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Pagan News
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Wicca News: Wiccan Web
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How to ... be cunning
by Guy Browning
The essence of cunning is thinking about the direction another person's heading, and then digging a big hole along the route for them to fall into. It's an amusing hobby and a lot of people enjoy it, however noble the pilgrimage of the other person. It's impossible to be cunning with someone who goes nowhere, so the inert rarely suffer.
There is generally held to be a deceitful and manipulative element to cunning but being considerate requires exactly the same mental processes, only for nicer ends. You hear a lot about low cunning but very little about high cunning. That's because high cunning is perpetrated by people so above suspicion that you don't even notice it. Flattery is sugared cunning. Cunning people and animals are generally portrayed as thin. Aesop doesn't have many fables about the cunning hippo. This has advantages for the larger person as no one suspects them of being crafty. The fox has a reputation for cunning but is actually not very bright. It just makes people who hunt feel better to claim they're after a four-legged Houdini. For the same reason, fishermen often complain that fish are a bit slippery.
In the past, Cunning Folk were the wise men and women of rural communities who claimed to be able to help in affairs of the heart, health matters and witchcraft. They were much like modern-day therapists in that their main skill was being able to lead people into thinking about their own problems at a much more complex level than the initial problem warranted.
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Corn Dollies
With month coming to a close we are about to celebrate Lughnasadh which is August 1st or the first full Moon in Leo. It is a celebration in honor of the god Lugh's wedding to Mother Earth.
The corn dolly is an ancient harvest custom, still widely practiced throughout Europe. In ancient europe it was customary at harvest time to leave a small portion of the grain in the field, often twisted or tied into the shape of a man or the symbol of a god or goddess. Sometimes, it was even dressed in men's or women's clothes, kept in a cradle, or hung atop a pole. This bundle or effigy (immortalized in Burns' ballad of John Barleycorn) was believed to contain the essence of the spirit of the grains- a representation of the solar deity who would be burned and 'reborn' as the spring grain. At the end of the season (usually at the winter solsticee), the bundle would be ritually sacrificed, burnt, or plowed under to ensure the year's crops.
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A vegetable with royal heritage
by Elizabeth Shaheen
Carrots hold many medicinal attributes, they are said to cleanse the intestines and to be a natural diuretic, anti-diarrhoeal, re-mineralising and a general tonic and anti-anaemic. The carrot is abundant in alkaline components which purify and revitalise the blood. Carrots nourish the system and aid in the maintenance of acid-alkaline balance of the body.
Fossil pollen from the Eocene era (55 to 34 million years ago) has been identified as belonging to the Apiaceae family (the carrot family). The history of the carrot stretches back in time to more than 5,000 years, to a region we know as Afghanistan. Temple drawings from Egypt 2000BC depict a purple plant, which various Egyptologists deem to be a carrot. Discoveries in pharaoh crypts of Egyptian papyruses reveal how the carrot and its seeds were applied in the treatment of health ailments. The first findings for the name carota for the garden carrot is revealed in the writings of Athenaeus (A.D. 200) and in a cookery book by Apicius Czclius (A.D. 14-37) who was a wealthy merchant and connoisseur of gastronomy in antiquity during the rule of Tiberius.
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Satanism Or Occultism Suspected In Rabbit Slayings
by Amy Beeman
German authorities are searching for a killer in what is being called one of the worst cases of animal cruelty in the country's history. Since last year, more than 40 pet rabbits have been killed in the night in their outdoor hutches. Horrified owners found their beloved pets decapitated and drained of their blood in many cases. The killer takes the head and collects the blood, leading investigators to think that the animal killer is involved in the occult or Satanism.
In one instance, headless rabbits were found by school children in a sandbox on school property. The killings that started last summer have been escalating. Reports say police think the killer or killers is using a satellite surveillance system, such as Google Earth, to locate homes with bunny hutches. They say he or she must have excellent knowledge of the area, as rabbit hutches are not readily visible from the road in most cases.
