Perfectly Flawed's blog: "JUST BEING PAGAN"

Those Eight Little Words: The Golden Rule In the Witches Creed, or the Wiccan Rede, we have all become familiar with those eight little words; …If it harms none, do what you will. ... or "Do what you will, so long as it harms none." These words are not unique, many have heard them before in The Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is the cornerstone of religious understanding. It is the most complete expression of the Oneness of all people, serving as the foundation for peace and universal goodwill on earth. The Golden Rule is expressed almost word for word in every religion. So fundamental is it to all religious thought that the founders and enlighened teachers of every religion have commented on it directly. Jesus referred to the Golden Rule as “the law and the prophets.” Mohammed described it as “ the mobles expression of religion.” Rabbi Hillel stated in the Jewish Talmud that the Golden Rule is “ the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary.” Vyasa, the enlightened Hindu sage, called it “ the sum of all true righteousness.” Similarly, Buddha referred to it as “ the sum of all righteousness.” And Confucius, the great Chinese master, deemed it “ the one principle upon which one’s whole life may proceed.” Many people are taught from childhood that living the Golden Rule is an ideal, without emphasizing the practical benefits. When people look upon others as extensions of themselves, all obstacles to fulfillment are removed – both for individuals and society. When the golas of every individual are supported by the activities of every other person, the world has the possibility to flourish in peace and prosperity. For this reason, the Golden Rule should not be thought of as a vague ideal. It is a practical principle that embodies the deepest aspirations of humanity. It serves as the basis for all that is positive ans lasting in human life. The Golden Rule Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this is the law and the prophets. Chrisitianity What is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man. That is the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary. Judaism Do unto all men as you would they should unto you, and reject for others what you would reject for yourself. Islam Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. Buddhism Tzu Kung asked: “ Is there any one principle upon which one’s whole life may proceed?” Confucius replied: “Is not Reciprocity such a principle? – what you do not yourself desire, do not put before others.” Confucianism This is the sum of all true righteousness— Treat others, as thous wouldst thyself be treated. Do nothing to thy neighbor, which hereafter Thou wouldst not have thy neighbor do to thee. Hinduism Treat others as thou wouldst be treated thyself. Sikhism A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself Would be treated. Jainism Rgard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain; and regard your neighbor’s loss as your own loss, even as though you were in their place. Taoism Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee. Bahai And Do What Thou Wilt shall be the challenge, So be it in love that harms none, For this is the only commandment, By magic of old, be it done! Eight words the Witches Creed fulfill: If It Harms None, Do What Thou Will! The Witches Creed Dedicated to all the newest members of the Crossroads SpiRitual Circle. BB ang Spiritual Apothecary were each of us is a healer, to ourselves and those around us, with wisdom and our heart, mind and soul. CROSSROADS " One Path, Many Roads " "Traveling the road between spirituality and everyday life"

10. Your drum and chant ends with "Hey! Macarena!" 9. You find your animal totem in the other world, and it pees on your leg. 8. Your psychic visions are interrupted by commercials. 7. You're making a medicine wheel when someone comes up and starts yelling, That's my steering wheel!" 6. Bored with the sweat lodge, you ask the guy beside you to pull Your finger. 5. You're asked to put out the sacred fire in your apartment. 4. You put on the wolf skin and begin chanting, and then you hear a growling sound in your ear. 3. You're spirit guide did ten years in the state penitentiary, wants To know where the action is. 2. You believe you're taking a mind-altering substance, then your Wife asks where her birth control pills are. AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN YOU'RE NOT A VERY GOOD WITCH 1. You thought Soul Retrieval was a James Brown song

The sweet evening breeze heralds the dance of the fairies, Two by two they step through the heather in luminous splendor, Less than an inch tall with shimmer wings and flowing hair, They come to amuse Mother Hecate as She sits on the Twilight Throne. Surrounded by roses, lavender and pale stone the Goddess brings on the night, The Goddess and The Night In moonlight and mist Her ebony gown billows out across the landscape, Her raven and Her three-headed hound sit beside Her and keep Her secrets, Rushing water swirls at Her feet, and the gentle pansy leans forward for a drink. When the moon is high She raises Her arms and speaks words of power and sovereignty, The moon glows brighter with each passing syllable, and the fairies begin to sing, "Dear Mother from whom all beauty and goodness flows, Let us touch Your hand and sit upon Your lap in the silver laced darkness."

