Whispers of a Stone Circle Volume III, Issue 36 September 12, 2002 In This Issue: Editor's Note Poem/Prose: One Year On By Silicon Shaman Cool Link(s) Article: Poor SHE's Almanac September 2002 By Rev. Shelli H. English Suggested Book of the week In the News: Mysteries Of The Pyramid Of The Moon Announcements: Kentucky: Wicca Class Pagan Pride Day Free download of back issues of The Pomegranate From: Defenders of Wildlife OPEN SEASON ON WOLVES: Wyoming would kill them like jackrabbits or skunks >From the ACLU: Support Civil Rights: Oppose The Faith-Based Initiative! Stop the Government from Turning Neighbor Against Neighbor! Writer's Biographies Submission guidelines and other stuff Current Subscriber Count: 1083 ~*~*~ Hello All, I'm way behind on my e-mail again. My husband was home from Tuesday until yesterday afternoon so I basically downloaded it so I would have space in my mail box, deleted the Spam (95 percent of my mail), and checked to see if there was anything that couldn't wait for a couple of days. I am starting to get fed up with the mud slinging political ads. I will admit I find one candidate for senator accusing the other of OMG actually lying. Now I admit I haven't always followed politics as closely as should but I thought there was a reason they had jokes along the lines of "How can you tell if a politician is lying? His lips are moving." One thing that gets me though is the news clip he is using as proof that the other candidate is lying has the news station, which produced it, calling him on copyright infringement. (It was on KCCI news earlier in the week.)The ad has yet to be withdrawn and it has been stated that it won't be. I am starting to think we need to do like we do with judges, have a remove them from office spot. You all know of course why people get sent to Washington D.C. don't you? (According to my sister's significant other.)People vote in the people they don't want in their area and they keep them in Washington until someone else in the area annoys the people enough that they must be sent away. This week we have a powerful piece of prose by the Silicon Shaman and Poor SHE's almanac. You may or may not have noticed that last week I started a suggested book of the week link. The subjects covered under it shall in my mind at least loosely relate to paganism. (Although no one else in the world may see the connection.) I would also like to remind people that submissions are always Welcome and in fact are actively encouraged. Please write me if you need submission guidelines. So until next time, Sheila K. Watkins Editor: Whispers of a Stone Circle See last page of this newsletter for submission guidelines, forwarding guidelines, where you can subscribe to Whispers and copyright information. ~*~*~*~ One Year On By Silicon Shaman [9/11/02] Where am I ? What is this place ? Why am I standing in what seems to be a hole in the ground ? It's a dusty gray hole. Oh! I know this place, although I've never been here, probably never will. Ground Zero. It's night, some part of me knows it's midnight. What they used to call the witching hour. But then I know I'm dreaming. I can wake up at anytime I want. Can't I ? Around me the dust stirs, kicked up by a wind I can't feel. It stings my eyes and for a moment I can't see. Then, slowly, out of the gray veil, come shapes, people. So very many people. The ghosts of the dead; men, women, even children. It *is* only a dream, I hope. Many of them look peaceful, but not all. There's anger on some faces, sadness on others. I want to ask them what they are doing here, but then as they walk closer I know why. They want to talk, and no-one can hear them. Except I'm one of those that can, sometimes. Looks like it's one of those times. Maybe this is more than a dream, who knows. Then the voices come, a whisper at first, growing like the rush of surf, until it drowns everything out. Thousands of voices, all demanding, pleading, or just talking. Until the press of their voices threatens to crush me, make me implode like a dying star, or collapse like a building. Silence. I look up from where I've fallen, the dead stand around me, silent, voiceless. The enormity of it is too much. I'm only human, there's only so much I can take. But their message is clear enough. "I'm sorry." I whisper. "I don't know if anyone else will listen." There's nods, some slight smiles. That's okay they silently say, we know. Do what you can. Not all of them agree, even among the dead, human nature is as it is. Some turn and walk away, fading as they do. Others stand and look on angrily. The rest, wait for me to talk. It's my task and duty, a shaman, a speaker for the dead, to be a voice for those that have none. Its never weighed on me this heavily before. This is what they have to say. Make it Stop. One year on, and people are still being killed by what happened on 9/11. There is still blood staining the dust, gray dust, brown dust, yellow sand. It doesn't matter. The color of the blood is the same, American or Arab. Terrorist or innocent. On this day one year ago, some people watched in numb horror, some wept. And some saw an opportunity to further their careers. Media bosses who saw a golden opportunity to exploit, spin doctors who saw a way to bury bad news and their political bosses who saw a way to justify anything they did. Patriotism became the new buzzword. Justice was bought and sold down the river, bound in tape to hide the embarrassing bits. Red tape, and video tape. The dead remained silent, transformed into symbols, not