Hello all, For those of you who don't know. I edit a weekly Pagan newsletter called Whispers Of A Stone Circle. Below is a copy of today's issue. I don't plan on sendng out samples often, if ever again. If you forward this please please forward everything. Submission and copyright information can be found at the bottom of this post. Sheila K. Watkins You may sign up for this newsletter at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhispersOfAStoneCircle/ Merry Meet, My anniversary is on Imbolc. It’s been almost 13 years since I said, “I am a witch,” for the first time. In some ways it seems like yesterday, even though I wasn’t even dating the father of my ten-year-old at the time. When I dedicated my life to the Goddess and the God, I didn’t know what I was getting into, that much is certain. I had read half a dozen or so books maybe a few more but a lot of it I still viewed with more then a dose of skepticism. It was the fact that there was a Goddess as well as a God, which drew me. The magic was a distant second and rarely used for a long time other then for healing or communicating with my spirit guide. (Although I did do a spell to call love into my life at one point and I got it. Surprised me who showed up when it happened too.) If I could have seen where I am at this point in time, while I was making my first vows, I’m not sure how I would have reacted. But all in all I am glad I found my path. About three years or so into knowing I was a witch, I admit I had gotten it into my head, I knew everything, at least about my religion. I must have regressed a bit because I know now that I know far from everything. In a lot of ways I was still going through the motions. I had to do things a specific way or else; I never was quite sure what the “or else” was. I think that sub-consciously I still expected fire and brimstone from the Deities. Over the following years, I experienced highs and lows. One low was so entrenched it took a cosmic clue by four and public embarrassment to get me out of it. All in all I came out the stronger for it. Fairly close to my eleventh anniversary, I did a rededication. It was a much more powerful experience that time for me. I think its cause I knew what I was getting into at that time. With that in mind, I wrote a rededication ritual for this newsletter. It’s not the one I followed at the time but its simple and one, which is easy enough to modify for different situations. It is written for Imbolc but there is nothing to say it has to be. Anyway I hope you enjoy it, and the poetry, and the article on Imbolc. Until next time, Merry Part and Goddess Bless Sheila K. Watkins ~*~*~*~ Doubts By Sheila K. Watkins Doubts tugging at my soul Making me wonder Am I right? Or am I wrong? Whispers softly in my ear You know You’ve always known Understanding By Sheila K. Watkins Gentle arms hold me close A kiss upon my brow Secrets whispered in my ear Of promises to keep Comfort given here and now Teaching wisdom that I seek Knowing not the answers For the questions that I seek ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: Aristotle and the Elements: http://fuzzy.snakeden.org/alchemy/aristot.html Aristotle's Astronomy: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/Students/Tom/AristotleAstro.html Elemental Correspondences of the Pentacle: http://www.oldways.com/winter/vault_miscb.html The Pentagram and the Elements: Greek Evidence: http://www.geocities.com/shades9nl/demons/pentagramandelementsgreek.htm The Pythagorean Pentacle: http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/PP/index.html#elements A History of the Pentagram: http://yew.lweb.net/pent.htm ~*~*~*~ Imbolc By Sheila K. Watkins Imbolc also known as Candlemas, Imbolg, Imbolgc brigantia, Lupercus or Disting happens on February 1st or 2nd (as well as Groundhog’s day on February 2nd for those in the United States) and is fast approaching. So why do we consider it important? More importantly why did those who come before us consider it important? Once upon a time, long before supermarkets and corner stores brought us food from all over the world, no matter what season it was, people survived by at first what they hunt and gather (and later by what they could grow and raise.) Now in the milder climates where the growing season was long, people could keep gathering food, sometimes for the whole year round. But humans being what they will, decided to travel far and wide to lands beyond those which were mild. They found lands teaming with game and plenty of food in the form of plants to be gathered. But these lands were harsher, cold came for months at a time when there were no plants and game was scarce. But mankind adjusted and adapted. Humans learned to build warm homes and store more food for the long winter. Sometimes when winter was longer then remembered food ran short and people starved and sometimes died. Slowly the environment changed and Man along with it. People learned to farm and raise animals. Now they did not have to totally rely on what they hunted or gathered. Which was good because many of the animals they once hunted had died off and those who survived grew smaller because of the change in climate. But still man was ruled by weather. Spring came and seeds were planted, summer came and man feasted, fall came and man harvested. Winter came and