SECTION I - HOLIDAY LORE

Ostara Ritual of The New Greening - MoonSongstress
Ostara Astrology - Jeri Noble
March 21st Down Under - AWDU
Ostara Word Search - Isha ArrowHawk
Assorted Recipes and Crafts - Judith Lewis
Pagan history month announcement - Pamela H. Bell
Rites of Passage - AWDU

Ostara Ritual of The New Greening
20th March
By MoonSongstress



Tools for the Ritual:

* Sky blue and fresh green altar cloths
* Ostara incense - a fresh scent such as lemongrass or narcissus
* Golden God candle
* Silver Goddess candle
* White altar candle
* Quarter candles and corresponding stones
* Matches, taper and snuffer
* A young green houseplant - this should be a long-lived, hardy variety such as a spider plant (The Latin name for spider plant is Chlorophytum).
* Several small pieces of parchment paper
* A good quality pen
* Simple feast - iced fairy cake and elderflower and apple drink.


Preparation:


Before the day of ritual spend some time thinking about things that you would like to achieve in the coming year and dreams you would like to bring to reality.

At the beginning of the ritual mentally cleanse and sweep the area moving deosil. Set up the quarter candles and stones symbolising the elements of the quarters. Decorate the altar with its cloths, and then the candles. Place the golden God candle to the right back of the altar and the silver Goddess candle to the left back. The white altar candle goes at the centre back of the altar between the Goddess and God candles. The green plant is placed before the altar candle. Place the items for the simple feast to one side.

Take a shower or splash your face with water for purification. Sit quietly and meditate for a while, then ground and centre.

Sit; open your heart to the new greening.


The Ritual:

The ritual is begun. Moving deosil, light the Goddess, God, altar and quarter candles and incense. Cast the circle in fresh green light. Call the quarters and spirit centre. Invoke the Goddess and God. Bid them all Hail and Welcome.

Sit; open your heart to the new greening.
Contemplate the green plant.

The wheel turns on the everlasting, silvered thread of time and the earth ever responds to the cycle. She now begins to stir from the cleansing sleep of winter and wakes from her slumber to show green life once more. Everywhere around us new life peeps out, full of freshness and gentle determination.

Tiny though the new plants are, each one is a complete parcel which contains the potential to be the strength that envelops mountains in loping stride, shifts earth and rocks without a thought, shelters and protects human life and fearlessly sails the mighty oceans. The pollen of the plants which produce new tender shoots such as these travels through the vast coldness of space without the need of man-made protection and penetrates every environment on earth.

This is a time to mark the limitless possibilities for new life as it begins its latest cycle of growth and is nurtured into being by the earth. It will develop as far and as fast as it can in the time it is given.

Our own new plans and projects begin as small and vulnerable as seedlings such as these, but their potential for growth is just as limitless. Time and the mind hold them and, if we nurture them as the earth nurtures her children they will have the chance to fulfil their potential and fill our dreams. Tender plants all, but centred with the hearts of mighty oak trees.

Sit; open your heart to the new greening.

Take the green plant and place it before you at the centre front of the altar.

Green Lady, Gaia, you are the Goddess on which we rest and the abundant, fertile one from whom comes the stuff of life. You bless your children with that vital spark which is life, feeding us from the bounty of your storehouse.

We are made of your clay, breathe your air, move with the energy of your fire and are nourished by your water. You are the name I can call the part of the one that sustains us in life, and at death welcomes our spent bodies into your cauldron of change.

Take the plant and raise it in your hands.

I bring this plant to this place today in its new beauty and green potential.

Replace the plant onto the altar.

I bring my new plans and dreams for the coming year to this place today in their unformed and undeveloped state.

Take the pieces of parchment and the pen. Write your plans and dreams on the parchment. Fold each one and kiss it. Then roll each one into a tiny ball. Arrange then in a pleasing way in front of the plant.

Here lie my plans and dreams. The fresh, tender newness of this plant is like the plans that are newly formed in my life this spring. Potential they have, but young and tender they remain.

Green Lady, Gaia, in this ritual I offer all these things to you in the knowledge of your abundant blessings. I will care for this plant as I care for my own plans and dreams for they are all your children. As I help it to become the best and most effective version of itself that it can be, my plans and dreams will mirror its thriving and move towards the achievement of their potential. The growth of this plant will remind me that my plans and dreams thrive in your care as they do in my own.

Taking the pen and using the end without the nib, gently dib holes in the earth surrounding the plant. Insert a parchment ball into each one and then cover each one with earth.

Sit; open your heart to the new greening.


Address the plant:

Strong may you grow and sturdy. Well rooted and reaching for the sky.
As you grow, may my plans and dreams grow too.

Now is the time for mental exploration so sit and open your heart and mind to the new greening. Spend a little time exploring the world through the eyes of the plant. Remember that though it is small and rooted into one place its kind have spread and colonised terrain that would surely kill a human being. The potential within it is the same potential within your own plans and dreams.

Sit; open your heart to the new greening.

Proceed with the simple feast to ground yourself.


The end of the Ritual:

Address the Goddess with thanks, love and dedication.

May I listen for and hear you,
May I look for and see you,
May I reach for and touch you,
May I wait for and find you.

Teach me what I need to know, and what I am now ready to know.
Your blessings are abundant, bless me abundantly.


Thank the spirits of the quarters and centre, and also the Goddess and God. Ask them to go if they must but stay if they will. Bid them all Hail and Farewell. Open the circle. The circle is open but never broken.
The ritual is ended.
Place the plant in a prominent place so you can watch its development.