people. Used as puppets by any two-bit pundit out for a quick hike in the public opinion polls. But who is more dead, those that live in memory and spirit, or those who still walk, and feel nothing but the buzz of an opportunity for a quick buck or a vote ? Then came the war, vengeance against those that killed, by killing as many of them that had died, and many more. Where blood had mixed with gray dust, now it mixes with yellow sand, brown earth. And it goes on. More killing, justified by the sharks on two legs, by those that use the dead to hide what they are really doing. More blood, this time the media sharks don't say how many, or their names. They are the forgotten dead. Inconvenient truths, that many of our political 'leaders' would like us not to know about. While the 'glorious' dead are used as a cover for deals, schemes and lies, wrapped in red white and blue. Or green, or yellow, or any flag you can name. But the dead speak, no matter who they are. Among the dead there are no nationalities. They demand to be remembered. Not in ceremony, or as symbols for a bloody endless war. Not for a cause, or as martyrs and saints. But as husbands, wives, sons, daughters. As individuals, as who they were. Imperfect, human. Just like you and me, people, nothing more. No More, they say. No more killing, No more dead. Not for us, for the cause, for vengeance's sake. Does anyone listen ? And now I sit here, the dead having left me some time ago. My face is wet from tears I hadn't noticed. Blinded by the lies told, the stories invented, the living seem deader than the spirits of those who have gone on before. Unaware of the world around them, and it's headlong course. Is anyone listening to my one, lone, voice ? Who'll speak for me among the living dead ? ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: Resources for Greek Art and Archaeology http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~ekondrat/greece.html A selective set of links to subject indices, texts, projects, journals, bibliographies, archaeology field projects, atlases, museum collections, and more. The Lemelson Center: Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation: http://www.si.edu/lemelson/ China Painting List: http://www.china-painting-list.com/ (for painting on china) ~*~*~*~ Poor SHE's Almanac September 2002 By Rev. Shelli H. English Archives of previous almanacs may be found at www.witchcraft.net "Lux umbram monstrat, mysteria autem veritas" (Light shows shadow, but truth shows mysteries) -Inscription on a sundial "Pleasures lie thickest where no pleasures seem There's not a leaf that falls upon the ground But holds some joy of silence or of sound Some spirits begotten of a summer dream." -Laman Blanchard This month's Full Moon will grace our skies on Saturday, September 21, 2002 at 8:59am Eastern; 5:59am Pacific. This Moon is usually referred to as the Harvest Moon, however the October Moon also often lays claim to the same title. A few of the other lore names are Fruit Moon, Hunting Moon, Barley Moon, Little Wind Moon, Big Feast Moon, Moon of Turning Leaves, Moon of Wild Plums, Ripe Moon. "The moon is full, the autumn nights grow longer, In the north forests startled crows cry out Still high overhead, the star river stretches The Dipper's handle set to southwest The cold cricket grieves deep in the chambers Of the notes of sweet birds, none remain Then one evening gusts of autumn come One who sleeps alone thinks fondly on thick quilts Past loves are a thousand miles farther each day Blocked from my drifting and my sinking Man's life is not as the grass and trees Still the season's changes can stir the heart." -Wei Ying Wu ~~*~~*~~ "It was a morning of ground mist, yellow sunshine, big rifts of blue and white cloud-dappled sky. The leaves were still thick on the trees, but dew-spangled gossamer threads hung on the bushes and the shrill little cries of unrest of the swallows skimming the green open spaces of the park told of autumn and change." -Flora Thompson "O Wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being, Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven, like ghosts from an encounter fleeing." -Percy Bysshe Shelley The second harvest festival, the Sabbat of Mabon, will occur on Sunday, September 22, 2002. Commonly known as the Autumnal Equinox or the beginning of Fall, it is the time when the length of the light of day and the dark of night are equal, balanced on the opposite side of the year (and also being celebrated now in the Southern Hemisphere) by the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. From now until Yuletide, the dark of each day will outweigh the light. This is one of my favorite times of year, when days become mild, crispness increasing in the air. Trees begin to change colors, their leaves sometimes drifting gracefully to earth while other times even a slight breeze causes a confetti of yellow, bronze and red to shower down en masse. A time to reconsider wardrobe choices and having a sweater nearby becomes suddenly practical. When soup starts to sound like a good choice and an extra blanket on the bed replaces the light summer coverlet. Oddly enough, I never fail to be surprised by Autumn. For some reason, Spring never sneaks up on me. Maybe because I anticipate it and look closely for its first signs. But not so with Autumn. It always seems to creep in subtly and takes my senses in a roundabout manner, a touch here or there, but always a bit at a time so that it feels to me as if it delights in catching me unaware. But speaking