if by chance not enough food was gathered or it went bad, man starved. Fortunately since man had domesticated animals by this time, around the time the choice between eating the seeds of next year’s crop and starving now happened for a long winter, the animals started to give birth. Suddenly there was fresh milk and butter and after a while cheese. So this time of year was named for the fact the animals that gave milk were starting to do so. Since this was also a time of year near a cross quarter, the veil between the worlds was considered thinner so divination was traditionally practiced. It’s still with us today. The hedgehog of Germany became the groundhog in the United States and if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. Anymore, unless your struggling to pay your heating bills, a long winter is no big deal. But a one time knowing if a winter was going to be longer or shorter was of vast importance. Now if you need a gallon of milk. Run down the block to the store. If you want a fresh apple or mushrooms or asparagus, well you might have to pay a bit more, but you can get them. But really until the advent of somewhat reliable transportation and canning, things could get a bit lean towards the end of winter. Laura Ingalls Wilder ’ s book, The Long Winter, the winter of 1880-81 was chronicled. It was the first winter in the area for most of the settlers and winter hit early and hard. When the trains couldn’t make it into town with supplies, The whole community was on the verge of starvation. So as you can see in hasn’t been that long ago that a long hard winter could mean the difference between life and death. The Catholic Church took brought the holiday into their realm by making it the time period where the Virgin Mary became ritualistically pure once more after the birth. (As per the custom at the time of Churching women, for six weeks after birth women were considered unclean and until they were churched I.E. made pure again. Women couldn’t do a lot of things, one of these things was be intimate. Personally I am wondering if this idea actually came from women so they wouldn’t be pressured to be intimate until such time as it felt comfortable. It was not just the Catholic Church that over time has had a woman be ritualistically unpure after birth though. It has been that way in many societies probably due to the blood flow a woman has for the first few weeks after giving birth.) Imbolc is also the time when light is said to return. The nights are obviously not as long. That much can be observed even without a clock to tell us what time it is. When the Catholic Church took it over the name became Candlemas a time for blessing candles and Bridget for whom the holiday is very special became a Saint. So fire, candles and the return of light are all entwined with each other at this time of year. So what do we as modern Pagans do at this time of year. Well it’s the season of renewal, the promise of spring yet to come. So we make and renew vows at this time of year and plan for the hopes and dreams of the future. It’s the time to plant the seeds of what we want for the coming year. It’s the time of purification, so it’s a wonderful time of year cleanse altar tools, yourself, your home. It’s a time to be thankful that we no longer have to struggle to survive and worry about starving. For more on the web Witchvox has several links to visit at: http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/imbolc.html An Imbolc Ritual of rededication: By Sheila K. Watkins Note: this is aimed at solitary practice but can be easily modified for a group. It can also be modified for a dedication ceremony. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, well you have something for six months from now. It can be modified in appropriate ways as well. (Basically alter it to fit.) Make sure your ritual space is cleaned to the best of your ability both physically and on spiritual plane by smudging with white sage and cedar (or your favorite incense for this activity.) Gather together as many candles as you have candleholders plus one more. Make sure that at least one of these candles is white. Anoint them all with oil in a manner, which conforms to your tradition or by placing a bit of oil in your hand and sliding up the length of the candle while asking the Goddess to bless it as you do. (Olive will work or oil you have bought or prepared for anointing your candles.) Set your candles up but do not light them as yet. Cleanse yourself ritually by bathing in water with a bit of sea salt added and dress for your ritual. This maybe skyclad and barefoot or in robes or ritualistic garb or even in your everyday clothes if that is how you meet with the Deities. Enter the space where the ritual is to be held. Take your Athame in your hand and close the circle while slowly circling clockwise three times starting in the direction of the rising sun. Once the circle is cast invite the elements in the following manner. Face the east: Spirits of the winter winds Goddess’s icy breath Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Face the south: Spirits of the fires that be The Young God’s waiting heat Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Face the west: Spirits of the water’s deep Mother’s gift of life Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Face