Earth Teach Me to Remember Earth teach me stillness As the grasses are stilled with light. Earth teach me suffering As old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility As blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth Teach me caring As the mother who secures her young. Earth teach me courage As the tree which stands alone. Earth teach me limitation As the ant which crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom As the eagle which soars in the sky. Earth teach me resignation As the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me regeneration As the seed which rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself As melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness As dry fields weep in the rain. )0( There is one purpose to life and one only: to bear witness to and understand as much as possible of the complexity of the world - its beauty, its mysteries, its riddles. The more you understand, the more you look, the greater is your enjoyment of life and your sense of peace. That's all there is to it. ~Anne Rice

Samhain (pronounced; Sow-in), All Hallows. All Hallow’s Eve. Hallow E’en. Halloween. The most magickal nite of the year, Halloween is beltane’s dark twin. A nite of glowing jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume. A nite of ghost stories and séances, tarot card reading and scrying with mirrors. A nite of power, when the veil that separates our world from the otherworld is at its thinnest. A ‘spirit nite’! The celts called it Samhain, which means ‘summer’s end’, according to their two-fold division of the year. When summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. Not only is Samhain the end of Autumn, it is also more importantly, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year’s Eve, when the New Year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. It is one of the four great Sabbats and today is called Halloween, which is derived from All Hallow’s Eve, a name given it by the Christian Church when people refused to stop using this day to honour the ancestors. The crone aspect of the Goddess rules now. This is the time of year for getting rid of weaknesses (in the olde days the cattle least likely to make it through the winter would be cut from herd and slaughtered). Coveners should bring with them into the Circle a small piece of paper (parchment paper) on which they have written down weaknesses or bad habits they would like to lose. This Holiday is considered the Witches’ New Year, representing one full turn of the seasonal year. This is the last of the three harvest Sabbats, while Halloween is celebrated on October 31st, Samhain is recognized as November 7th (all hallows eve).Celebrations to honour the dead are done at this ritual, along with speaking to those who have passed over; divination is heightened on this nite. It is said that the veil between the worlds is at its weakest. Black candles are lit throughout to ward off negativity. This is a great time of year to purchase a new Besom. As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living for this one nite, to celebrate with their family, tribe or clan. Extra plates were set at the table for any who had died that year. As a feast of divination, this is an excellent nite for peering into the future. The reason for this has to do with Celtic view of time. In a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our modern one, New Years Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year’s Festival is a part of time. The ancient Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year’s Eve represents a point outside of time, when the natural order of the universe dissolves back into primordial chaos, preparatory to re-establishing itself a new order. Thus, Samhain is a nite that exists outside of time and hence may be used to view any other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal reading, or tea-leaf reading so likely to succeed. Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the Jack-o-lantern. It was used as a lantern by people who traveled the road this nite, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast some spell of protection over the household. The American pumpkin is now widely used but gourds served as Jack-o-lanterns in these days of olde. (I just bought 3 gorgeous orange gourds, VERY BIG ones! Which we will use as our jack-o-lanterns) The bobbing for apples is actually representative of a pagan ‘baptism’ rite called a ‘seining’. The water filled tub is a latter day cauldron of regeneration, into which the novice’s head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this folk game was usually blindfolded with both hands tied behind the back also puts one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony. The custom of dressing in costume and “trick-or-treating” is of Celtic origin. The original custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by adults as well. The treat which was required was often one of spirits, (the liquid variety). Witches often hold two distinct celebrations. First a Halloween party for non-craft friends, and neighboring trick-or-treaters, on the previous week Oct 31st, and a second, a coven ritual held on November 7th, the actual Halloween nite. If the rituals are performed properly, there is often a feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites. The outer edges of the Circle may be decorated with autumnal flowers, branches, pine cones, small pumpkins, gourds, etc. There should be flowers on the altar. The altar cloth and candles should be orange. The horned helmet should rest beside the altar. In the north quarter should stand a cauldron(if outside, kindling may be used, if indoors, a sterno or candle should be placed in the cauldron) The cauldron should have the white, red, black candles surrounding it, representing the maiden, the mother, and the crone. If using a candle in the cauldron, make it a green one. This is your New Year’s, celebrate it with festivity and activities, and decorate and have FUN! Try out some divination, and lose your bad habits to the old year.