of delight, that is a gift I receive each Autumn. The first rains while snuggled up safely warm and cozy with a great book or cup of tea. Taking walks in the crisp evening air when you can smell the scent of fireplaces and meals being prepared in the neighborhood. The first chilled breezes that make you shiver. The sunsets made ever more spectacular by clouds looming with the possibility of rain. The parade of migrating birds flying aloft in formation. I even love the beginning of the steady stream of holiday catalogues that deluge my mailbox. And though I suppose I should have an equal appreciation for all of the seasons, secretly I think Autumn is my favorite… but don't tell the others! "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." -Elizabeth Lawrence ~~*~~*~~ A seasonal helpful hint: Summer days dry out your windshield wiper blades. Before the Autumn rains come, check your wiper blades - if they need replacing, do so now. But chances are a little rub with some simple petroleum jelly will moisten the rubber and make them supple, which in turn will increase your visibility, and safety, during the first rains. ~~*~~*~~ "It is our quiet time. We do not speak, because the voices are within us. It is our quiet time. We do not walk, because the earth is all within us. It is our quiet time. We do not dance, because the music has lifted us to a place where the spirit is. It is our quiet time." -Nancy Wood On the 11th, I fully intended to avoid dwelling in the sad retelling of the events of just one year ago. But what I came to realize is that part of me has not yet healed. Maybe it is because the loss was so great, or that my imaginings of what some must have endured is so ghastly, or maybe it's my empathic nature that picks up on the immense pain, I don't know. But I do know I have not yet healed. And, even though I wasn't personally physically injured, this infamous event harmed everyone though it may not have taken physical form. It is my prayer, now that a full year has passed, that the process of inner healing can truly begin. Of course, we will never forget this moment of history, but let it not scar us in a way that makes us less free and afraid, rather that we progress and strive toward peace and joy. My sister Nikki and I decided that we would start a new holiday on September 11th, and we began our new tradition this year. We're calling it "Random Acts of Kindness Day". Now, certainly this is not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination, and people should commit Random Acts of Kindness (or RAoK for short…) each and every day, but we think September 11th each year is a good day to make it official. So join us, won't you? "May the earth continue to live May the heavens above continue to live May the rains continue to dampen the land May the wet forests continue to grow Then the flowers shall bloom And we people shall live again." -Hawaiian Prayer Warm blessings! ~ Rev. Shelli H. English ~*~*~*~ Suggested book of the week: The Herb Book by John Lust http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0879040556/whispeofaston-20 If you are interested in medical uses for herbs and could only have one book then this is the one you would need. I do find it weak when it comes to helping with identification of plants. (I hate black and white pencil drawings) but the information is great. It is also relatively inexpensive when it comes to herb books. (Considering I have at least a dozen herb books I know the prices of herb books.) ~*~*~*~ In the News: Mysteries Of The Pyramid Of The Moon TEOTIHUACAN, Mexico, Sept. 19, 2002 (REUTERS) Archeologists digging at Mexico's famed Pyramid of the Moon think they could be a few feet away from a royal grave, key to unlocking the secrets of the first major metropolis built in the Americas. The Aztecs stumbled on these awesome stone pyramids, plazas and temples in about 1500 A.D., several centuries after the city was torched and abandoned. They believed it was a divine work and so named the site Teotihuacan, "City of the Gods" in their indigenous nahuatl tongue. Rest of the story: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/19/tech/main522626.shtml ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): Kentucky: Wicca class Starting Wednesday September 25th at 7pm at The Wyrd & More Shoppe at 3:17 West Maxwell Street Lexington, KY. 859-255-2724. This will be an extensive in Depth class explaining the Wiccan Religion & beliefs. This class will meet every Wednesday until complete but a minimum of 6 weeks. Each class will last approximately 1-2 hrs. Depending on size & the specific topic that week. The class will be free of charge & the instructor is an ordained Minister & has been Practicing over 20 years. She was taught by Laurie Cabbott & is very knowledgeable & easy to understand. Questions will be welcomed & bring a friend or anyone you think might be interested in learning about the Wiccan Faith. This is an open class & everyone is welcome. You are also welcome to bring Refreshments & snacks for your enjoyment as well. All students will receive a 10% discount off of all store purchases at the 1st class. Pagan Pride Day Date: September 28, 2002 Time: 10:00 AM EST Earth-centered religious practitioners and their families are invited to celebrate Pagan Pride Day and the Autumn Equinox on Saturday September 28, 2002, at Masterson Station Park, Lexington, KY. The event will include information on associated religious practices, a food drive to celebrate the harvest, and an open religious