the north: Spirits of the earth Young God’s coming strength Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Face the center: Spirit of the Goddess Maiden, Mother, Crone Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Still facing center: Spirit of the God Youth, Warrior, Sage Come to me at my plea Welcome and merry meet Light the extra candle and use it to light the candles in the holder one by one moving clockwise. Save the (or one of the) white candle(s) for last, saying this while you light the final candle: “On this day we honor the return of the light.” Stand or sit facing the white candle in a relaxed manner and say. “I call upon you (name of the Goddess you worship). On this night I would like to reaffirm that I am your follower and will use my skills, talents, my strength and my magic to the best of my abilities to serve your wishes. I rededicate myself to your service.” “I call upon you (name of the God you worship). On this night I would like to reaffirm that I am your follower and will use my skills, talents, my strength and my magic to the best of my abilities to serve your wishes. I rededicate myself to your service.” “(Name of the Goddess you worship), (name of the God you worship) I thank you for your teaching, your lessons and your presence in my life. I am a Witch and a Pagan and your follower. I am a follower of the old ways, my path is one that honors nature and is one of protection and healing. To honor and respect the land, to protect it and heal it are my vows. This is my will so mote it be.” At this time you may wish to do divination or spell work for things you wish to happen during the coming year. You are now planting the seeds of growth for the coming year; so do work you wish to grow. At this time, A simple feast should be eaten. A suggestion is dairy products but cakes and wine or something to your taste is acceptable. Open the circle by doing the following: Face outward: Spirit of the God Youth, Warrior, Sage If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Still face outward: Spirit of the Goddess Maiden, Mother, Crone If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Face north: Spirits of the earth Young God’s coming strength If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Face west: Spirits of the water’s deep Mother’s gift of life If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Face south: Spirits of the fires that be The Young God’s waiting heat If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Face east: Spirits of the winter winds Goddess’s icy breath If it be your will Goodbye until we meet again Open the circle by starting in the east and slowly circling counter-clockwise three times while using your athame. ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): this place reserved for announcements and press releases I find of interest. I’m pretty lenient about what I place in here but please no Spam that’s been around the world so many times everyone has it memorized. I will consider books release announcements, local and national event announcements, and noteworthy news applicable to those in the pagan community among other things. Thank you. Sheila ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: Sheila K. Watkins knew from the time she was 15 that she wanted to be a writer but did not really start writing until she entered college where she worked on her college newspaper and also worked as the editor of the feature section for one semester. She was also introduced to the love of writing poetry at this time. Fortunately for all of us most of the poems have been lost to the world of men. After college she worked several jobs during the next few years but none included writing. It wasn’t until after both of her children had started school in 1998 that she went back to her love of putting words on a computer screen. Her first submission was accepted by publication by the IOWAN newsletter and it started her on the path of truly honing her work. In October of 2000, she founded and became editor of Whispers of a Stone Circle. ~*~*~*~ Submissions are always welcomed and can be made to: Zeliziw@netins.net In submitting materials writers are agreeing that if accepted I may post them in the newsletter and on the web page (whenever I finally get back to work on it.) Works submitted must be the writer’s own work and they must still retain the copyright OR it must be verifiably public domain. Works can have been published before but please nothing that has been around over and over again. Copyright remains in the author’s possession. The Author also realizes that they will not be paid. (If I had money I would be hosting this on something other then Yahoo.) If a submission is accepted, I will check for punctuation, capitalization and spelling in submitted articles. I will fix minor errors if they are present. I will NOT reword things (except for an occasional “an” for “a” and vice versa.) Poems are published as submitted. All articles, poems, etc, except where noted are copyrighted by the writers of said items and are used with permission. They are not to be republished without the express permission of the writers. Contact information may be obtained by contacting the editor of Whispers of A Stone Circle at Zeliziw@netins.net Copyright (c) 2002 Sheila K. Watson. All Rights Reserved