Hecate Rising The Time of the Crone As the Wheel of the Year turns and the winter dark approaches, the energy of the underworld and the blood-wisdom of the crone pours through the barren land. Here, Fiana Horne reveals the mysteries of the festivals of Mabon and Samhain, and gives personal rituals to perform to help you work with their power. During the year a Witch celebrates eight important festivals, which are called Sabbats. Four are the Lessor Sabbats which relate to astronomical events - The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, and the Summer and winter Solstices. The other four are the Greater Sabbats. These relate to agricultural events like the sowing and reaping of crops. Witches of different paths recognize the Sabbats in different ways. Those of the Wiccan tradition use the Wheel of the Year Myth to feel closer to these sacred times. The Myth evolved from our European ancestors, specifically the Celts, as a way of explaining the turning of the seasons and the cycles of life and death. There are a few versions of the Myth (all correct) and they focus on the story of a Queen and King and their offspring. The start of the Witches year is Samhain - Winter is approaching. The Goddess in the form of the wise Crone, descends to the Underworld where she is renewed and joins with the God in the Great rite and conceives a son. The child grows within her womb until she gives birth to him at Yule, or Winter Solstice (around the 22 of June - the longest night) ((21 December, Northern Hemisphere)) . Just as her son grows and strengthens so does the sun, warming the earth. The next festival is Imbolc (1st August) ((February 2nd)) and this is when the Goddess reappears on the land as the Maiden. The land is awakening and it is the time of the Virgin; a time to contemplate the Female Mysteries. Ostara, or the Spring Equinox (around the 22nd of September) ((22nd of March)), is the following festival which honors the young God. The land is alive and blossoming and it is time to focus on the Male Mysteries. Next is Beltane (31st October) ((May 1st)) where the Maiden and the God join and she become pregnant. This is a great fertility festival, a time where new life is springing up everywhere. From Beltane to Litha, or the Summer Solstice (around the 22 of December) ((June 21st)), the couple, now King and Queen, live happily together and thrive. As much as Litha is a time of abundance and ripeness, it is also the time of the longest day and from this time on the days will gradually grow shorter and the sun weaker as it descends toward winter. This is represented in the Myth by the appearance of a challenger who fights the King. The King defeats him but is wounded in the process. The next festival is Lammas (2 February) ((August 1st)), the first harvest before winter and in the Myth the Queen gives birth to the child conceived at Beltane. From Lammas to the next festival, Mabon, the days are noticeably growing shorter and the King is weakened from the wound he received at Litha. The son born at Lammas is growing strong and the Queen nurtures him and it is now that the King realizes that to maintain his hand in the Kingdom he will have to battle his own son.. As they fight they realize that they are one and the same and one without the other cannot exist, so that they impale themselves on each other's sword. Their spirits descend to the Underworld where they are united again as the God. The Queen now transforms into the Crone and ponders the mystery of life and death as she grieves the loss of her lover and son. On the land the final harvest is stored away for the winter and the land is still. At Samhain the Crone see the veils between the worlds are at their thinnest and descends into the Underworld. And so the Myth ends and begins here. When contemplating the Myth, the important thing to remember is not to take it literally. Obviously, it is impossible for a woman to give birth to two children within the space of the year, weather she's a Goddess or not! It helps to understand that the myth is pointing out that a woman's role in creation is omnipresent; the Goddess transforms herself into the Maiden, Mother, Crone - she lives eternally. The God repeatedly lives and dies as her lover and son - his role is no less important but more dynamic and transitory in the physical realm. Also the above version of the myth evolved in the northern hemisphere in a time where people lived close to the land and the planting and harvesting of crops were an integral part of live. In modern day Australia our seasons are very different, and most of us live closer to