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John Dee - The original Wizard
by Jennifer Emick
Who was John Dee? He is virtually unknown in modern times, although he has had a profound influence on popular culture- without him, there would be no Harry Potter, no Gandalf, no wizard bearing a crystal ball.
As a brilliant magician, mathematician, scientist, and secret agent, John Dee was the original Renaissance man. Something of a prodigy, Dee entered St. John's College at Cambridge at age 15. He achieved notoriety early on with a charge of sorcery, which stemmed from a mechanical flying beetle demonstrated in a stage play. After spending many years studying mathematics and cartography, he took an interest in natural magic, a pastime then accepted by the church. From his studies he developed a doctrine that one could obtain knowledge of God from the applied practice of magick- a controversial idea that was to get him into trouble on a number of occasions.
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Pagans gather for a summer camp
WITCHES, druids, heathens and spiritualists will gather in Moray this weekend in celebration of their beliefs. The three day summer camp – the first of its kind in the area – is bringing together over 60 members of the Scottish Pagan Federation to dance, meditate and explore rituals.
"The main idea behind the camp is to bring everyone together to catch up and socialise, with many members bringing their families with them," said Mrs Campbell, who has been involved with the Pagan Federation for over four years. "People are really enthusiastic and looking forward to coming along and getting involved. Hopefully the weather will be good." Speyside belly dance duo, Pachamama will be performing tribal belly dance and leading workshops in gothic belly dance at the camp.
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The Story Behind Curanderismo
by Michelle Macias
Fortune tellers, spiritual advisers and curanderos. Many in our community embrace these purveyors of hope and healing. Jody Blackburn feels he can heal people through spiritual rituals and by reading tarot cards. He calls himself a curandero. To him, curanderismo is a mind, body and spirit healing approach. He began at an early age. he was only 14 years old when he began reading tarot cards. “I was able to see colors around individuals, I was able to sense positive and negative around them and that drew me more and more.” 28 years later, he's still doing what he felt was his calling, advising people. Blackburn reads tarot cards, he practices Wicca, does spells and cleanses. He has many clients throughout the nation and even overseas. Blackburn tells us these people are often referred by friends.
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Burning Books
by John Sutherland
WHO QUALIFIES as the biggest book-burner in history? Caliph Omar, the Muslim potentate who (as legend has it) torched the library at Alexandria? Savonarola, with his Bonfires of the Vanities? Josef Goebbels who, whenever, he heard the word culture, reached for his petrol can? My personal vote would go to our own Bomber Harris. When the RAF firebombed Dresden in February 1945 it incinerated some of the finest library collections in the world. Of course, as Harris's defenders point out, books were collateral damage. As were some 35,000 Dresdeners.
Burning a book is a symbolic act. Those pages, clamped between board, have a sacred aura: even today, when our reading matter is produced on assembly lines like so many cans of baked beans. Whoever said: “Where baked beans are burnt, men are burnt?” But we still gravely nod our heads with the poet Heine who said that about burning books. Ironically there was no author Goebbels liked more to get a good blaze going with than that uppity Jewish versifier.
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Indigenous Grandmas Kicked Out Of Vatican
by Rob Capriccioso
They went to pray. They went to see Pope Benedict XVI on his home turf. They went to ask that he rescind historic church doctrine that played a role in the genocidal onslaught of millions of indigenous people worldwide. For 13 indigenous grandmothers, accomplishing only one of their three goals wouldn't have been so bad - had they also not been harassed by several Vatican policemen who claimed the women were conducting ''anti-Catholic'' demonstrations.
The elders, formally known as the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, convened in the morning hours of July 9 at St. Peter's Square. After setting up an altar cloth, candles and sacred objects, including feathers and incense, they began holding a prayer and ceremony circle. Nine-year-old Davian Joell Stand-Gilpin, a direct descendant of Chief Dull Knife of the Lakota Nation, was brought along by one of the grandmothers to participate in traditional regalia.