Copyright MoonSongstress 2002
Email: MoonSongstress@aol.com

Ostara Astrology
By Jeri Noble

The Ostara celebration is traditionally held on either March 25th or at the Vernal Equinox. This year the equinox is March 20th at 12:16 pm MST. The planetary alignment for this year indicates a need for emotional resolution, to find ways to integrate our feelings and mental impulses. Hyper focus on beliefs or concepts, which are outside of what one's own inner voice (or inner child) requires, can set up conflicts that can potentially create damage. Make way for the birth of a renewed sense of Self, of a sense of wholeness and focus. A challenge is issued to rise above negativity, to join with the forces of light and joy and make room for their manifestation. As we celebrate the new beginnings of spring, this ritual symbolizes the new growth that we begin now. Remember that this time period particularly, is about honoring our natural rhythms and needs. Magical workings should focus on these.

Preparations
Your altar cloth and candles should be in spring colors; pastels and/or green. Flowers are important; they can be wildflowers, flowers picked from your garden or purchased from a florist. Some may be floated in water in your cauldron. They should be distributed around the circle and may be worn. Have a few seeds to symbolize the growth of your workings and a paper or Styrofoam cup filled to about 2/3 with dirt.

Ritual
In this ritual, we are charging our seeds with the blessings, fertility and growth we're anticipating in the coming year. Cast your circle in the usual way, making certain to ground and center yourself within it. Light your candles around the circle. The basic ritual follows. There are both acknowledgements of the past and affirmations for the future for each sign below that which are used where indicated. If you know your rising sign, you may affirm that as well. Celebrate the end of the ritual with your bread, fruits and drink.

Invoke the God and Goddess
Lord of the Greenwood, our ever-returning Spirit of the natural world I welcome you back into my life and open myself to your maturing influence. I allow the perfect balance and harmony of your example to permeate my existence. I know that all that I am, is now coming into a deeper wholeness Poke a shallow hole into the dirt, representing the activity of the masculine principle. Say the affirmation for your Sun Sign and for your rising sign as well, if you know it. Exquisite Goddess of fertility, I accept the creative energy of the universe into my life and consciousness I know that your influence brings me in touch with my natural rhythms, And now, I am growing into the next, finer expression of myself. Drop a couple of seeds into the hole, cover it and add about 1/3 cup of water. I give thanks oh mighty Goddess and God My prayers are answered. I go in joy and fulfillment.

Aries
I know that I am assuming my rightful place in the greater scheme of things. I am elevated to achievement of my highest ambitions, while being grounded in my own sense of security and comfort. I have all that I need or want.

Taurus
My natural magnetism is emphasized, allowing me to draw to myself all that I could need or want. I now clearly define what these needs and wants are, and my intention shoots forward like an arrow. I am fulfilled.

Gemini
This student is now ready for the teacher to appear. I accept a new level of learning, of understanding from deep within my soul. My emotions are purified and my ego is balanced.

Cancer
I boldly move forward into a new realm of understanding, of compassion and of nurturing. I allow myself to be healed at a deep level, accepting that I need not carry this pain with me any longer.

Leo
I embrace new adventures and exciting awarenesses in my life. I can bravely pioneer the next steps in my existence, knowing that perpetual youth and freshness can be mine now.

Virgo
I recognize the value and necessity of flowing with changing conditions, and am now allowing this ultimate change of growth and evolution. I move and adapt to the rhythms of life and my own psyche.

Libra
I know what I want and I accept that the flow of energy of the universe is to make room for me to have it. I give myself permission to go after the fulfillment of my destiny.

Scorpio
I accept the challenge that my own feelings are offering me now. I boldly move towards a new purification and maturation of my emotional reactions, understanding the greater freedom that will come from this.

Sagittarius
I accept life's challenge to grow by opening myself to learning, to being a student. I find a balance between my need to expand and my need to appear expansive. I choose the truth.

Capricorn
I glory in the process of growth, understanding, and wisdom that are available to me now. I am attaining an important new balance which offers me healing that exceeds any previous dreams.

Aquarius
Knowing that greater freedom is available to me, I go forward in life, trying new things, meeting new people and exploring new avenues of experience. The joy of a new independence is mine now.

Pisces
Through learning and communicating with others I now find amazing new understandings of life and of my own goals. A missing clarity is revealed and I can know what I need to know.

March 21st Down Under
By AWDU (A Witch Down Under)

Whilst all of you in the northern hemisphere are celebrating Ostara, we in the southern hemisphere are celebrating quite a different time of the year. For most of us in Australia, March 21st is actually the autumn equinox or Mabon. Accordingly our celebrations for this date differ quite a bit from northern hemisphere celebrations. This article is therefore aimed at those of us Down Under who subscribe to Cauldrons and Broomsticks and those of you in the northern hemisphere who are interested in the type of things relevant to us. The Craft is alive and well down here in Australia and is on the rapid increase. Surprisingly though, there are very few books that include details on the Aussie Wheel of the Year and even fewer that are aimed specifically at us. This lack of material may well be due to the fact that some of our state laws against witchcraft were only relatively recently overturned! Believe it or not but in Queensland it was illegal to practice witchcraft or fortune telling until about two years ago when our state government was lobbied to get itself into gear and get with the times! It's funny how The Craft blossomed publicly after that....