the supermarket than the land. Formally celebrating the myth, however, is a way of keeping in touch with nature and in touch with our own lives. Mabon 21st March Autumn Equinox (September) Mabon acknowledges balance - the day is as long as the night. It is a time to celebrate the harvests in your life, to look back over the year and acknowledge where the seeds of ideas and plans you had sown have now yielded results. It is a time to acknowledge success and the returns for hard work done. It is also a time for introspection, a time to learn and prepare for the future sowing of dreams. Mabon is a time to increase knowledge and gain wisdom by connecting with the energy of the Crone and honoring the elderly. A Personal Ritual for Mabon If you are already a practicing Witch you most likely have an altar set up in your home. If you are a newcomer to the powers of Witchcraft you will need to create a simple altar. Cover a small table (a coffee table is ideal) with orange cloth. Orange is an Autumn color and perfect for Mabon. Place on the altar orange and gold candles, a bowl of water, a bowl filled with some sand on which is placed a charcoal block to burn Mabon incense on, (or a couple of incense sticks and holder), and a bowl filled with earth or sea salt. To prepare Mabon incense, grind together two teaspoons of frankincense resin and one teaspoon sandalwood chips in a mortar and pestle and add to this seven drops of cypress or pine oil. If you can't manage this, a stick each of sandalwood and pine incense will suffice. Now it is time to decorate your Mabon altar. Gather together documents, certificates, letters, photographs and any other items (for example, potted plants that you have nourished from seed or seedling) that attest to your successful endeavors. Place these around the edges of your altar and on the floor surrounding it, if necessary. If you do not have anything like suggested above, write a list of everything you have proudly achieved over the last year. In the center place one photo (or more) of an elderly female relative whom you love and admire. If you cannot do this, find a photo of any wise woman whom you respect. Surround the photo with autumn leaves. The final thing you need on your altar is a sheet of paper, orange if you can, but any will do and a black pen. To prepare yourself for the ritual, shower or bathe and dress in simple black garments or be skyclad (naked) if you prefer. If you are adept, it is now time to cast a Circle and welcome the elements. If you're just starting out you can create a sacred space to perform your ritual within by standing with your back to your altar and with your right arm outstretched and the index finger pointed. Walk deosil (counter clockwise) ((clockwise in Northern Hemisphere)) around your altar saying, "I now create a sacred space, between the worlds, blessed in the eyes of the Goddess and the God." As you do this imagine an egg-like sphere of white light extending from your finger and encasing your altar area. Now return to you altar and light the candles and incense. Hold a candle up in front of you and say, "This Circle is empowered by Fire." Hold the incense up and say, "This Circle is empowered by Air." Hold the bowl of earth or sea salt up and say, "This Circle is empowered by Earth." Finally hold up the bowl of water and say, "This Circle is empowered by Water." Sit in front of your altar and breathe deeply and meditatively, enjoying the fruitfulness of your life. Hold your hands raised over your bounty and say, "I have sown. I have nurtured. I have achieved a god harvest. I enjoy and give thanks for the fruits of my labors." At this point feel free to elaborate on what you are saying by focusing specifically on any particular achievements. It is now time to focus on the Crone, who in the autumn of her life has experienced many harvests and knows that for new beginnings and life there must also be endings and death. Meditate on your Crone image, acknowledging the wisdom and experience of the person in the autumn of their life. If you are a Crone yourself, contemplate your inner strength gained from your life experience. In patriarchal society it is the Crone, or old woman, who is vilified most, when in fact, of the three faces of Goddess - Maiden, Mother, and Crone - it is she who should be horned most as the keeper of secrets of life and death. When you are in touch with your Crone energy and are resonating with her deep, knowing presence, take a pen and write a list of personal plans for the future, particularly plans of a spiritual nature. When you have finished hold the list in front of