastically as Shaene had hoped.
Tim decided to extend his stay with Abby and Shaene indefinitely, which was a huge
relief to Shaene. Abby still hadn't allowed herself to smile or laugh, but she was at least a
little less rigid and cold.
School was a welcomed routine, and the homework was a blessing. Both Abby and Kat
could count on constant studying to keep their minds off of Cal. Abby and Kat were able
to study together, and slowly, they began to smile and laugh again. While the laughter
was an uncomfortable giggle, it was a definite improvement from the previous weeks.
Everything seemed to be getting back to a somewhat normal state. Then one day, Abby
arrived home to find Kat sitting at her altar, with what looked like a little rag doll in her
hands. A closer look revealed that the doll was actually some sort of poppet.
"What are you doing?"
Startled, Kat dropped the poppet. She fumbled for the right words.
"Nothing."
Abby thought about pressing her for answers, but thought against it. Kat's a smart chick;
she wouldn't do anything stupid.
Abby knew for sure that there was something wrong when she walked into Kat's
apartment and found a table full of these poppets. She finally decided to press Kat for
answers.
"I was just curious, that's all. I've been reading up on different cultures."
"So you decided to look up voodoo dolls?"
"Not for negative stuff."
v
Kat claimed to be experimenting with one poppet to help herself grieve better. The
pained expression on her face told Abby that she was being truthful.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't around much when . well, you know."
Kat just shrugged it off and changed the subject.
That night, Kat locked her doors and turned off all of the lights to her apartment. She lit
every candle that she had and incense burned all over the place. She pulled out a Ouija
board, a poppet and an entire notebook of handwritten notes.
Kat planned on contacting Caleb's spirit, and returning the negative energy sent out by
the person responsible for Caleb's death ..
"I'm not a witch. I'm not even a newbie. But I will learn what I need to know if it means
that I can avenge your death, Cal. I'll do right by you. I promise."
)O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O(
Abby wasn't sure if she should be keeping a close eye on Kat. She just had a feeling that
Kat needed more than she could provide for her.
"She is grieving in her own way, I guess. I mean you're grieving your own way too."
Abby was puzzled by Shaene's statement at first, but she did realize that she had been
shutting out the entire world, concentrating on the present and not looking back or
forward. Abby just knew that if she allowed herself to think about everything that had
happened, she'd fall to pieces.
"Has Kat been talking to you about witchcraft lately?'
"Just little questions here and there."
"Like what?"
Shaene shared that Kat had asked about the purpose of poppets and what they could do.
"She also asked me about contacting spirits and she wants me to do a reading on her."
Shaene was the resident tarot card reader and was often asked to do readings for people,
so Kat's request wouldn't have seemed strange had it not been for her recent actions.
"Shaene, I think she's planning to do something."
"Like what?"
Abby didn't have an answer. She just had a hunch and it wasn't a good feeling.
Mystic Moon
Chapter 12 "Heart vs. Mind"
Written by ~ G. Rain
Alone in the apartment, after a long day of work I stood motionless in the kitchen and thought about the past
few weeks. Shara and I had several long and serious conversations about witchcraft, the store, and my
future. She was preparing me for something. Some challenge that I felt she knew more about than she had
let on. Even though I felt at the time that she was holding back on me, I knew she was telling the truth.
As I had thought on that warm day not to long before Yule, the raven, my dreams, and the cryptic man with
a black aura were all connected. One month later, I was yet to find out that connection. But, I hadn't given
up searching for it. For some reason, one particular conversation with the old witch popped out in my mind,
it played over and over in my head like a dream that wouldn't end. Shara and I were having lunch one
Saturday afternoon at the Mystic Moon store. We closed it for forty-five minutes and had a long talk that
started out as nothing and ended up being a big something. . .
"You know how last September when we did Jane's dedication ritual, well I was wondering why you never
did anything like that for me." I asked Shara point blank.
"Well, that was five years ago. I was different back then. Fresh off the death of my husband. Some days, it
was difficult to breath, because I thought why should I continue living if the man I loved for so many years
is dead." She stopped for a minute to think of her lost love. " But, more than that Gwen, you were and still
are a special witch. Rituals like that should be between you and the Gods. It wasn't my place to intrude on
something so sacred."
The answers had satisfied my initial question but then it didn't make sense to me why she'd leave me to my
Gods and Jane got "Shara's interference." So of course, I blurted out, "The why did you do one with Jane
?" I knew after I finished the question I shouldn't have asked, but as my mother had always said I was born
with a big mouth and to many questions.
Shara wasn't really taken back, at least she didn't show it. She shook her head and mumbled, "You got
spunk kid." Although at twenty something I hadn't been called a Kid for years, compared to the sagged
crone I was young in her eyes.
"Alright, you want to know, huh?" Shara asked and took a deep breath as if she was preparing to tell me a
century old secret. "Because Jane will never be the Witch you are. She is a wonderful woman and friend but
you my dear, are very special." She adjusted herself in her chair and leaned in closer to stress the
importance of what she was saying, "When I first met you, I could feel your power. You simply glowed
with it. Now five years later . . . well you know." I was flattered by what she said but even more puzzled.