ritual. The celebration is open to the public, and the admission is one canned or non-perishable food item. Sent via a list I am on: The Pomegranate, which is the only juried journal to focus solely on Pagan studies, has recently converted many of their back issues into a single beautiful PDF. Soon the PDF will be available for sale on CD, but now it's available free for download. This single document contains four years of Pomegranate articles from authors such as Chas Clifton, Ronald Hutton, M. Macha Nightmare, Jone Salomonsen, and others. It promises hours and hours of informative and fun reading, and there is certainly material in this archive of essays to address almost any subject. If you're looking for an academic perspective from within Paganism, then this is the best place to find it. Understand, however, that this is a large file--it will take some time to download, but it is well worth the wait. Link Directly to the File: http://www.uscolo.edu/natrel/pom/Pomegranate.pdf The Back Issues Page: http://www.uscolo.edu/natrel/pom/backissues.html The Pomegranate Website: http://www.uscolo.edu/natrel/pom/index.html >From Defenders of Wildlife: OPEN SEASON ON WOLVES: Wyoming would kill them like jackrabbits or skunks Wyoming's politicians are making their true feelings known toward endangered gray wolves. They want to allow the unrestricted killing of these magnificent animals throughout most of the state. To make hunting legal, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has voted to seek an end to federal protections for wolves. "That means the wolf could be killed anytime, anywhere, and by any means - the same as a coyote, jackrabbit or skunk ..." the Associated Press reports. To send a petition to Interior Secretary Gale Norton urging her not to strip wolves of their federal protections, go to www.savewolves.org. TO: ACLU Action Network Members FR: Angela Colaiuta, National Field Organizer DT: 9-17-02 1) Support Civil Rights: Oppose The Faith-Based Initiative! Over a year ago, amid great controversy, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7, a bill that would implement President Bush's plan to give taxpayer dollars to religious organizations to provide social services without requiring them to play by the same civil rights rules as everyone else. Recent reports suggest that the sponsors of the Senate version of President Bush's faith-based initiative, Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), are working to cut a bring the bill to the floor. While the Lieberman/Santorum bill, S. 1924,The "Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE)Act," has some improvements over the House version, it continues to jeopardize civil rights, privacy and religious freedom because it does not include explicit prohibitions against discrimination. Without this protection, the Bush Administration will allow religious organizations to discriminate against applicants for jobs on the basis of religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, HIV status or any other characteristic that a religious organization finds objectionable. Take action! You can learn more and send a FREE FAX to your Senators from our action alert at: http://www.aclu.org/action/care107.html 2) Stop the Government from Turning Neighbor Against Neighbor! In one of the most misguided responses to the terrorist attacks, President Bush is proposing a program to recruit one million volunteers to act as spies and informants against their neighbors. Due to intense public outrage, the Administration has now announced a scaled back version that would exclude postal and utility workers. Despite what Attorney General Ashcroft and the Justice Department have said, the threat of this dangerous program, Operation TIPS (Terrorist Information and Prevention System), has unfortunately not yet abated. As it stands now, TIPS would still recruit volunteers who work in the transportation, trucking, shipping, maritime, and mass transit industries. The only way to disable TIPS once and for all is through congressional action. Take action! You can learn more and send a FREE FAX to your Senators urging them to trash TIPS at: http://www.aclu.org/action/tips107.html ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: Silicon.shaman: On a life-long quest to find meaning to life, and make sense of the insanity we call reality, the Silicon.shaman has sampled many paths and traditions. Having found none that seemed to fit, he has turned his life into an ongoing creation of something new, sythasising elements of popular culture and traditional paths. He's also an environmentalist, computer geek, and father. Rev. Shelli H. English is a long term Pagan from California. Sheila K. Watkins founded and became editor of Whispers of a Stone Circle in October of 2000. She is past editor of The American Witch and Pagan Weekly Newsletter, A long time Wiccan/Pagan/Witch as well as being a Wife and Mother. ~*~*~*~ Submissions are always welcomed and can be made to: zeliziw@jbinc.com Submission guidelines can be received by writing zeliziw@jbinc.com Forwarding information: If you chose to forward this newsletter, Please do so in its entirety, including copyright and contact information. People may subscribe or unsubscribe by contacting: Whispers@jbinc.com Back issues may be found at: http://www.jbinc.com/Whispers/ All articles, poems, etc, except where noted are copyrighted by the writers 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@jbinc.com Copyright (c) 2002 Sheila K. Watkins All Rights Reserved.