Wicca is really beginning to come of age Down Under but it still does get a little frustrating to have to consistently swap months and dates around for the sabbats when you read a northern hemisphere book. It's also quite difficult to find some of the supplies mentioned in those same sources. As you can all imagine Aussie flora and fauna is vastly different to that of the northern hemisphere and so our correspondences and Sabbat decorations differ as well. So this article is aimed at making life a little easier for Cauldrons and Broomsticks readers Down Under and also for me to finally get my ideas down on digital paper!

For us March 21st is the time that we recognize all the symbology that goes with Mabon. This is represented mythically in much the same way that it is in the northern hemisphere (only the dates differ). In Wiccan mythology the story of the Goddess and the God mirrors the natural rhythms apparent at the autumn equinox. This means that the God (representing the sun) is in a weakened state and knows that his time grows ever shorter. The Goddess (the earth) slumbers more often in the fading sunlight and holds her lover close as he begins to drift away. For them there is sadness for the separation that will inevitably come but also a sense of peace in the knowledge that inside the Goddess their child stirs with life. As the god weakens, his child grows ever stronger. For some Wiccans a variation of this story is told whereby the Winter King (or Holly King) fights the Summer King (or Oak King) at this time and is inevitably victorious. From this time on the Winter King holds sway over the land. Meanwhile the Goddess enters Cronehood and retreats within herself until the Maiden comes again near spring.

However you choose to recall them, these stories tell of autumn activity when the life of summer seems to fall away and the natural rhythms slow in anticipation of the cold winter months to come. The days get shorter as the sun weakens and the night grows in strength in response. There is an effort made to hold the darkness of winter at bay long enough for preparations to be made for the colder months. This often means a flurry of activity both in rural and urban areas. Just as nuts, seeds and grains are harvested in the country by humans and animals alike, so to in the city do we check our roofs for leaks, clear our gutters of leaves and stock up on tinned items.

Mabon celebrates this seasonal transition and is a time traditionally associated with introspection and dreaming. It is also a time seen as a crossroads and represents a period conducive to inner speculation about possible changes to make in one's life. Activities include walking through nature and also the collecting of seasonal nuts, fruits, leaves and flowers. Mabon is also a good time to examine the metaphorical fruits of your labors and to revel in the rewards of the seeds you have sown in the past year. It is a good time to think about plans for the future. The crossroads nature of the equinox makes Mabon a natural time to try some divination out for yourself or to go and book in for a tarot reading. In urban Australia we don't seem to have a lot of harvest symbology around us (at least I don't up in Brisbane, Queensland). Because of this it's a good time to create your own harvest festival. Perhaps get a few friends together for dinner and get them to bring along some tinned goods to donate to charity organizations. Autumn and the run towards winter are particularly difficult times for people in need and its in the spirit of harvest bounty to help out the less fortunate amongst us. Mabon is also a good time to get into the kitchen and make some of those cold month favorites. Since apples are a traditional fruit for this time of the year, chutneys, apple pies and the like are all great festive recipes to make.

As for plants, flowers and the like Down Under.... The Abelia (in many of its varieties) is an autumn flowering plant. Its delicate flowering bell shaped flowers are perfect for an alter arrangement because one small clipping contains many sprays of flowers. Also it has numerous russet colored sepals that are just the right hew for autumn imagery. The same goes for the Maple. Yes, we have that down here too, although it only seems to shed its leaves (with its full glory of browns, reds and gold's) in the colder areas or towards the end of the winter period in the warmer states like Queensland. Still, if you venture up into the mountains at Mabon (even in Queensland) you're likely to find plenty of leaves to jump in and throw at each other (*sigh*). Azaleas have a habit of flowering all year round here, so you can always find one or two of them to decorate your ritual space with. However the crowning glory of Aussie Mabon fare has got to be the Banksia. It has beautiful golden brown thick spiked flowers that last forever when they're cut. Then there's the native Bottlebrush with its beautiful flame colored feathery flowers and the all-year round Grevillia......... Who says we don't have plant variety and seasonal color down here?!

Nuts are easy to find in the supermarkets at this time and they're relatively cheap if you buy them with their shells on. Let's face it, the frustration of de-shelling them is half the fun! Apples are always around and make a great, cheap, edible decoration for your seasonal celebrations. Berries can be expensive here but the frozen kinds are always around. As long as you don't buy too many they don't cost that much and who can resist blackberry pie? YUM! So there are no excuses! Get into the spirit of the season and enjoy yourself! Merry Mabon or Happy Ostara depending on where you are in the world.

OSTARA 2002 Word Search
By Isha ArrowHawk

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G O S E S L A U T I R T S X E I F Q L I
H J E P Y A V Q J G P D C B E X W G W L
V H E V B B T B X R G O X R O L F V L F
N K R G P I Q U I H G O O W Q E I Z Z M
I G O V M J Z A O S N V K H D C S M L E
T T K B P A P I P I I L S V Y E Y Q D T
I J I M A I I D U B E C N A L A B S H I
A Y R E C K T Q S L G N M N A E G W N R
H R D W O D E K F G K E L D Q G R O W E
O R A R V G R K N I N F K J E F I H W M
C N P S N E U I O N Y V A I X T L P W I
D H G I E C T L A A W Z K A A C R J I T
V J R N I S O M C X S S Z R M T U E E G
K P Q H A X N U S M N E B I M R H L L N
S Y I E V E R P N A J E U B L A O M W I
B T F Z E F M G Y E L I X K B T D K M R
K N Z R L Q V P T E C P S J U S L R E P
Y Q G U R M S D C M D Z V X W O K A H S
Y O U T H F U L L O R D H L P E C F Z Z
N J N V N Z J J K G E E G W W R Z N B H

BALANCE
CELEBRATION
EOSTAR
FEASTING
GREENMAN
KORE
PRIAPICWAND
PYANSKIEGGS
RITUALS
SPRINGEQUINOX
SPRINGTIMERITE
YOUTHFULLORD

Assorted Recipes and Crafts
By Judith Lewis

Moon Goddess Lotion Bar
Now... you can use this for deodorant and when you just want to smell like a Goddess!