"What? Hold on a minute, what exactly are you trying to tell me? Shara, contrary to popular belief Witches
like me don't have super powers, I can't make things move. I most certainly can not fly on a broomstick!" I
was surprised by my own frustration but it seemed a relief to get my feelings out in the open.
"I think you know what I am talking about, you've got a gift." Shara said matter of
factly, pointing her fork
in my direction.
" I have no idea what your talking about." I yelled and got up from the table to walk away. Shara grabbed
my wrist and I looked down at her.
" You need to listen to him." She said seriously. I sat back down in my chair, my anger gone and a warm
comfort feeling ran through my body. Shara had used her touch to project calming vibes into my body. We
sat for a good five minutes in silence.
" Let's say the man who comes to me in my dreams is real, or not necessarily real but important. I think
about it for hours everyday. Why me, and what does he want from me?"
" Maybe he doesn't want anything." Shara said. I must have looked confused because she laughed at me. "
Honey, child now listen to Shara . . . if all you do is try to think everything through and rationalize it than
your life will have no substance, not feeling." Shara got up and put our food away.
She walked toward the storefront but stopped half way and turned back to me and said something I will
never forget " You better stop listening to your head and start following your heart." Finally I thought,
something made sense. I wasn't following my heart. Shara always said, "There is a reason why your brain is
in your noggin and you hearts in the center, because love is the beginning, middle, and end of all things
great in the world."
That conversation could have continued but I understood enough. If a bumper sticker was placed on my
forehead it would have read, 'message received, still processing." Thinking about my dreams had gotten me
no where, from that day forward I decided I'd let my heart take over.
Michael and Beth Cronicles
By Selene Silverwind
United Bliss
(In our last episode: Gary and Mark decided to move up their uniting ceremony. Michael considered proposing to Beth.)
Friday evening, Kyra and all her tenants worked in the courtyard putting the finishing touches on the wedding decorations. Beth and Angela helped Krya drape fresh flower garlands over the arbor while Michael and Adam hoisted the flowered banner Beth had painted on the opposite balcony. The children had been assigned the duty of hanging Angela's nosegays on each folding chair, which had been delivered and arranged earlier that morning. Angela frequently had to stop helping Kyra to break up games of chase that broke out as the kids working. Anacati was in Mark and Gary's apartment rearranging the furniture and shoving the boxes into their bedroom so their guests would have a clear path to the bathroom.
Mary and Gary returned from the tailor with their new tuxedos to find their neighbors just finishing. "Wow, it's incredible," Mark said, gazing at the profusion of flowers filling the courtyard.
"I can't believe you guys did all this," Gary said. He glanced around the courtyard until his gaze fell on a large box set on the buffet table. He elbowed Mark. "Look, our first present."
Anacati emerged from his apartment with a wide smile. "For your wedding," she said. "From all of us."
"Can we open it now," Mark asked.
"Absolutely."
"Well come inside," Gary said. "We'll pop open a bottle of champagne and see what's in it."
Everyone followed Gary and Mark inside, then waited as he popped the cork and poured them each a glass of fizzing liquid. Even the kids were given a glass to hold, but theirs were filled with water. Gary raised his glass. "To you, for making this so easy," he said.
"Congratulations," the other toasted in response.
"Can we look now?" Mark asked.
"Yes, yes, please," Marisa urged.
"We're dying to see what's in it," Jennifer chimed in.
Laughing, Mark lifted the lid, then gasped. He lifted out a ceramic goblet painted with Celtic love knots. He looked at Beth. "You?" She nodded with a smile. "It's gorgeous, thank you," he said.
Next he pulled out the altar cloth Angela had cross-stitched. A large pentacle interwoven with oak leaves graced the center with symbols of Mark and Gary's lives surrounding it: scales for Gary's law practice, a shell for the beach, a computer for Mark's work, the interwoven male symbol to represent them as a couple, and a rainbow.
Mark leaned forward and pulled Angela into a tight hug. "Thank you, it's perfect."
"My turn," Gary said as he reached into the box and pulled out a pair of beaded necklaces. He looked to
Anacati. "Are these from you?"
She nodded. "Chumash wedding necklaces. You can wear them tomorrow if you want."
Gary and Mark exchanged a look. "We definitely will, thank you."
Gary took the last item out of the box, a bottle of nuptial blessing oil Kyra had blended for them. He unscrewed the cap and sniffed it, sighing. "It smells great."
"Anoint yourselves with it in the morning," Kyra instructed. "Now I hate to cut this short, but we need to rehearse the ceremony one more time. Everybody back outside."
Bright and early Saturday morning, Kyra emerged from her apartment still in her pajamas to greet the caterer who had arrived to set-up. The uniting was at eleven a.m., which meant the guests would be arriving in three hours!
