An Electronic Newsletter For and By the Internet Magickal Community
Issue 2- New Moon, April, 1996
Part 1 of 2
Articles:
First Steps
By Oileanach
Last month, I told you about the small, tentative, steps my wife and I had taken down the Wiccan path. To continue my metaphor, we're taking larger steps now, but they're no less tentative. This is all still very, very new to both of us.
A goodly portion of my "surf" time on the Internet has been searching for information on Wicca and other resources that we could consult. (We don't personally know any Wiccans. At least, if we do they haven't told us.) After hitting just about every web site with the words "Wicca," "Witch," or "Pagan" and perusing every list of recommended reading, three titles kept coming up everywhere I looked: "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler, "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk, and "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner" by Scott Cunningham. Relieved to finally find a place to start, we set out to find these books.
As we raptly read each one from cover to cover, we would often find ourselves nodding unconsciously, as either a feeling we'd always had was confirmed or something confusing was cleared up in a way that made sense to us. And, while there was no way we could absorb all of the information presented, we feel even more certain that we're headed in the right direction.
At the time, the Spring Equinox was fast approaching. We'd made the equinox something of a self-imposed deadline for ourselves; that we'd research all of this "Wicca" stuff to see what it was really all about before we committed to explore it much deeper. Since we'd beat the deadline, and alt.religion.wicca and the two Pagan publications we'd picked up ("Green Egg" and"Circle Network News") were rife with discussions of Ostara events, we decided that we really ought to do something as well. Spring is a time of rebirth, after all, and we were being reborn in a way.
"But...but..." we stammered. We didn't have any tools. We didn't have an altar. None of the "trappings" we'd read about. Well, okay...we understood that the tools weren't strictly necessary, just helpful. We managed to scrounge up a few things, such as a goblet that I picked up a couple of years ago for no apparent reason, a candle for the Goddess and one for the God, a couple of bowls for water and salt, and some incense. For an altar, we put a couple of milk crates together and covered them with a towel.
Okay, I thought, we can be "kitchen witches" (a term I learned from our beloved editor, Pandora). But what about the ritual itself? Well, we culled as much as we could from the Cunningham book, trying to piece together a ritual we could do. Trying to ignore our self doubts ("Is this right?") we managed to have a rather nice ritual. Inexperienced as we are, we didn't raise much power, but we weren't just"going through the motions," either.
Still, we're not Solitaries by choice, but by default. As I said earlier, we don't know any Wiccans. That's why we're trying to find others in the area who can help us. We've reached out to a couple of groups in the surrounding area and, while we're waiting for a response, looking for more. (Although I must admit to what I now know is a grievous faux pas: We neglected to include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope in our letter to one of the groups.) While it's very likely that we would choose to practice as Solitaries, we'd still like the option of choosing. It's tough to find others, although without the Internet I wouldn't have been able to find nearly as much information as I have. The information that still remains to be found is a bit daunting, though.
So I guess I've finally gotten out the door, but haven't gone far down the path.
Organic Gardening
By Rain One
Spring has arrived in North Texas, however, it may take a few more months to reach your part of the country. Now is the time to look at seed catalogs for those who live in northern parts of the country.
Take the time to map out what herbs you want to grow according to height, color, texture, leaf structure and what conditions those particular herbs like. Most herbs like to grow in the full sun, in well drained soil, with enough room to spread out. Seed catalogs will tell you the amount of room these plants need in order to grow to their full size.
Here is a partial list of catalogs you can order with some wonderful photos and selection. Not all seed catalogs have organic seeds, but I use the catalogs to get ideas and they are a wonderful way to learn about plants and their growth habits.
Gardens Alive! 5100 Schenley Place, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 812-537-8650 - All the products you will need to grow organically are found in this free catalog. Fertilizers, beneficial insects, organic nsecticides, barrier products to deter insects, fungicides etc...Great catalog.
Logee's Greenhouses, 141 North Street, Danielson, Connecticut 06239, 203-774-8038 - Catalog $3.00, but well worth it for highly unusual and hard to find plants. They ship virtually anywhere, and plants arrive in good condition.
Johnny's Selected Seeds, Foss Hill Road, Albion, Maine 04910-9731, 207-437-4301 - Organically grown and harvested seeds with a great selection of ornamental grasses. Medicinal herbs as well. If you only get one seed catalog, this should be the one.
Other catalogs which don't guarantee organic seeds are:
W. Atlee Burpee & Company, 1-800-888-1447, free catalog
Thompson & Morgan, 1-800-274-7333, free catalog, wonderful photos, great selection of plants and seeds. Some very unusual. Highly recommended.