What you need:

20g beeswax
10mL sweet almond oil
10mL cocoa butter
6 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
3 drops lemongrass e.o.
3 drops rose otto e.o.
1 drop ylang ylang e.o.

Melt beeswax and cocoa butter on the stove in a double boiler carefully. This is a burn hazard so please be careful. Once melted and gently combined (I use a wooden stirring stick), remove from heat and add the sweet almond oil gently stirring constantly as you add the sweet almond oil. Mix in the essential oils slowly as the mixture starts to cool to prevent too much evaporation. Pour the mixture into a mold if you have one or even a deodorant tube and let it set completely before using. This is an excellent way to reuse your old deodorant tubes!

Please remember when passing on this blending that you can change the essential oil mixture but please preserve the lotion recipe as you see it. Created for Cauldrons and Broomsticks by Judith Lewis of
http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com


Psychic Powers Body Blessing Oil

What you need:

25mL sweet almond oil
7 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
3 drops citronella e.o.
3 drops yarrow e.o.
1 drop bay e.o.
1 drop hops e.o.
2 drops bog myrtle e.o.

On the night of a full moon, during the hour of Jupiter if possible, combine in a clear, clean glass bowl the sweet almond oil and the essential oils. As you drop each drop of essential oil into the mix, concentrate on your desire to enhance your own natural talent. Visualize your goal as you ass each drop especially when adding the sandalwood to the mix.

Once finished, take the oil outside or to a window where you can see the light of the full moon reflected on its surface. While you hold it in place say the words: "Lady moon shining bright, I call your powers here tonight. The path I seek be free to me, that I may go, my body free. This magic mix now stirred up right, empowered by Her magic rite!"

Sweet almond oil will help keep this oil for a little while but bottle it straight away. Use it after a ritual bath or if you only have a shower, use this oil to anoint yourself all over starting with the soles of your feet right to your head before an important ritual.

This recipe was made by Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com for Cauldrons and Broomsticks.


Springtime Lip Balm
A weird combination but very soothing for my chapped lips

20mL Sweet Almond Oil
10g Beeswax
4 drops Wheat Germ Oil
2 drops tea tree e.o.
1 drop eucalyptus e.o.
5 drops lemon e.o.
1 drop ylang ylang e.o.

In a double boiler on the stove, very gently heat the sweet almond oil and add the beeswax which should be grated into small chunks no bigger than a pearl for the best result. Too much larger and you'll need to heat the sweet almond oil too much.

Depending on how think you like your lip balm, you can with this recipe add more sweet almond oil for a thinner lip balm (like you'd squeeze out of a tube) or add more beeswax for a more solid lip balm like you used to get in pots from the Body Shop.

Once you have found the right thickness (you may need to allow it to cool at least once but if you are careful, you can reheat to thicken or thin) add your essential oils into the mix. Once added, pour into a sterilized jar and keep out of sunlight.

This recipe was made by Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com for Cauldrons and Broomsticks.


I have altered the below recipe from the original for the reason of personal taste. I also think this makes a lovely stuffing for peppers and at this time of the year in the UK, sometimes you need something warm inside you ... I do not have a record of where the original came from...

Egyptian Rice
4 servings

1 lb ground steak mince
1 small onion, chopped
2 beef bullion cubes in 500mL boiling water
3 teaspoons of light soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 c raw rice
I clove garlic, crushed/minced
1 tablespoon chili paste or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Start by placing a small amount of oil into a wok (use a different pan if yours doesn't have a lid). Sweat the onions then add the mince. Brown the mince and when it is cooked, drain the excess fat out of the wok. Add all the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until rice is done. I think it is salty this way and that's why I think it might have been intended as a tomato or pepper stuffing but it was yummy when I made it anyway!


Ostara Tea
A refreshing blend but makes a ton!

150g black Ceylon or English breakfast tea
15g shredded dried lemon peel
10g shredded dried orange peel
9g jasmine flowers

Remember to use boiling water and use a strainer in the pot for only 5 minutes then remove completely. Add honey for a sweet warm drink when you need a fruitful cup of cheer!

This recipe was made by Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com for Cauldrons and Broomsticks


Create your own Eostre Blessing Oil
This makes a lot of yummy smelling bath or body oil!

What you need:
15g lemon peel dried
20g lavender buds dried
10g jasmine flowers dried
10g rose petals dried

Place 1/2 of all these in a sterilized glass jar and once in, cover with sweet almond oil. Every 3 nights, give the jar a gentle shake to help encourage the dried flowers and peel to give up any oils they have. After 2 weeks, strain the first portion of herb away using cheesecloth and repeat with the second half of the herbs and peel. Again shake every 3 nights.

Once you have finished, you should have a wonderfully scented oil that you can use in your bath before ritual or if you test first, on your skin.

This recipe was made by Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com for Cauldrons and Broomsticks.


Ritual Body Soap
I often get asked for ritual soap and I think it is best if you make your own.