After showing the caterer her area, Kyra went back inside to retrieve a large cut-crystal vase of flowers, which she carried over to Mark and Gary's. Gary answered the door in his robe. "Morning,
Kyra. We're up, just getting ready. Don't worry, we'll be in the courtyard at ten."
"Not a problem. I just wanted to give you these flowers for your apartment." Kyra handed him the flowers. "The florist has been and gone already. She also brought these." She handed Gary a small plastic bag containing boutonnieres. "See you at ten."
Kyra hurried back to her apartment, mentally reviewing her to do list. It seemed like everything that needed to be done was done except for getting dressed. Finish sewing the collar for her robe? No, she'd finished it already. Beth had given her the cord already and the altar had been decorated last night. All they needed was two cut two tiny pieces from the cake, which the caterer had already promised to take care of.
As Kyra walked down the hall toward her bedroom, Marisa stumbled out of hers rubbing her eyes and headed toward the living room. "Stop right there," Kyra said.
"What?"
"No TV this morning. We have too much to do."
"Like what?"
Kyra stopped, realizing that everything was taken care of. "Okay, one hour, then you have to shower and get dressed."
"Okay, Mom. Chill."
Up in her apartment, Beth had climbed out of bed early, leaving Michael still asleep, and gone into the living room to practice the song she had written for Gary and Mark's ceremony. She was nervous about playing it properly. Even though she'd been playing for years and had performed more times than she could count, she'd never performed a song to such an intimate group of friends, or at such a special occasion.
Placing her fingers on the strings, she played the first note, then became totally engrossed When it was done, she looked up to see Michael standing in the doorway in his robe smiling at her. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"It's okay. I love to hear you play."
She blushed. No matter how often Michael made comments like that, she was always flattered by the praise.
"You should play that at our wedding," he said.
Beth swallowed. "Our wedding?"
Still grinning like a fool with a secret, Michael stepped toward her. It was then that she noticed he was holding his hands behind his back. When he reached her, he sank onto one knee. He shifted his hands in front of his body, revealing a small velvet box. Inside was a simple diamond set in a platinum band.
"That depends on whether or not you say yes. Will you marry me?"
Stunned, Beth stared down at the ring. Love and an eagerness to say yes rushed through he, but they were quickly joined by panic. Was it too soon? She recalled her conversation with Kyra and decided that it wasn't.
"Yes!" she cried, throwing herself into Michael's arms and pressing her lips into his. His arms encircled her and pulled her down to the floor with him. A new kind of love Beth had never felt before washed over her.
Michael pulled his lips from hers and reached for her finger, sliding the ring onto it. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Beth looked at the ring again. "Michael it's beautiful. Just one thing, though. Are you sure I should wear this today? We don't want to steal Mark and Gary's day."
He nodded. "You're right. I'll put it back on you later tonight." He glanced at the clock on the table above them. "Is that the time? We need to shower!" He kissed her on the lips once more, then jumped up, gathering his robe around his waist as he raced out of Beth's apartment.
After he left, Beth continued to gaze her finger. The ring was perfect. Exactly what she would have chosen. But was she really ready for this? She wished she had time to talk to Janine, but she didn't. Still, she knew what Janine would say. When it was right, it was right, and there was no sense in delaying her future. Nodding, Beth pushed herself off the couch and went into the bathroom to shower. She started to slip the ring off her finger, then pushed it back on. She didn't want to take it off until just before she went downstairs.
By eleven a.m., Gary and Mark's guests had taken their seats. To cue the start of the ceremony, Kyra took her place behind the altar beneath the arbor. Beth and her band struck up Canon in D, then Gary and Mark's front door opened at the other end of the aisle. Their guests stood and turned to watch them walk down the aisle hand in hand. When they reached
Kyra, they stopped and stood facing her.
Kyra picked up a crystal wand from the altar and pointed it toward the far wall, then turned in a circle, creating sacred space around the entire courtyard. Returning to the North, she called the elements of earth to greet them, followed by air, fire, and water. She paused, then lifted her hands skyward. "Great Goddess, Mother of all, please join us on this special day as we witness the uniting of Mary and Gary. Please bless them and watch over them that their lives may be filled with joy."
She lowered her arms, then looked to Gary and Mary and said, "Mark and Gary, you come before us today to unite yourselves. Please state your intentions aloud."
Mark turned to face Gary and said, "Gary, you have filled my life with more joy than I imagined possible. You have blessed me in ways I can't describe. I want to spend the rest of my days without you as part of them. I join you now as husband and partner through everything the years may bring. I love you."
Gary smiled, then said, "Mark, you have taught me to love in ways no one has before. The joy you bring to each day of my life is a treasure. I want to continue sharing in that joy for the rest of our days. It is an honor to become your husband. I love you."
They turned back to Kyra, who held up a pair of simple gold bands. "These rings symbolize that love, and life, is a never-ending circle. It is a symbol of your promises to each other." She placed one ring in each of their hands. "Slide the rings onto each others fingers." They did. "Now say, 'With this ring, I am united with you.'"