Territorial Seeds, 541-942-9547, free catalog, great for information and reading about plants and garden tools.
Shepherd's Seeds, 30 Irene Street, Torrington, Connecticut 06790, 860-482-3638 - Free catalog, herbs, vegetables...very good.
These are a few catalog addresses or phone numbers. I gave addresses when 800 numbers were not available. I would call anyway, since it is getting late in the season...Have fun with your reading.
Now is also a good time to look around for your soil amendments like compost, mulch, fertilizers, rock powders etc. In some parts of the country, the county where you live will have a composting facility where you can pick up compost either free, or for a small fee. Sometimes these composts are not organic. In most cases they are not since they are made of clippings from lawns which were treated with herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Be careful, and aware of that. In most cities and rural areas there are facilities which will sell compost made of mostly organic materials. There is information which states most chemical additives break down in the composting process, but that will be up to you if you believe or put faith in that information, I do not.
Start looking in your yard for a spot to put your herb garden. You can grow an amazing amount of herbs in a small area, just one square yard. If you want, you can put up to nine plants in one square yard, placing the plants one foot, on center, away from each other. This is referred to as "Square Foot Gardening." You can look in your library for the book with the same title, by Bartholomew.
Herb plants can be purchased at Nurseries, Wal-mart, K-Mart and a variety of stores. If you are a purist, these plants will not be organically grown, for the most part. There are organic nurseries which are certified organic and you can rest assured you will get organically grown plants that way.
If you are new to gardening, I suggest reading some books on the subject to get familiar with different methods of soil preparation, what additives are, etc. I strongly recommend books written by, Howard Garrett. He is an organic professional, has a radio show here in the Dallas area, and is the president of Coda Environmental, a land reclamation company. If you are not in Texas, his books are still wonderful. Organic Gardening magazine is another way to learn more about garden preparation and growing, as is The Herb Companion. Both of these publications are on newsstands in the larger book stores.
The Herb Companion goes into depth on uses, both medicinal and culinary. It is one of my favorite magazines to read every time it comes out.I will be planting my herbs today in North Texas, but as I said, in other parts of the country, it is still winter, with frosts which will kill most tender new plants. I realize cabin fever is at the height of it's life currently, especially in places where snow was record breaking this year. Just relax with some good books and read. Some books to read which are directly related to Pagans and gardening are:
These books can be purchased at most book stores or metaphysical stores. I have seen the almanac at Barnes and Noble or Border Books, as well as all of Scott Cunningham's books. Be patient, spring will come and we will get on our way to growing our magical herbs soon.
If you have any particular questions you can email me at:
For now, stay warm, take good care, drink some herbal tea and dream of
warmer days to come...
B*B, Rain
To Table of Contents
Pagan Parenting
by Lady Aurora
Every time I meet someone who notices the pentacle I wear most of them ask the same question: "Are you Jewish?" when I tell them that I'm Wiccan either they know what I'm talking about or they get really confused. After a bit of small talk about Wicca they always say: "So I guess your kids are Wiccan also."
Nope. My kids are uninitiated.
Yes, I had a Dedication and Naming ceremony when they were born but they have to decide their path when they're old enough.
For those of you out there with children and practicing the Craft this is your decision to make. While your making this decision please try and keep in mind how you felt when you were growing up in your parents religion. But that doesn't mean that you can't raise your kids with a basic understanding of the Craft.
I take my kids to the Sabbats I celebrate with my Coven. There's always many kids running about the place but they all know NOT to disturb us when we're praying. After the Circle and supper we sit down with the kids and tell them stories that reflect the Sabbat we're celebrating. Before the Sabbat there's always crafts to be made for decorations which have lore behind them that we teach them. We take our kids on a field trip to the conservation areas and teach them about the Great Mother and the Circle Of Life. They know that the incense I keep is for Circle and the candles are not just for decoration.
I have taught my kids the two basic Wiccan laws: The Rede (Do as you will as long as you harm one), and the Threefold law.
Re-reading this I realized that I've made my family sound like the `perfect' family. Guess again. We still have our family problems (boy, do we!) and my kids are far from perfect. I don't know how many times I've told my son not to play with the family altar, or told the kids to let go of the cats tail before he scratches them, or had to break up a sibling fight. They're young, but with consistent teaching over the years I'm hoping that my kids will grow up to be great adults. Just like any other parent.
Well, Pagan Parents here's some fun things to do with your kids this Beltane! Pick a bush or tree in your backyard (or for those of you in apartments a sturdy houseplant) and decorate it with ribbons the colour of the elements, dance and sing around it. Decorate your family altar with budding branches, ussywillows, or rowan branches. Create a contest to see who can spot things that let you know that the Goddess has awakened. Have a big messy bar-be-que and play summer games.