What you need:
500g melt and pour soap
15mL peach kernel oil
5mL ritual blend pure essential oil (1/4 lemon, 1/4 ylang ylang, 2/4
Juniper berry)

Melt the soap in a double boiler or in a pan over low heat. Stir slowly or you'll get air bubbles and stop heating as soon as it has completely melted. Gently stir in first the peach kernel oil then the essential oil blend.

Once done, you can pour into almost any flexible container like those chocolate trays or a yogurt pot and once hardened you have your very own bar of ritual soap you made yourself!

This recipe was made by Judith Lewis of http://www.NewMoonOccultShop.com for Cauldrons and Broomsticks.


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

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Pagan history month announcement
By Pamela H. Bell

This is an informal proposal for a historical event to be undertaken by the largest unified nation of pagan religions in the history of America, PAGAN HISTORY MONTH.

My name is Pamela H. Bell, a professional author and the North Florida Area Director for THE PAGAN UNITY CAMPAIGN. I am also a member of THE PAGAN EDUCATION NETWORK and am the founder and chairperson for THE TINKERS PALACE FREEDOM ORGANIZATION. Attached is a copy of a piece I, myself wrote. This essay has been published in many forums and as a whole sums up the passion and determination of not only the members of the organizations I belong to but the entire pagan community of this great nation, to see this project come to pass.

PAGAN HISTORY MONTH is a dream I once shared with a co-member of one of the fine organization mentioned above. Within days that dream gave birth to a frenzy of information seekers only to be followed by an incredible number of volunteers who wanted also to see this "dream" happen.

What is PAGAN HISTORY MONTH? Firstly let me say again that this is an informal proposal for the many committees and groups are still planning and events continue to be brought forward for nomination. But at this point, put simply it is a celebration of the history of the many hundreds of Pagan religions from around the world that are currently in some form or fashion represented or practiced in America today. This month will not only celebrate our many histories but our ancestors and genealogies as well.

This month will be an on-going liberation of presentations, functions and gatherings sponsored by covens, circles, groups, organizations, and unified churches as each bring forth their own lineage and lifestyle. These sects or groups will offer their story; as well as hundreds upon hundreds of others who will do so in every state around the country. Pagan History Month will be held throughout the month of October with the final "coming-together" to be held during our most sacred of time of Hallows/Samhain. We will end our endeavor for freedom with a mass, multi-path ritual sponsored by hundreds of separate groups and attended by thousands of members and devotees; a site truly to behold with thousands of differently colored robes and attire with as many chants echoing in the fall, night air...with all their shadows dancing around an enormous unity fire.

The many religions represented in this proposal largely pre-date even Christianity and as old as many the heritages are so is the measure of our pride. Never in the history of our great nation have so many religious paths come together to share their own histories. Never before in the documented stories of the many pagan traditions has there been a celebration of their equality and of their own histories. Never before in the documented stories of the many pagan traditions has there been a celebration of their equality and of their unity. Pagan history month is not a time to convert the world into Wicca, Druid, Shamanism, or any other religion. It is simply a time to reach for that the greatest gift the Creator gave when he blew life into the lungs of man...FREEDOM.

We ask not for your financial support. There is no need to ask for mere commercial responses. There is a greater need of these people for whom I am here representing. We only ask that you tell our stories and record them in hopes that they will be the greatest gifts we have to give to "OUR" children. The many words and descriptions of our many paths have been destroyed and erased for an array of reasons by others who felt threatened by us. All of that precious information has been and is lost to our future descendants. But, together we can re-create time unending. We can record the past through our actions today and in so doing, give life back to our ancestors.

The month of October was chosen for its significance to us, as it is the time that the dead are honored, thus giving us the appropriate time for unity of both the past and the present.

Pagan History Month is a time to give re-birth to the many heritages and ancestries of the many, many pagan religions of modern day America. PHM will be celebrated October 1st thru October 31st for the sacred nature of the month to us. PHM will be celebrated nationwide on a state-by-state basis. Each state will begin with a state chairperson and their staff. The group then seeks and contacts state wide covens, circles, groups, churches, and etc. that would like to participate on a number of levels. The participants may choose to simply offer free advertising for the event or free web space or some other similar measure.

The participants may also choose to participate on an even bigger level by presenting their path history by either a seminar, gathering, ritual etc. The event will bring from the shadows the sacred past of their faith. Throughout the month these events will be happening on a state-by-state basis being organized by the state chairperson and their staff. The participants may want to bring forth their history by public events, art shows, community activities...it is all up to those who lead and up to the state chairperson and their staff to be creative.

The finale of this glorious event will be on October 31st with a huge group ritual in Florida. There will be three prominent, well-respected craftsmen who will design the multi-path group ritual. The ceremony will be attended by thousands all in their native dress or capes, robes...and so on. There will be a multitude of colors sounds, spirits, and voices all chanting, dancing, and celebrating around the unity fire. At the same time in all other states who choose to there will be a shadow ceremony for those who can not come to Florida.

It is the job of each chairperson to seek a staff and to find interested covens, groups, circles, clubs, etc who are interested in participating. Each official state sponsor may choose ten of its delegates to form a committee to organize events and happenings under the direction of the state chairperson.

On a state staff there should be the following positions:

1) State Chairperson
2) Assistant State Chair
3) Secretary
4) Researcher
5) Research assistant
6) Organizer
7) Activities planner

There will be hundreds working together to make this event in history happen in modern day times but it begins with one individual at a time. It will take thousands to bring this event to life but it will happen.