Gary and Mark repeated her words. Kyra picked the handfasting cord up from the altar and held it up. Gary and Mark crossed their wrists and joined hands, then Kyra tied the cord around their wrists. When she was done, she said, "This cord with this knot seals your promises and unites you for as long as you both shall live. Keep it and cherish it as a symbol of your union. You may now kiss to seal your bond."
They leaned forward and exchanged a brief kiss, then slipped their hands from the cord and placed it back on the altar.
Kyra took the offering plate holding two small bites of cake and the chalice from the altar. She presented it to them and said, "This cake and this ale bring with them a blessing of abundance. Please offer them to each other to ensure eternal prosperity."
Gary and Mark each picked up a sliver of cake and offered them to each other with the words, "May you never hunger." Then Gary took the cup from Kyra and offered it to Mark with the words, "May you never thirst." Mark took a sip, then returned the gesture.
They turned back to Kyra. "You are now united before the Gods, your friends, and your family. May you know joy for all the days of your lives."
Amid applause, Gary and Mark exchanged another kiss, then the applause quieted as Beth performed the song she had written. It was the first time Gary and Mark had heard it and it brought tears to their eyes. Michael also watched his love perform the song and his love for her was renewed.
More applause followed the song, then Kyra quieted the guests by raising her arms to the sky. She said, "Great Goddess, Mother of all, thank you for joining us today and for blessing the union of Gary and Mark. Stay if you will, go if you must, farewell and blessed be."
Reversing the direction she had taken at the beginning, Kyra released the elements, then the circle. Then Gary and Mark joined hands and retreated down the aisle to celebrate their new life together with the friends and families.
Mewsings from The Alley
By Mystickally
There have been a lot of changes here. First and foremost, my rescuing efforts are now a
really official thing. Catsby's Corner Cat Rescue, Inc. is a legit non-profit organization,
and I am in the middle of doing the paperwork to become a 501(c)3 organization, which
means that we're recognized by the IRS and can make your donations to the cats tax
deductible!
I am even in the process of developing a website: http://www.catsbycorner.org
Nothing is there yet, but it will be soon. And now, I am looking into how to make my
dream a reality: I want to start an animal sanctuary.
I have the land in Upstate New York, in a little town called Afton. Now, all I need is the
money to build the sanctuary! lol . But my plans are set: I am going to start an animal
haven dedicated to the care of cats and small mammals like rabbits and guinea pigs.
There aren't any sanctuaries or shelters out there that will cater to small mammals, and
now that I am working at a veterinary hospital dedicated to cats and rabbits, my head has
been corrupted! ;-)
I never realized what wonderful creatures rabbits are. And the advent of proper bunny
care is a fairly new concept.
Thanks to my boss and the wonderful people at http://www.rabbit.org - The House
Rabbit Society - I am learning a lot. And it's made me realize that my poor guinea pigs
are just as special as bunnies and cats, and that I have been somewhat neglecting them.
My guinea pigs were pleasantly surprised when I started showering them with as much
love and affection as the cats, and I have been dubbed the guinea pig expert in my area
thanks to my sudden resurgence of interest.
The pigs and bunnies get an unlimited amount of hay - timothy hay to be exact - and a
limited amount of timothy-based pellets and vegetables. Well, an animal sanctuary in
Afton will sure make it easier in terms of hay (it's a farming community!) and growing
our own vegetables!
I have a deeper appreciation and love for these wonderful creatures, and my cats get
along unbelievably well with them.
Anyway, I wanted to share a quick update for now, and I hope to be bringing back
Mewsings again!
In the mean time, here are some helpful links:
http://www.cavyspirit.com
http://www.guinealynx.info
http://www.cavyrescue.com
http://www.rabbit.org
http://www.catsbycorner.org
And a gentle reminder: Since the 9/11 tragedies, donations to other charities, namely
animal organizations, have been dwindling down. Catsby's Corner has felt a significant
decrease in monetary donations since then, and yes, we are suffering from it. Please, the
next time you get a chance to donate, think of us, and the countless number of other
charities out there. The cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals need us too!!
A Whisper In the Darkness
By Antigone
Brynn thought that the birth of the twins would bring back the joy into her life. Instead,
she watched helplessly as Aria slipped back into her mute state, and Jakob quickly
became the twins' favorite parent.
Brynn knew better than to be truly jealous of Jakob; she hadn't been the perfect mother
so far. Hell, she hadn't even been a "good" mother! Her biggest fear came true: she failed
as a mother to Aria but had hoped to succeed with her other children.
The babies had just turned 6 months old, were thriving very well and were unbelievably
happy. Brynn couldn't believe how giddy her children were. How could they be so happy
when their mother was so miserable?
And the worst part of it all was the fact that Brynn had no clue why she was so miserable.
It wasn't post-partum depression; She was depressed even before the pregnancy.
Brynn came to the conclusion that she subconsciously just couldn't allow herself any
happiness.