your Crone image and say, "Wise and honored Crone, Grand Mother of all that is, I ask you to acknowledge and bless my plans. Guide me with your wisdom." Now sit for some time meditating and see what the Crone reveals to you. To finish the ritual, snuff the candles, and close the Circle by walking widdershins (clockwise) ((counterclockwise in Northern Hemisphere)) around the altar with your arm outstretched saying, "I now bid farewell to the elements and open this sacred space." See the white light sphere slowly fade away. Samhain 1st May (October 31st Northern Hemisphere) Witches know that at Samhain a window opens between this world and the one beyond the grave. It is a time when we can communicate with the spirits of those who have departed this world. Samhain is a day to honor our dead ancestors and is also a good time to do divinations of a personal nature. It is now that all the frustrations and failures of the past must be buried so that life can be born anew at Yule. A Personal Samhain Ritual Cover your altar with a black cloth. place black and red candles on it, a dish filled with earth or sea salt, and a dish with water. Make some Samhain incense by grinding together two teaspoons of dried patchouli leaves, one teaspoon of myrrh resin and three drops of peppermint oil. If this isn't possible, sticks of patchouli and myrrh incense will be fine. If you have tarot cards, a crystal ball or any other kind of divination tool, place these on the altar. Cut open two apples so that the pentacle arrangement of the seeds is displayed. Place these on a dish with a pomegranate sliced in half. Gather together pictures of loved ones who have departed this earth and place these on your altar. Finally, a vase filled with red poppies or any other red flower, to represent the rebirth that comes after death. Prepare yourself by bathing, dressing in black and covering your head with a black veil as a sign of respect for the dead. Open the Circle and declare the four elements as described in the Mabon ritual. Then, sitting in front of your altar, raise your arms and say, "I dedicate this night to Hecate, Goddess of the Underworld. Great wise Crone, Keeper of the Mysteries of Life and Death, Grand Mother of All. Honored Hecate bless the souls of my loved departed ones and my own." Now eat some of the seeds of the pomegranate. This is the sacred fruit of the Underworld that Persephone ate during her time there - the seeds will help you commune with the world beyond the veils. Invoke your dead loved ones. "All of you have gone before me, I honor you and give you my respect. Tonight is a time for us again to share in friendship and love. Join me in my sacred Circle." See those you have called sitting with you companionably. Talk to them, tell them all your latest news, eat a few more of the seeds to continue the link. And, maybe tell them things you wanted to say before they died but didn't have a chance to. Get everything off your chest, laugh, cry, be silent and listen to them. When you are ready, thank your loved ones and bid them farewell until next Samhain. Eat one the apples to affirm that there is always life after death. While you are still in a contemplative state spread out the Tarot cards, or gaze into your crystal ball to reveal to you that which is hidden deep in the Underworld of your subconscious. Finally, close the Circle as described in the Mabon ritual. http://crystalsands .wiccan.net/ articles/ hecate

Now the eveningtide is here, I do rejoice with all good cheer, my old and ancient friends are near, now it's Samhain-time. This magic now I do abjure, and with great joy I do implore, for now the magic won't be ignored, oh yes, it's samhain-time. I call upon good unseen forces, help me choose and make my choices, with tools of ritual and sweet voices, oh yes, it's Samhain-time. Oh dear ones, accept my token, of our friendship, ring unbroken, and our sacred vows unspoken at this Samhain-time. (Brown/Yellow Candles)