The events will be organized and scheduled state by state. Each state will have it's own committee. The activities will be firstly planned by the covens or general council then will review groups who want to participate...the plans. Each official sponsor will decide on ten representatives who will join the general council.

The statement of purpose:
To restore, revive, re-dedicate, and to reeducate the masses as to the distant and sometimes ancient histories which have been either lost or destroyed by time or foe of religions that are positive, life-affirming, and sometimes pre-Christian based faiths and to celebrate them.

The good thing about being an official sponsor is that your organization can help shape and determine what guidelines there should be put into place. We would welcome your input and will gladly review and put into place those plans, which your group finds especially important.

Let me know if you have further questions and if you would like to make sure that there are certain boundaries you would like to see put into place.

With the warmest of regards,

Pamela H. Bell
PAGAN UNITY CAMPAIGN
TINKERS PALACE FOR FREEDOM
Author/ Freedom of religion activist

tinker@tinkerspalace.com

386-364-1589

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paganhistorymonth/

We have created this group for keeping everyone organized.

Rites of Passage
By AWDU (A Witch Down Under)

Rites of passage have been an important part of humankind's experience of life (and death) since time began. Today traditional cultures cling to their ways, celebrating and acknowledging the important transitions in a person's life. But in "Western" culture these have largely disappeared and those that remain do so in such a stylized fashion that they have become almost devoid of the their original and archetypal meaning. Many have become commandeered by religions that impose a significance upon them that is largely engineered to perpetuate religious uniformity and not to ease or celebrate a person's transition through life. For many "Western" individuals, ritualized rites of passage such as marriage and christenings have become something to be endured and not enjoyed. How many individuals do you know who put up with the sermon part of a wedding and look forward to the reception afterwards? How many individuals do you know who marry in a religious ceremony that holds no religious significance for them at all? Rites of passage are in essence about the particular transition that an individual is going through. They are therefore about the individual and not about the religion. Although having said this, Rites of Passage can form an important part of a religion as long as the emphasis remains upon the individual and not upon the religion. A religious rite of passage should be there to promote an individual's sense of well-being and not the other way around.

In "Western" culture we do not have a comprehensive set of meaningful rites of passage and we very much feel the lack. In this new world with its daily leaps in technology and fast-track nature, many people are finding their roles in life in the process of being redefined. We live in a culture that reveres youth and turns a blind eye to aging, sickness and death. This approach doesn't just alienate us as we grown into old age but it also alienates us at a young age. Just as we lock old people and the sick away in buildings that few of us venture into unless we have to and then with a certain amount of dread, so too do we expect the young to act in a way befitting their age. For teens in particular the contradicting period where society treats them like children and expects them to act like adults is an especially confusing and frustrating time. We fear old age, dying and death largely because we have relatively little exposure to it. In more traditional societies, dying and death are an everyday part of the life experience. We in our culture fear it simply because we do not know it. Similarly, for young people the turbulent period of adolescence is made all the more traumatic by being caught between childhood and adulthood in the eyes of a very critical society. In more traditional societies childhood finds its way into adulthood through ceremony. A person enters the ceremony a child and exits an adult knowing what is expected of them and what will happen to them. Our young are left largely to work things out for themselves with little support and guidance. Their confusion and anxiety is heightened by the lack of a day to mark their transition into adulthood.

As our "western" culture accelerates ever faster into the future and as we move further away from our traditional roots, from the rhythm of the earth and even from the rhythms of our own bodies, we begin to feel more and more disoriented. Life stages seem to merge into one continuous and lengthy journey during the hectic pacing of everyday life but our bodies and unconscious minds simply do not recognize this. Our bodies ebb and flow just as the moon waxes and wanes and our mind is left with the nagging sensation that things aren't the way they used to be. Our minds cry out for some token to mark the changes in our bodies for some memory that defines the day we changed into an adult, a parent, a grandparent. When these transitions are marked, the journey become separated into parts that can then be held up side by side as equals. No longer is youth seen as the pinnacle of life after which everything is a downhill slide into decay and then death. The separate life stages are seen as different but equal. They become several parts of the whole, no one part better or worse than any other. With childhood comes innocence and freedom, with age knowledge and responsibility. This is why so many of us in the "western" world need rites of passage. They signal a change and mark it in a significant way. Through rites of passage we say goodbye to the old way and embrace the new way. We realize the lessons we have learnt and define what we hope to learn in the future. Rites of passage orient us within the journey of our life and are an important way of signaling who we are, where we are going and where we have been. Without them we flounder.

Within Wicca (and many other Neopagan groups) the cycle of the seasons is recognized and the wheel of the year celebrated. From Yule through to Samhain, we acknowledge the changing of the seasons by noting such things as the type of vegetation around us, the length of the day and the weather. We may mark our days by the migration of birds, by the calls of wildlife and other such natural signals. Our key festivals help us to keep in tune with these changes and to orient us within the natural world around us, a world that we can often feel separated from in our homes, offices and cities. In a similar way we can use rites of passage to mark the cycle of our life. Much in the same way as nature seems to cycle through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, so too do our lives. Because of this it is possible to contemplate different life stages at different times of the year. We do not need to be aged to dwell upon what it means to have wisdom and we do not need to be young to contemplate the lessons of youth. The Sabbats therefore can also be a valuable time to examine the various equal stages of life. Similarly, the transitions of life can roughly be equated to the eight seasonal festivals. In this way, the seasonal festivals provide a natural time to perform particular rites of passage. This however does not mean that they are the only time that rites of passage can be performed. To the contrary, a birth rarely happens exactly on schedule, a couple sometimes do not want to wait to be handfasted and the journey into the Summerland is hardly ever something that is planned for a specific date! The sabbats do however provide a reasonable context to discuss rites of passage and their relationship to each other.