I wish you and yours a happy Beltane!
My Meeting with Magic
By Elf
I am a Wiccan who has been practicing for about six years. I had heard about Wicca and knew a witch for about a year prior to that. It intrigued me but I didn't think it was really possible. This is the story of what finally pushed me onto the road.
I was at Worldcon in Boston, 1989. (Just in case you don't know it, Worldcon is the world science fiction convention. It moves around) The convention center they were using was attached to the main convention hotel (where I was staying) on the second floor. The connection took the form of a huge room that they were using for vendors.
On the day in question, I had been at the convention earlier and went back to the room. Since I didn't feel like going to the ground floor, I was returning through the dealers room. I had already been there several times, though not very thoroughly as yet. I was on my way to a panel or something of the sort, and I didn't want to waste any more time. I had absolutely no intention of stopping. I was striding rather quickly through the room when suddenly I stopped dead. It was as if a physical force wrapped around me and stopped me in my tracks. Keep in mind that I didn't believe such things were possible.
This force turned me around and walked me back several stalls, facing my head at a propped up black velvet display of pendant crystals. I could only see one, my eyes were fixed on a single spot. I was terrified. I studied the one crystal, since that was all I could do, trying to calm down. She was big. Really big. Not the sort that I would choose for myself. And she was blue, though obviously a quartz crystal. Finally I calmed enough to think. In my mind I addressed the crystal. "Okay you got my attention.
Can you at least let me look around? I promise I won't leave." Then I was free. Just like that! First I gazed at the other crystals on her display. I was trying to figure out what made her different. What set her apart. They were all blue. There were some that were more perfectly formed, many others that were less. There was even one that was larger. My gaze kept being drawn back to her. I remember that there were some very small blue quartz crystals on cards, leaning against the bottom of the displays. I don't remember anything else.
To tell you the truth, I didn't see anything else. I was dazed and my head was swimming. I knew there was much more to the booth, though.
The man behind the booth had probably been watching me, but I couldn't ell you for sure. It seemed like a very long time had passed, but perhaps it had been a matter of seconds. He said something to me about the crystals I was looking at. That was what made me notice him. Even then I wasn't sure what he had said. Then he told me they were called Aqua Quartz and that they were uncommon to find. He said that the blue hue was the result of them being treated with gold. I asked how much she would cost. The price was a bit less than I expected, but still too much.
I said to myself that I couldn't afford her, but I knew there was no way I would leave her behind. What I was experiencing here was too special, too important. Besides, she would never have let me go. I had enough money on me, but it was for emergencies. I am very careful with my money, so it was only natura to dither. I knew it was inevitable. He watched me consider it. I think he knew I would eventually give in. Maybe he knew the crystal belonged with me. Then he knocked five dollars off the price and I immediatally said yes.
I put her on a chain I was wearing and we have been together ever since.
She makes me realize the impossible is possible and is my teacher and guide. Real cool story, Huh? After that, nothing could make me doubt magic exists. I guess I needed to be hit over the head with a sledgehammer. Lucky for me she wanted me so bad. Wonder why. *giggle* I've never had anything so extreme happen again. *sigh* Well, I don't need it anymore. But it would be nice...
- Elf -
Purification and Dedication Ritual for Tools
By Kattman
23 years, and my training has been sporadic at times. I found that the hardest part is finding a good way to start a basic tool kit. There are not many good references that explain this. I have since created a small ritual to purify and dedicate the basic tools needed by any practising witch. The ritual follows:
Items needed:
Cast circle, light candle, light incense, pick up the first tool and sprinkle salt upon it saying, "Creature of Earth purify this (name of tool), cleanse it so that no harm may come from it's use."
Sprinkle water upon the tool saying, "Creature of Water purify this (name of tool), cleanse it so that no harm may come from it's use."
Pass tool through flame of candle saying, "Creature of Fire purify this (name of tool), cleanse it so that no harm may come from it's use."
Pass tool through smoke from incense saying: "Creature of Air purify this (name of tool), cleanse it so that no harm may come from it's use."
Either hold tool against body or hold it aloft saying, "And by my spirit I charge it and give it life, may it cause no harm to another by it's use."
At this point you can give this tool an actual name if you choose. To do so the following could be said. "After purification through the five elements you have been given life, I now give you the name of (name).
In the preceding all references to the tool would be the practical name, such as knife, wand, etc. When you name it with the final part, the reference to <name> would be the actual proper name that you would call a living entity.
After purifying all tools you can then move on to other work or you can close the circle. I hope this helps a few of you out there. Just keep in mind that this is my own ritual, written by me, you do not need something out of a book, or even this exact wording. Feel free to modify this to your own needs.