The veil between the worlds is thin -- A good time for seeking within. The Goddess rules the world of the dead. Make sure your ancestors are well fed. For if you are blessed by your kin, Winter will slough off like a skin. Samhain, the start of the Celtic New Year, celebrates the third and final harvest. At this time in the Celtic world, animals were brought back from their summer pastures to be slaughtered for meat over the winter. With the earth entering into its winter phase, people celebrated their dead ancestors, who now lived in the** Otherworld, for, at Samhain, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. It was believed that by honouring them, the ancestors would ensure the return of fertility to the land at winter's end. People would put food out for their dead ancestors – a custom replayed today when householders give treats to ghoulish little visitors. As a symbol of the earth, the goddess takes on her crone aspect. The Serpent Goddess reigns at Samhain as the deadly Queen of the Underworld. Imagery of death, such as serpents and skulls, abound, and are given their due respect. Underlying this imagery is the recognition of renewal, like the snake who enters a deathlike phase only to emerge anew from its old skin. Several Celtic myths tell about a hero summoning his courage to kiss the hag of winter, often three times, after which she turns into the beautiful maid of summer. This suggests that one must face death in order to find the source of renewal. Images of the Hindu goddess, Chinnamasta, show symbolically how death renews life. When Chinnamasta, the Goddess of Great Wisdom, decapitated herself, three streams of blood flowed from her neck. Two streams flowed into the mouths of her devotees, and one into her own mouth. Images show Chinnamasta, wearing a cobra around her neck, standing on a divine copulating couple, with the Goddess on top. This image speaks to the two faces of the goddess, sex and death, and shows how sexual energy leads to death, as procreation requires parents to make way for their offspring. The sacrificial death nourishes the renewed life. Like Chinnamasta, the Greek goddess Medusa was decapitated. One of the two streams of blood that flowed from her neck was deadly, the other gave life. Myths about Medusa describe her as a lovely woman who suffered the 'sin' of vanity for her beautiful hair. Athena punished her by turning her hair into snakes, making her so terrifying that a mere glance at her led to death. After Medusa was killed by Perseus, Athena affixed the Gorgon's head to her own breastplate to frighten the armies of her enemies. Originally, Medusa was the Libyan Serpent Goddess of Wisdom. The myth of her decapitation was developed later to explain her face on the chest of Athena, who was actually another form of the Serpent Goddess. Like Medusa, Athena epitomized wisdom. Early depictions of Medusa, and her two sisters, show the three Gorgons with large tusked faces and snakes for hair. Robert Graves, who believed that Greek myths represented religious-political history, postulated that the Gorgons represented the masks worn by priestesses of the lunar goddess to frighten the curious from Her mysteries. Perseus, the 'hero' who killed Medusa, represented the invading Hellenes, who took over the temples of the triple goddess and stripped her priestesses of their masks. However, the invaders were unable to totally eliminate the protective power of the Gorgons. Their images appeared throughout ancient Greece, over ovens, on walls, and other places, to warn off the curious. The Greek goddess, Hecate, is a popular goddess to invoke at Samhain. She combined fertility with death; by day, she ensured abundant crops; by night, she was the goddess of magic, ghosts, and tombs. Originally, Hecate was a powerful and benevolent lunar goddess, honored above all others by Zeus. She became associated with the underworld, ghosts and tombs, as well as magic. Hecate is a goddess of cyclical phases, including death and rebirth. Robert Graves described her as the Snake Goddess of Tartarus, the underworld. He believed that the twelfth labor of Heracles, the capture of the snake-tailed, three-headed dog, Cerberus, was derived from an icon showing Hecate, as goddess of the dead, welcoming Heracles to Tartarus. She took the form of a three-headed monster, with, perhaps, each head corresponding to a season. As a goddess of the underworld, Hecate's role was to search for the souls of the dead in the wasteland between the worlds. In the myth of Demeter and her abducted daughter Persephone, Hecate helped Demeter search for her daughter, and later acted as Persephone's guide between the worlds. [image: Winged Hecated with Dreadlocks, copyright (c) 2003, Sage Starwalker.] *Winged Hecate*, (c) 2003 Sage Starwalker. All rights reserved. After photo, 175, *Lady of the Beasts*, Buffie Johnson. As a form of the Serpent Goddess, Hecate was often depicted holding snakes, being entwined by snakes, or with a head of snakes. An ivory plaque from the Spartan sanctuary of Artemis (8th century BCE) shows her as a winged goddess with a snake meandering up to her arm. Robert Graves believed that the myth about the death by snakebite of the wood nymph, Eurydike, and the subsequent failure