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Thirteen Principles of the Wiccan Belief
by Tink
The Council of American Witches was founded in the early 1970's by 73 witches. In April 1974 they adopted the following document. At the time, Wicca and other Neopagan religions were greatly misunderstood in North America. This document helped to set the record straight. The thirteen statements are necessarily vague. They do not precisely and completely match any one Witchcraft tradition. But they do provide an introduction to the full range of belief systems found within "Wicca." Its policy of including all persons, regardless of "sexual preference" -- now referred to as sexual orientation -- was almost unheard of back in 1974.
These principles were later incorporated into the army's 'Chaplains handbook' for use in the U.S. Army. Shortly after this achievement the Council of American Witches disbanded, this due mainly to the difficulties inherent in reconciling differences among its many member traditions. The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief lived on however, and today many American Witches continue to endorse it.
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Pagan News : Pagan News |
Correspondences for Sunday
Light Yellow candles. Burn incense of Mastic, Palaginia, Pepper, Dragons Blood. Sunday is ruled by Sun, and is a good day to work with health, abundance, healing, confidence and hope, prosperity.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Sun is in Cancer, Moon is in Pisces
Light Yellow candles. Burn incense of Mastic, Palaginia, Pepper, Dragons Blood. Sunday is ruled by Sun, and is a good day to work with health, abundance, healing, confidence and hope, prosperity.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Today's Herb: Golden Rod
Description: Perennial herb with downy slim leafy stems that occasionally branch and grow up to 5 ft. Leaves are narrow, ovular and toothed. In late summer bears tiny bright yellow flowers in panicles.
Uses: Use green flowering plant before flower heads open, fresh or dried in the shade. Use...
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Review: Sheltering Thoughts about Loss and Grief
Review of the book by Sharon Gilchrest O'Neill in our "New Releases" section
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Today we honor Harvest Lord
The Harvest Lord represents the ripeness of Summer, and the fullness of Manhood. he is a strongly male deity.
Like Cernunnos, he appears as a man with the head of a horned stag. His body, hair and horns appear as different shades of gold, and around his neck is a garland of beautiful colored flowers and fresh green leaves.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Interview: Joseph M. Felser
Interview with Joseph M. Felser, author of "The Way Back to Paradise"
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Article: Understanding Grace, Gratitude and God
Article by Vaughan Wynne-Jones
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:01 MST
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Wicthcraft News : Yahoo News
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Why was witchcraft used on cows in the Highlands? (BBC News)
Scottish church records reveal the practice of using so-called good and bad magic on Highland livestock.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:32:19 GMT
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Thorough research needed on how to steer people away from superstition (IPP Media)
We have shown so far how the law on witchcraft has had to go through so many amendments since colonial rule. The current legislation on witchcraft matters is the 2002 edition of the law which now reads ``Witchcraft Act`` instead of ``Ordinance``.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:38:10 GMT
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How do I look? Afrika Bambaataa, Musician, age 51 (Independent)
I'm as old as the moon and the stars, and as young as the trees and the lakes. My style comes from looking at what came before me, and from visiting a lot of places. I'm fanatical about movies: African, European, Viking, Roman. I got into witchcraft and magic from watching Bewitched and The Wizard of Oz, which shows in some of my outfits. I dress to reflect the whole spectrum of the ...
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:13:52 GMT
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Another victim of circumcision ritual (Cape Argus)
Aware of the risks of traditional circumcision, the family of 18-year old Yongama Boya had him circumcised in hospital before sending him off to the "bush" to complete the rest of his initiation ritual.
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:54:43 GMT
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Spiders Star Carbo Dead At 82 (ContactMusic)
Fifties hitmaker CHUCK CARBO has died in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was 82. The former Spiders frontman had been battling illness for many years before he passed away on ...
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:29:16 GMT
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Hayward 'Chuck' Carbo R&B Singer Dies (All About Jazz)
Carbo was 82, a singer who fronted the 1950s quintet the Spiders, a group that made the world aware of New Orleans rhythm and blues, died July 11 in New Orleans after a long illness.
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:07:52 GMT
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THE CHIEL: Catching a polar bear (Daily Dispatch)
LET’S have a bit more fun today with Springbok Radio memories, starting off with old favourite Eric Egan who livened up our early mornings way back. Many readers remember him by one corny crack in particular that had him banned from the airwaves for a few days (or weeks?) by his nanny bosses.