The core of her sadness had to do with Aria, and for a long time she believed it to be the
only reason.
Maybe it is the only reason. Or maybe she really doesn't allow herself any happiness.
Jakob tried everyday to get Brynn out of her shell. She loved him dearly, but she didn't
know how to act around him. Why was she so uncomfortable around him? She had no
idea.
=^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^=
Brynn, Jakob, Aria and the twins spent the afternoon at the state park, eating a picnic
lunch and playing volleyball.
They appeared to be the picture-perfect family. And to the world, they were. Outsiders
had no clue that in the middle of the night, Brynn would get out of bed and go to sleep on
the living room couch.
Brynn played volleyball with her family. She ate lunch with them. She helped Aria and
the twins eat their lunches. She even wiped a smearing of mayonnaise off of Jakob's face.
Everything looked so . perfect.
But things weren't perfect, and she knew that Jakob knew it too.
"I don't know what's wrong with me!" Brynn thought to herself.
For the sake of their children, Brynn said nothing, and played along with the day's
activities, like there was absolutely nothing wrong.
The ringing of Jakob's cell phone broke the smile off of Jakob's face.
Their neighbor called to say that the house was on fire and the fire department was
looking for them.
Aria started to freak out. She began screaming for Whisper and was inconsolable.
The drive home was silent but frantic.
As soon as they drove up the block, Aria slithered out of her seat belt and ran out of the
car before it stopped moving. She ran to the front of the house, screaming for her beloved
cat.
The firemen had gotten the fire under control, and the damage to the house wasn't as bad
as they had feared. Then out of the darkness, Whisper stormed towards her family and
jumped into Aria's arms. She hugged her cat and cried, as Brynn held Aria and cried.
Although the damage was minimal, they would not be able to re-enter their home for
another week, so the family went to a local hotel and settled in. Aria wouldn't let
Whisper out of her sight and Jakob had been on the phone since they arrived, discussing
the house and what needed to be done to fix it. The babies were asleep and night had
fallen.
Brynn quietly slipped out of the room and decided to take a walk in the night to clear her
head and to be alone for a few minutes. It didn't occur to Brynn to walk away and never
come back, but she found herself buying a train ticket, getting on a train to where ever it
would take her, and not thinking about it. She fell asleep on the train and went numb.
Six hours later, Jakob stared out of the hotel window and knew. He cried quietly and
wondered what he should do to find her, or if he should just let her go.
For
Newbies, Rich or Poor
By Isha Arrowhawk
Ok, I usually write poetry, or send in the Word Search puzzles for this Ezine, but this time, I felt I should share something that really hit
me like a ton of bricks. And I'll just bet that there are others, new
people to the Craft, who felt this exact same way. So, let me clear
the air, shall I?
One of my newest students and I were chatting over dinner, and I
noticed that she was starting to cry. Thinking it was due to my
cooking, I made a joke. "I can always order us a pizza."
She looked at me, with the saddest face I've ever seen, and said, "Oh
no! It's not the food, it's really delicious!"
Now quite confused, I asked softly, "What's wrong then? Maybe I can
help."
What she said floored me, totally. She said, "I can't practice, I
can't even do a ritual."
Ok, so she's new, and is a bit lacking in confidence, I thought. "Sure
you can! I'll teach you!"
Then the bottom fell out when she replied, with a perfectly straight
face, still crying, "But I don't have the fancy stuff like you do...the
altar stuff, the statues, the knives, the wand..."
Oh dear. Then I remembered saying almost the exact same thing to *my*
first teacher! I gave her a hug, and then sat back, to tell her what
I'm telling you here now.
'What your mind can conceive, and believe, you can achieve!'
Explain? Ok, I shall.
Go to the beach, look around. What do you have? A ritual setting. Go
to a cave, look around. What do you have? You got it! A ritual
setting! Now, look at your hands, yes, your *hands*. You've got
fingers. Point your index finger and turn in a circular motion. Guess
what you just did? You cast a Circle!
There's your basics. Your mind, your heart, the will and the *desire*
to obtain a specific result. You don't need a $30.00 athame, or a
$15.00 curfane or bolleen, or fancy candleholders. You don't need
fancy ritual robes, or tons of jewelry.
My first altar was an old 2-drawer filing cabinet. On my bedroom
walls, for each direction, were pieces of typing paper, with N, S, E,
and W drawn on them in magic marker. (I'm horribly directionally
impaired! Especially at night!) I stood in the middle of the room,
cast my Circle with my index finger, and sat on the floor to meditate
or do my workings. As my teacher told me, 'When in doubt, improvise!'
Witches are the Masters of improv, and yes, there is a pun there. My
rituals usually end up with *something* going so totally strange
everyone laughs. 'Mirth and reverence', remember? LOADS of mirth in
this Covenstead, let me tell you!