by Orpheus to retrieve her from the underworld, was mistakenly derived from pictures showing Orpheus entering Tartarus and encountering the Serpent Goddess, possibly in the form of Hecate. It was Eurydike's victims, not herself, who died of snakebite. Male human sacrifices were accomplished by viper bites and offered to the serpent-grasping Queen of the Underworld. The Goddess, in her deadly serpentine form, is seen in many myths, such as the Egyptian myth in which Isis creates a serpent to bite her ailing father, Ra, to force him to give her his secret name that would allow her to restore the wasteland to abundant life. A similar myth of the Zimbabwe people tells about the first man, Mwuetsi, who was bitten by a snake that was the lover of his wife, Morongo. As Mwuetsi grew sicker, the land became barren and people began to die. Finally, his children strangled him and appointed a new king, revitalizing the land. This story may have reflected the ritual murder of the king in medieval Zimbabwe, who was killed every four years and replaced with a new king. The last Egyptian pharaoh, Cleopatra VII, also faced death by snakebite, possibly reflecting a similar practice of sacrificing the Pharaoh at the end of her/his reign by the bite of a viper. An ancient Egyptian belief was that death by snake bite would secure immortality. Supernatural beings, such as vampires, come into their fully glory at Samhain. One of the earliest sources for the vampire legends was the Mesopotamian goddess of death, Lamashtu. She was depicted on protective amulets as a terrifying creature with the head of a lion and talons of a bird, suckling a piglet and a dog, and holding a snake in each hand. From Lamashtu came other goddess who took the form of succubi, or seductive women who drained men's life blood as they slept. The succubi included Lamia and Lilith, again forms of the Serpent Goddess. In one of the stories about Lamia, she appeared as a rich Phoenician woman. She was about to marry a young man when a philosopher exposed her true nature as a snake. Accordingly, she disappeared, together with her house and all her riches, leaving her young fiancé bereft. Lilith, said in some medieval mystical texts to be the first wife of Adam, was also described as a snake. She could take the form of a beautiful, seductive woman, who would kill her lovers, give birth to demons, and murder children. She came to epitomize the evil of sexuality and men's fear of women's seductive powers. The Serpent Goddess symbolizes the bridge between the worlds, death, and renewal. Samhain is a time to remember and celebrate those who died during the year, and for reflection on the mysteries of death. *References *+ Graves, Robert.* The Greek Myths: Complete and Unabridged Edition in One Volume*. New York: Moyer Bell Limited, 1988. (Originally published 1955). + Johnson, Buffie. *Lady of the Beasts: The Goddess and Her Sacred Animals*. Vermont: Inner Traditions International, 1994. + Waterstone, Richard. *India: Belief and Ritual, The Gods and The Cosmos, Meditation and the Yogic Arts*. Living Wisdom Series. London: Macmillan/Duncan Baird, 1995. + Willis, Roy. *Dictionary of World Myth: An A-Z reference guide to gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines and fabulous beasts*. London: Duncan Baird,

I have walked through many lives, some of them my own, and I am not who I was, though some principle of being abides, from which I struggle not to stray. When I look behind, as I am compelled to look before I can gather strength to proceed on my journey, I see the milestones dwindling toward the horizon and the slow fires trailing from the abandoned camp-sites, over which scavenger angels wheel on heavy wings. Oh, I have made myself a tribe out of my true affections, and my tribe is scattered! How shall the heart be reconciled to its feast of losses? In a rising wind the manic dust of my friends, those who fell along the way, bitterly stings my face. Yet I turn, I turn, exulting somewhat, with my will intact to go wherever I need to go, and every stone on the road precious to me. In my darkest night, when the moon was covered and I roamed through wreckage, a nimbus-clouded voice directed me: "Live in the layers, not on the litter." Though I lack the art to decipher it, no doubt the next chapter in my book of transformations is already written. I am not done with my changes. ~ Stanley Kunitz ~ (Passing Through) Stanley Kunitz died yesterday. He was 100. At age 95, he was appointed Poet Laureate of the United States. We should all be so lucky. But as he always noted, we're all just passing trough....