In thinking about rites of passage that collate to the sabbats, I came up with eight: Birth (Yule); Coming of Age (Imbolc); Initiation (Ostara); Handfasting/Self-love (Beltane); Mother/Father hood (Midsummer); Mid-life(Lammas); Wisdom (Mabon) and Death (Samhain). This does not mean that these are the definitive eight rites of passage. You may not agree with some of mine or you may have some of your own. Excellent! That's what rites of passage should be about - YOU! But in detailing the rites of passage that I have listed, I hope that you can gain a better understanding of the Sabbat I feel they relate to and also to the way our lives ebb and flow.

Initiation

The rite of passage chosen for the Sabbat of Ostara is Initiation. Why initiation, you may ask? Well the answer is that Ostara is a time for new things. It is spring and all around us nature is rejuvenating itself with the creation of new life. Young animals are everywhere and plants seem to almost double in size over night! Mythically, the sun god has become aware of his own creative potential. What better association than initiation, which is itself the confirmation of a new way of life and is the start of a pathway just beginning to be trodden? For an individual beginning in Wicca, initiation is often the first formal acknowledgment of the magical creative force inside his or herself. Initiation is not limited to Wicca however. Many magical traditions (indeed most) include some element of initiation. Whether this be a simple affirmation of intent or whether this is a full ritualistic initiation into the secrets and mysteries of a particular tradition varies. What is similar is the sense that the individual has somehow crossed over into a new way of life and a new perception of how things are.

Most cultures and religions have some form of initiation ritual. Christianity and Catholicism have a Confirmation ceremony for example and more "traditional" societies include initiation as an integral part of an individual's involvement in that society. In "Western" culture the options have until recently been rather limited. Unless an individual was becoming a member of an "accepted" religion they never really experienced an initiation ceremony, although certain sub-cultures like college fraternities and the like have their own (often rather unpleasant) versions of initiation rituals! Today with the many diverse religious options available, initiation rituals are becoming more prevalent. Wicca and other Neopagan traditions often include initiation as a key element. This may occur within a group or coven setting but it is becoming more common for individuals to initiate themselves into a belief system or way of life through a self-dedication ritual.

I believe that self-dedication rituals are also of value for individuals who do not subscribe to Neopagan or other religious ideas. A self-dedication ritual can also be used by an individual to formally recognize a way of life for themselves. This could be, for example, a dedication to becoming vegetarian or to a non-smoking lifestyle. It could be used by an individual moving out of home for the first time - a kind of initiation into going it alone. An individual could also use a dedication or initiation ritual to acknowledge the type of lifestyle that they are going to commit themselves to living, the kind of person they are dedicated to being or the personal belief system that they follow. The applications of initiation and self-dedication are endless.

Traditionally initiation rituals are often coupled with an ordeal of some description. This ordeal works to prove a person's commitment and to strengthen their bond to a particular lifestyle or belief. In many cultures, an ordeal that uses pain and fear is the most common and acts as a kind of trial by fire for the individual. The high emotion involved and the willpower needed to continue cements an individual's commitment. However in our culture it is not necessary to undergo a painful initiation ceremony to cement one's dedication. It is enough simply to affirm one's dedication in whatever way is right for the individual. This could be the simple act of speaking a dedication aloud or can involve a more lengthy and complex ritual.

It is possible to include an ordeal or some description. I have heard of several individuals who initiate themselves and then have a tattoo or body piercing done to physically mark their dedication upon their body in some way. This is perhaps borrowed from the traditions of many traditional cultures. A more simple ordeal (and one less painful or permanent!) is to set a task for yourself. This could be to help in a community garden for a week, to spend a night meditating, to hike to the top of a mountain or to even skydive. The ordeal doesn't have to be unpleasant but it should be something that requires some effort to complete, so that you are left with a sense of accomplishment and commitment to your chosen lifestyle or belief.

Below is a simple initiation ritual that I think is applicable (with perhaps some minor adaptations) to anyone. If you want to spruce it up with some ideas of your own then go right ahead (it is YOUR initiation after all!). The ritual has been designed for a person on their own but it wouldn't be hard to adapt it for a coven or group of individuals. Most of the items used could probably be found at home. Remember ritual items are just tools for concentration and effect, you don't have to use any of them. Although having said that, nothing beats candlelight for atmosphere!

Items:

A new bar of your favorite soap and some shampoo/conditioner
Sticks of your favorite incense
Several white or cream-colored candles (any type but tea-light candles are much easier to position and clean up afterwards)
A fresh towel
Some soothing music (perhaps a meditation tape)
A clean robe or other piece of clothing that you feel comfortable in
A tray of earth
A piece of paper and a pen

Before you begin: spend some time thinking deeply about what exactly you wish yourself to be initiated into. Make sure that you are certain that this is something that you wish to do and that you are ready to formally make a commitment to your chosen path. If you still wish to proceed with the ritual, then begin collecting the items that you need. Give some thought to where you will conduct your ritual. Inside or outside is fine. Also think about when you wish to do the ritual. I think that night is a particularly good time to do the ritual because it provides the perfect natural separation between one day and the next, a symbolic gesture to mark the transition into your new life. If you can time your ritual to coincide with midnight, then this too helps to symbolically create the right atmosphere of change. Perhaps begin the ritual just before midnight and then end it just after.