The important parts I feel are that each tool is passed through all five elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and finally Spirit. Each tool is also empowered with the idea that it will cause no harm to another. Just remember to use this as a guideline as you see fit.
Blessed Be
When They Came For Me
by Laren
After you read this article, you may think it very political, and it is. It's about the protection of something we all hold dear, the freedom to worship how we choose too.
1996 will go down as a significant year in the fight for freedom of speech and religion. I use the two together because I think they are inseparable - too lose one is to lose both.
This year had already seen the passing of the CDA. A bill that seemed innocuous enough on the surface but one which has tremendous repercussions literally around the world.
The second major event is the yet to be held US Presidential elections. Significant for two reasons, the growing power of the Religious (Christian!) Right and the increased number of anti-Gay ballots to be held in conjunction with the elections.
These ballots are more important because they can have a much more immediate impact on individuals.
You might ask what anti-gay ballots (which you may or may not agree with) have to do with the Pagan/Wiccan community. The answer is this - these ballots are based on the religious dogma and political agenda of the few.
The denial of rights to one group of people is the first step on the road to the denial of rights to the many.
After the passing of an anti-Gay ballot in Colorado in 1992 (although the ballot was later quashed by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional) the number of hate crimes in that state rose by 275%
Those crimes were not just against those "suspected" of being Gay, but also Jews, African-Americans and anyone else who was not considered acceptable by those who saw violence as a legitimate form of debate.
And let's face a fact, suspicion and ignorance is all that is needed for someone to become a victim of a hate crime.
When one minority group suffer, all people suffer. The issue is not one of special rights for a small group of people, but of the same rights for all people - human rights.
The only way to stop these ballots and their wider ramifications is to get out and campaign against them. We as a community must be able to say that we fought against them in any legal way we could. We may not win, but we won't make it easy either!
MEDICINAL HERBS
Cat's Claw (uncaria tomentosa/una de gato)
By Kris Gammon
In 1959, Nicole Maxwell made the journey to the Putomayo in Peru which is described in Witch-Doctor's Apprentice: Hunting For Medicinal Plants in the Amazon". She may have been the first "Westerner" to learn of the astounding healing qualities of the Rainforest herbs. One of the herbs "of major importance" she was told about is una de gato, which is sold in this country as Cat's Claw. The following is an explaination of what this herb is, what its properties are, as well the effects these properties have on human diseases.
Uncaria tomentosa is a woody vine that grows over 100 feet in length, attaching and winding up the trees of the Peruvian Rainforest, using spiny "claws" to climb with. Uncaria tomentosa grows in the highlands, while another species known as Uncaria guianensis grows in the lowlands of the Peruvian Rainforest. It is important to understand that the lowland herb does not contain the most important alkaloid, Isopteropodine. The absence of this alkaloid would most likely mean the lowland herb is not as effective for the immune system. When purchasing Cat's Claw, it is advisable to look on the label for Uncaria tomentosa.
In the bio-chemical compostion of Uncaria tomentosa is the presence of six oxindole alkaloids: isopteropodine, pteropodine, mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, ryncophilline and isorynchophylline. Three of these are proven effective immuno-stimulants. There are also numerous beneficial phytochemicals in this herb: proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, priterpines, and plant sterols: beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol. These most likely explain the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory claims that have been passed down verbally by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon.
Beginning in the 1970's to the present, studies have been conducted on Uncaria tomentosa largely in Europe and Peru. These studies have shown Uncaria tomentosa to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer, arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, herpes, allergies, ulcers, diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS and irregularities of the menstrual cycle, environmental toxic poisoning, organic depression, bowel/intestinal disorders and even affecting the HIV virus.
Uncaria tomentosa may well be the "Grandaddy" of the Rainforest medicinal plants. Uncaria tomentosa is helpful to those individuals undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments as it counteracts the negative impacts these treatments place on the human body.
The contraindications consist of: Pregnant or nursing women and children under three, due to the lack of research in these areas. NOT to be used in the case of leukemia when a bone marrow transplant is planned; at least one year should pass between use of Uncaria tomentosa and the scheduled transplant. Must not be used in any case of deliberately caused immune suppression. (Uncaria tomentosa is an immune STIMULANT.)
Available research indicates using 3-6 grams daily for therapeudic purposes if using capsules, or four strong cups of tea a day. In advanced stages of pathology, as much as 20 grams per day for several weeks at a time might be the best course, dropping to the therapeutic doses once the crisis is past.
More information is available from Primitive Alternatives, 2511 Valencia St, Bellingham, WA 98226. 1-800-700-5095.