"The cauldron or pot symbolizes cyclical time and the lunar calendar. This is because the cauldron represents the womb of rebirth, the bowl Of blood held by the Hindu Kali and other goddesses. This blood is The Wise Blood from the Cosmic Womb. It has been called soma by the Hindus, red claret by the Celts, and greal by the Welsh Bards. In Vedic myth, Indra stole the soma so that he could rule over all the Gods, a reference to the stealing of importance and power from the Goddess for a patriarchal god. The Goddess and Her cauldron is the center of all feminine power and Every female group. Spiritual transformation can only come through Her cauldron,or belly-womb. Ancient tradition says that only women Can tap into the great power of the cauldron, for only women are made In the image of the Goddess with Her all-renewing womb of rebirth and Transformation. This tradition remains in the figure of the witch and Her cauldron. The cauldron is also the repository of inspiration and magick, as Seen in Cerridwen's cauldron which was sought by the Bards. The Goddess has long been considered to be the source of inspiration and The Mistress of Magick. When a true initiation takes place, the Initiate willingly descends into the cauldron, she is often filled With ecstatic emotions when she returns to her present state. She may Sing, play music, dance, prophesy, see visions, or become creative in Poetry and prose. In short, she is filled with Goddess spirit and Inspiration, the type of power that only comes from the sacred Cauldron. Such Bards as Taliesin stated that they regularly "drank" From the cauldron to promote their creativity and divine inspiration. Magickal Meaning: development of psychic gifts; creative talents Being used. Coming to terms with physical death, either through the Death of someone close to you, or a very personal experience in Dreams and/or meditation." ~from Falcon Feathers & Valkyrie Sword by D.J. Conway Cauldron Banishing for Samhain "Into your cauldron, place a large black votive candle. On small Pieces ofpaper write what you wish banished from your life, one Banishment per paper;fold each paper once away from you. When you are Ready, light the candleinside the cauldron. Now light one piece of Paper in the flame of the candle and drop into the cauldron. Keep Going until all papers are gone. There will be a lot of flame, so Please use caution and make sure no flammables are nearby (I.e. Curtains etc.). In fact, it would be wise to keep a box of Baking soda or salt near your work area (just in case). Let the Cauldron burn itself out; then clean when cool. To Gain Prophecies Fill a cauldron half-full of water and place it On a table where you can see comfortably into it while seated. Light two purple candles and a good divinatory incense; a Combination of mugwort and wormwood works well for divination. Arrange the candles so their light does not shine into the water Or your eyes. Focus your attention on the bottom of the cauldron, Your hands placed lightly on either side. Breathe gentle onto the Water. Say: Cauldron, reveal to me that which I seek. Great Mother, open my Inner eye that I may truly see. Empty your mind as much as Possible; remain relaxed while looking deep into the cauldron Waters. The answers may come in images in the water, pictures in Your mind, and/or strong bursts of "knowing." Cauldron Prophecy Purpose: For prophecies to be revealed through dreams, strong Impressions or immediate visions. Fill a cauldron or large, black iron pot half-full of fresh water. Add a handful of buttercup or marigold petals. Light incense of Wormwood or burn the herb thyme. Stir the cauldron/pot gently three Times while chanting: Into the threads of time I cast my thoughts To catch a glimpse of what will be O Gods of Asgard, Bring into my mind The lovely gift of prophecy Look deep into the cauldron and you will receive messages as per the Above.