Just before your ritual, you need to set up your supplies. The ritual consists of two parts; the first is a cleansing part where you cleanse yourself through the natural elements. The second is the actual initiation itself.

For the first part of the ritual you need to be close to your bathroom or to an outdoor tap. A large bowl of water (big enough to hold adequate water to wash in) will also do. Place your soap/shampoo/conditioner and towel in your bathroom or next to the tap/large bowl of water. It might also be nice to run yourself a bath instead. Fold your clothing or robe and place it nearby if you are going to wear it during the second half of the ritual (if not then place it near the outside of your ritual circle for when the initiation is over).

Then place the tray of earth a short distance away. If you are outside then you can simply use the earth from the ground for this part of the ritual. A short distance from the earth, set up some incense. You need to place the sticks adequate distance apart so that you can kneel between them. Be careful to protect against fire. You'll need to time the lighting of the incense close to the beginning of your ritual so that they continue burning for the first part of your initiation.

A short distance from the incense, set up a single burning candle. Once again time this to be burning for the first part of your ritual and be very careful to protect against any fire hazard.

For the second part of the ritual, set up a circle of candles in a space that you have designated to be sacred for the purpose of this ritual. The circle must be large enough for you to kneel in or to lie down in if you wish. Do not light the candles. Place the pen and paper inside the circle.

The Cleansing:

When the time of the ceremony arrives, light the single candle and the incense. Press play on your stereo to infuse the air with soothing music. If it is nighttime, make sure that all of the lights are off. Kneel on the ground and take several deep breaths, mentally preparing yourself to be cleansed of your old life.

When you are ready proceed to the single lighted candle. This candle represents the element of fire. Visualize fire burning away your old life. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotion wells up. It is natural to feel sad. It is also natural to feel elated or even self-conscious and amused. When you are ready, pass your hand quickly through the flame (be careful not to burn yourself). This symbolic gesture cleanses you through fire. If you wish to repeat this, do so. When you feel ready to move on, pick up the candle and proceed to the incense. The candle will remain with you throughout the rest of the ritual as a symbolic guiding light.

At the incense kneel between the smoking sticks. The smoke represents the element of air. Visualize the wind blowing away your old life. Allow yourself to experience your emotions fully. Watch the smoke curling in the air by candlelight and pass your hands through the smoke several times. You may wish to waft the smoke over your body. Allow the scent to fill your nostrils and imagine it cleansing you of your past. When you are ready proceed to the earth. You may snub out the incense behind you or leave it burning to fill the air with its scent. Take the candle with you.

When you reach the earth kneel before it or if the tray is large enough kneel on top of it. Feel the solid nature of the earth. Pick up handfuls and hold them against your skin. remember that all life returns to the earth. Feel the cleansing nature and power of the element of earth. Smell its natural scent and as the earth falls through your fingers, feel your old life falling away. Embrace your emotions whatever they may be. When you are ready, pick up your candle and move to the bathroom.

When in the bathroom (or near a tap/bowl of water), you will need to strip your clothes from yourself. Cover yourself in the element of water and feel its naturally cleansing properties. Wash yourself and feel your old life washed away as the soap sluices the dirt from your skin. You may wish to luxuriate in this feeling, you may wish to scrub yourself clean or perhaps you will feel sad and will allow your tears to mingle with the water. However you perform this cleansing it is up to you. Whatever you feel is perfectly O.K. When you feel fully cleansed and ready to proceed towel yourself dry. If you are going to perform the initiation with clothing on then clothe yourself at this point. Retrieve your candle and move to the ritual circle.

The initiation:

When you reach the circle, kneel at its perimeter. Do not enter. Think deeply about what you are about to be initiated into. If you wish to stop the ritual at this point, then do so. When you are ready, pick up the candle and move into the circle. You will now need to use this candle to light the perimeter candles of your circle. When all are lit, blow out your original candle (once again be careful of fire hazards).

Kneel in the center of the circle and relax your body. If you wish to invoke a deity, this would be the time to do so. Listen to your soothing music and allow yourself to drift into a trance-like state. You may lie down or sit however you are most comfortable. Meditate upon what you are entering into and what you are leaving behind. Feel the transition that you are embarking upon. If you wish to make a pledge aloud then do so. If not, it's O.K to stay silent or to do whatever comes naturally. Taking a number of deep breaths, dancing or a visualized meditation are all also good options.

When you are ready, take up the piece of paper and the pen. At this point you need to decide whether you will be setting yourself an Ordeal or not. If not then simply write your name on the paper and light the candle that represented fire. Think of your new self and your new life, then burn the piece of paper (you may wish to have a heat proof bowl handy to drop it into). As the paper burns, imagine your new life being freed from the confines of the ritual. When the burning ceases, you are fully initiated.

If you wish to set yourself an ordeal then write a description of it on the paper, followed by your name. You will need to complete the ordeal before you burn the paper and visualize yourself initiated. When the ordeal is completed, set up the circle of candles as you did in this ritual and then burn the paper as described above.

To complete the ritual, you may wish to meditate or dance some more. This is up to you. You may wish to thank your deities. When you are ready, extinguish the candles in the opposite direction to the way in which you lighted them and then step out of the circle. If you are skyclad then put on your clothing. The ritual is complete. You can turn the lights back on now! (And make sure that all the candles and incense are put out completely. Yep, I'm nagging about the whole fire hazard thing again...). Congratulations, you are now initiated!