In my living room, where we do rituals, I have 4 'witch balls',
actually old floats from fishing nets. One in each direction, with the
Eastern one in a different color netting just so I'll know where East
*is*! I use an old table from my job at Ponderosa for my altar. My
fancy candleholders? Votive holders from the Dollar Store. The candles
too. My God and Goddess candles? Silver and gold pillars from Frank's
Nursery and Crafts. My different symbols? Seashells for the Lady, and
acorns for the Lord. My fancy altar cloth? Fabric remnants from
JoAnne's fabrics...different colors for the different Sabbats and Esbats. **Improvise!**
And you don't need shelf upon shelf of books, though I have well over
200+ in my personal library. The Spiral Dance, and the two Solitary
Practitioner books by Cunningham are wonderful starting points.
There are zillions of sites on the Internet to help you, though some
need to be taken with a grain or two of salt, and some with the entire
shaker! LOL! Try WitchVox, try your local new age shop, and try the
Unitarian Church even .. you'd be amazed how many people there are
Pagan or Wiccan, or can lead you to someone. Remember, when the time
is right, your teacher will make himself or herself known.
Oh my dear, wonderful Seekers, if I could hug you all, and offer you
the same support and guidance that my teachers showed me, I'd feel so
blessed. Never give up hope. Never stop believing in yourselves. Ask
the Lord and Lady for Their help, They will surely show you the way.
But remember, *Thou* art God, *Thou* art Goddess! Look in a mirror,
acknowledge the Divinity inside you. The Craft is such a simple thing.
And no props are needed. Those who came before didn't have them, and
they managed quite well, thank you very much. I did an emergency
healing ritual in a bathroom stall for crying out loud! (The woman
next to me was confused as heck though!)
Just remember, it is all in your heart, and in your mind. And that's
all you ever need.
Blessed Be!
Oils, Ointments and more
By Judith Lewis
Spell to help you sleep
(Well, more like "how to make a sleep pillow")
What you need:
fabric
stuffing
30g lavender buds
10 mL PURE Lavender essential oil
250g flax seed
10g hops (if you like the scent)
10g chamomile (again if you like the scent)
*NOTE* - test for allergies before doing this. Place some lavender oil on the inside of
your elbow for 24h. If no reaction occurs you are OK. If you sneeze or if you do not like
the smell of any of these herbs, omit them.
Take a piece of cloth about 40cm by 6cm and sew it on 3 sides inside out to create
something 20cm by 6cm. Finish the top by leaving it open but folding over the edge so
when you sew it closed, you're sewing through 4 layers of cloth and the opening looks
cleaner.
In a glass bowl, add 25 drops of pure essential oil of lavender to the 250g of flax seed and
mix until well blended. While blending, stir 3 times widdershins chanting "Take away
my sleepless nights, clear my mind by magic rites." and 3 times deosil chanting "sleep oh
sleep now come to me, clear's my mind so set me free." Repeat this 3 times.
Add the flax seed to the first pillow and seal this shut. This is your headache/eyes sleep
pillow.
Take a piece of fabric approx 30cm by 30cm and again inside out sew it on 3 sides.
Again fold the top over so that it creates a neat edge so even if you did not sew it shut
you would not be able to see the raw edge where the fabric is cut.
In the same glass bowl, mix the lavender with the hops and chamomile (if you like the
smell). As you mix chant "Now come to one these herbs I mix, my sleepless night they're
sure to fix."
Turn the pillow right side out and 1/3 stuff with stuffing. Now for the next 1/3, fill 1/2
with stuffing, 1/2 with your herb mix so it keeps the herb mix in the middle - if you can,
wrap the herb mix in the stuffing for that 1/3 of the pillow. This will keep the pokey bits
from poking you in hour sleep. Fill the last 1/3 with stuffing and seal the side up.
When you need sleep and cannot get any or when you have an important day the next day
and cannot sleep, place the pillow to your right and place the long flax-seed filled pillow
over your eyes and relax. Feel the tension in your body start to melt away starting from
your toes all the way up your body. Feel your body get heavier as the tension and worry
melts away.
When it feels right, remove the eye pillow and relax for a gentle nights sleep.
Enjoy! newmoon@NewMoonOccultShop.com
Moon Goddess Ointment
Anoint your body for full moon rituals
What you need:
beeswax base
6 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
3 drops lemongrass e.o.
3 drops rose otto e.o.
1 drop ylang ylang e.o.
To make the beeswax base, take equal amounts of beeswax (usually 1/4 cup) and
grapeseed oil (again, usually 1/4 cup) and heat together. Place the oil in the top half of a
double boiler and add the beeswax to it and stir until all the beeswax has melted - stir
constantly. This is important, as it needs to combine properly.
Once done, allow the mix to cool until it begins to thicken. This will stop the essential
oils from evaporating when added to the mix. Add the essential oils one at a time,
stirring constantly. Decant into an amber glass ointment jar if possible and store away
from light and heat. These are not meant to last more than a few months so keep an eye
on your ointment and if mould appears, discard, clean and jar (remember to boil in water
to remove bits of stuff you might not see) and start a fresh!