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:41:53 GMT
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'Witchcraft' made me do it, says judge (Pretoria News)
A senior military judge who doused herself with petrol and then set herself alight has told medical staff she believed "witchcraft" was behind her actions.
Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:10:54 GMT
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Liberia: Girl, 17, Kills Uncle in Witch Form (AllAfrica.com)
Fatta Sackie, a 17-year-old girl came to Monrovia through the influence of her uncle to further her education, but as it stands, things have gone bad and the uncle is no more.
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:54:40 GMT
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Hampton news briefs (Hampton Union)
The findings of the North Hampton Police Service Organizational Analysis will be presented to the public on Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. in the Old Town Hall, located between the Municipal Complex and Joe's Meat Market on Atlantic Avenue.
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:56:48 GMT
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Pagan News : Magick.com.au |
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Pagan News: Pentacle Magazine
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Articles : Llewellyn Journal
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The Wiccan Rede and the Art of Persuasion
The Wiccan Rede has the distinction of being a core tenet of the faith. The origin of this creed and its rhetorical influence are explored in an academic capacity by Arcane Static, which can help you to better understand the fundamentals of this spiritual movement.
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:00:00 CST
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Stones in the Mystic Foundation
Christopher Penczak, author of The Mystic Foundation, discusses the greatest spiritual blessing and greatest spiritual curse of our time, and offers a meditation exercise to work with the five elements and find balance in your life.
Mon, 11 Dec 2006 03:00:00 CST
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Images of the Mother Goddess: Healing Your Inner Child
I have a dark confession to make. I have been a mother for 20 years now, and I am not perfect. My mother and grandmother were not perfect either, although according to the family joke, we are all andquot;almostandquot; perfect! In fact, I donand#39;t know anyone ...
Mon, 03 Jul 2006 03:00:00 CST
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The Magical Art of the Well Worn Path
When the phone in my little magical shop rang on that chilly day in February of 2004, I figured it was someone asking for directions or looking for a certain hard to find item or book. But the voice on the other end said, andquot;Hi, this is Raven ...
Mon, 30 Jan 2006 03:00:00 CST
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Basic Shielding for Meetings
Youandrsquo;re attending an intense, focused business meeting where everyone is shouting their ideas. You feel disconnected, chaotic, confused. A committee is formed, and two people volunteer to chair the position. When it comes to a vote, the person who ...
Sat, 31 Dec 2005 03:00:00 CST
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Winter Solstice Wishing Candle
There is a tradition of making a wish at the Winter Solstice, of burning pieces of paper with wishes or affirmations written on them. When creating a Winter Solstice candle, you will infuse the molten wax with your wish or intent and release it with ...
Mon, 28 Nov 2005 03:00:00 CST
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Seven Steps to Self-Devotion
Seven Steps to Self-Devotion This article is based on some of the main themes presented in my book Sexy Witch. If you are interested in wandering more deeply into this landscape, pick up a copy and dive right in! 1. Your Body is a ...
Mon, 03 Oct 2005 03:00:00 CST
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Researching Wicca for Teens
Teens are often misguided when they first learn about Wicca, believing that a mentor or coven is needed to jump start their practice. This is far from the case, in fact many young people start as a solitary practitioner researching the path on his ...
Mon, 12 Sep 2005 03:00:00 CST
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The Gods of Witchcraft
When I got involved in Wicca, I found that most of my teachers emphasized the Goddess. Many people have been raised with traditions that emphasized the male aspect of divinity. These same people often come to nature-based religions with a desire to ...
Tue, 17 May 2005 03:00:00 CST
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The Witch's Cradle
This is an article from Carland#39;s previous blog, Conversations Across the Table, originally posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 Seabrook wrote about another sensory depreviation device believed to aid Extra Sensory Perception in Witchcraft: Itandrsquo;s Power in ...
Fri, 13 May 2005 03:00:00 CST
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