Psychic Powers Ointment
This one came about from researching some leftover oils
What you need:
beeswax base
5 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
4 drops lemon grass e.o.
3 drops yarrow e.o.
2 drops bay e.o.
1 drop hops e.o.
To make the beeswax base, take equal amounts of beeswax (usually 1/4 cup) and
grapeseed oil (again, usually 1/4 cup) and heat together. Place the oil in the top half of a
double boiler and add the beeswax to it and stir until all the beeswax has melted - stir
constantly. This is important as it needs to combine properly. You can use a
conventional double boiler or use a coffee can in boiling water or a smaller pot in a
bigger one. Remember to use glass measuring cups.
Once done, allow the mix to cool until it begins to thicken. This will stop the essential
oils from evaporating when added to the mix. Add the essential oils one at a time,
stirring constantly. Decant into an amber glass ointment jar if possible and store away
from light and heat. These are not meant to last more than a few months so keep an eye
on your ointment and if mould appears, discard, clean and jar (remember to boil in water
to remove bits of stuff you might not see) and start a fresh!
Here is a recipe I created to be an alternative for one that called for a rare, and expensive
animal-derived scent. I hope you all enjoy it and feel free to pass it on provided the
copyright notice is left completely in tact.
~DragonsBane Protection Oil~
* a 1 dram glass vial
* Sweet Almond Oil - a thick base oil with a gentle scent
* 1/4 - 1/2 gram of amber resin
* 2 drops jasmine essential oil
* 4 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
* 3 drops frangipani essential oil (precious oil)
* 1 drop silver birch oil (should smell like smoke *NOT* like spearmint)
* a generous pinch or 2 small pieces dragons blood resin
Place the amber in first, then the dragon's blood. Add on top of that frangipani and
jasmine and give a slight shake. Let sit for 10 min. in the dark or in the moonlight
(capped). Carefully uncap after 10 min and add the Ylang Ylang and recap to shake
gently. Add sweet almond oil half way to the top and add the silver birch oil. Fill with
sweet almond to almost the top, leaving room for some air and shake well. Fill to the top
with sweet almond and cap tightly. Store carefully away from light for no more than 3
months - really for no more than 1 if to be used near or on skin.
Test before using. To test, place a small amount of oil on your inner elbow for a night. If
you have a reaction, do not use anywhere on your body. Frangipani is a common
synthetic - please use only pure resins and essential oils in this recipe. Silver or white
birch oil is dark, very thick and smells like smoke. Please be sure you are buying the
correct one. If in doubt, ask.
This recipe is copyright Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com and may
be passed on for use only if the entire recipe is kept intact with no additions and this
copyright notice is left complete and attached.
Add power to your magical workings with this incense created specifically with increasing magical intent and power in mind. Can also be used as an offering in the
forest as the resins are natural however be careful to not leave too much as too much of
anything is harmful.
~Power Incense~
9g frankincense
7g myrrh
13g dragons blood
3g gum mastic
11g dammar
5g sandarac
All ingredients are resins. While this combines best for burning when reduced to powder
in a mortar and pestle, it is quite difficult to reduce frankincense to powder I find. This
does smell best however when burned as a well-blended powder and must be burned on
charcoal. It is a bit deceptive and does create a great deal of smoke if you use too much
on charcoal so use sparingly. Dammar, gum mastic and sandarac lend a more pineish
smell to the blend so if you cannot find them, other pine resins can be used or chop up
pine needles and add until the blend smells right to you.
This recipe is copyright Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com and may
be passed on for use only if the entire recipe is kept intact with no additions and this
copyright notice is left complete and attached.
Here are a few cute oils that you might enjoy creating. Please remember if you pass them
on to leave all info and the copyright info in tact.
~Wealth Attraction Oil~
* a 1 dram glass vial
* Jojoba Oil - a thick base oil that is long lasting
* 1 bay leaf, crumbled
* 2 drops ginger essential oil
* 4 drops Oakmoss essential oil
* 3 drops Patchouli essential oil
* 5 drops Lemon essential oil
First, place all the drops of essential oil into the vial. Then carefully add your crumbled
bay leaf. Once done, add the jojoba oil and leave for a full lunar cycle (best made at the
Full Moon). To use - anoint a candle, yourself or a wealth attraction charm with this oil.
It will last longer than others and is suited as a personal scent. For a more subtle scent,
use aromatherapy scent pads in an aromatherapy necklace which allow slow and gentle
diffusion of a scent
Test before using. To test, place a small amount of oil on your inner elbow for a night. If
you have a reaction, do not use anywhere on your body. Do not use on sensitive or
intimate areas. Do not ingest or add to food.
This recipe is copyright Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com and may
be passed on for use only if the entire recipe is kept intact with no additions and this
copyright notice is left complete and attached.
~Love Attraction Oil~
* a 2 dram glass vial
* Grapeseed Oil - to match Narcissus dilute
* 1 whole red rose bud
* 1 drop ginger essential oil
* 3 drops Jasmine essential oil
* 10 drops Narcissus essential oil in 5% dilution in grapeseed oil
* 3 drops Rose Maroc essential oil
First, place the rose bud in the vial. If you have trouble, use some red rose petals. Then
add the narcissus oil first, then the other oils and lastly, grapeseed to the top. To use -
anoint a candle, yourself or a love attraction charm with this oil. For a more subtle scent
used on your person, use aromatherapy scent pads in an aromatherapy necklace, which
allow slow and gentle diffusion of a scent.
Test before using!! Narcissus can cause bad reactions in some people. To test, place a
small amount of oil on your inner elbow for a night. If you have a reaction, do not use
anywhere on your body. Do not use on sensitive or intimate areas. Do not ingest or add
to food.
This recipe is copyright Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com and may
be passed on for use only if the entire recipe is kept intact with no additions and this
copyright notice is left complete and attached.
Egyptian Temple Oil
Based on an oil recipe handed down to me for dressing candles before ritual
What you need:
2 dram (10mL) clean amber or cobalt vial
sweet almond oil (has vitamin E for preservation)
4 drops cedarwood e.o.
3 drops myrrh e.o.
1 drop juniperberry e.o.
1 drop lemon e.o.
1 drop bergamot e.o.
Add the essential oils to the bottle and swirl them gently in order to get them blended.
Add any crystals (make sure they are clean too) and then add your base oil to top the
bottle off. I don't use crystals in all my blends but some people add crystals to their
magical blends to keep them charged with a specific intention. Make sure to keep the
oils stored away from light and write on a sticker or piece of paper to be taped on the
name of the blend, time, date, moon phase, planetary hour and any other info you wish so
that you know what you made and when for use later. As well, be careful, as these blends
will eventually go off so use your sniffer and be aware of what the blend should smell
like. Once it seems off, you can discard it, clean the bottle and start a fresh! Make sure it
is completely clean and if it cannot be completely cleaned, discard and use a fresh one.
Remember - essential oils can cause reactions and oils like citrus can cause
photosensitivity so please - be careful ~ Herbs can be dangerous.
Essential oils are volatile so bottles left with tops off will soon lose their potency. Ensure
that oils don't get too hot and, in the case of oils like citrus-based oils, not too cold. To
test your essential oils to see if they are pure, put a drop or two on blotter paper. Genuine
essential oils will evaporate completely.
May the Blessings of Brigid be with you always,
Judith Lewis
VP Sales and Marketing
New Moon (Enterprises) Ltd
Official UK distributors of potjie pots - cast iron cauldrons
PO BOX 110 DIDCOT, Oxon OX11 9YT United Kingdom
(ph)+44 (0)1235 819 744 (fx)+44 (0)1235 812 367
newmoon@newmoon.uk.com newmoon@new-moon.demon.co.uk
http://www.newmoon.uk.com/ http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com
Raven's Rants
Transformation
By Raven
Well, after much soul searching and self-loathing I finally reached a place in my life last
year where I knew I had to make a change. As you must know, body image is a big issue
today. I am not talking about how society views the "fat" but how we view ourselves. It is
hard enough to be a very open witch much less one who stands out in a crowd because
she is fat.
I looked into gastric bypass surgery and after being turned down for every ridiculous
reason under the sun I was finally approved. I had my surgery scheduled for December
tenth and thanked the Goddess for answering my prayers.
There are many reasons besides my love/hate relationship with food that contributed to
my weight. The main one being a kidnapping/rape I went through in 1997. For a long
time I actually believed if I put on weight no one would ever do that to me again. I know
that sounds foolish but that was my frame of mind at the time. It took me a long time to
remember my bond with the Goddess and realize that being thin was not why it happened
to me. I am still healing but much closer to it than I was back then.
The night before my surgery I did not sleep. I was so torn between extreme happiness and
terror that my heart felt like it would pound out of my chest. I remember turning and
watching my husband sleep and being so grateful that I had him to love me as is. When
morning came I was shaking so terribly it was like having an electric toothbrush when I
brushed my teeth!
The doctor warned me of all the possibilities and such that go with surgery but the one
that scared me the most was the high risk of death due to my weight. It was brought to
my attention that cardiac arrest was a very real risk in this surgery with my weight. The
last thing I remember before getting put under was hoping I made it so I could see my
children again.
Now, it is a little over three weeks since surgery and I am twenty-five pounds lighter and
on my way to a healthier life. I am so glad I did it even though I am still somewhat sore.
When the nurses saw the pentacle tattoo on my wrist I was surprised at how many knew
what it was and that helped me relax with being in there a bit. It also started many great
conversations! I only had one person think it was "the mark of the beast" and she refused
to be my nurse!
I thank the Goddess everyday for helping me find the courage to have this surgery and for
giving me a way to make myself healthier so I am around long enough to hopefully see a
difference in the way witches are viewed. I am also glad to still be around to try and
make a difference and to continue to teach as a High Priestess.
Thanks for listening to the rant!
