Volume III, Issue 37 October 11, 2002 In This Issue: Editor’s Note Poem: Mabon Moon By Sheila K. Watkins Cool Link(s) Article: The Celtic Tradition By Matthew Ellis Suggested Book of the week In the News: Letter to the editor Announcements: Iowa: Blessed Be and Meet Me in Des Moines Missouri: Ozark Avalon Announcements EMBRACING THE DARK October 25-27, 2002 Kentucky: Samhain ROCK - October 19 New York: New York State Pagan Assembly to be held November 2002 General (USA and beyond) Writers wanted Defenders of Wildlife: Dolphin safe Tuna Do You Know An HIV Long-Term Nonprogressor? Healer’s Site Writer's Biographies Submission guidelines and other stuff Current Subscriber Count: 1100 (101 on Yahoogroups, 999 who need to be transferred as yet.) ~*~*~ Hello All, You may have noticed that Whispers has not gone out for the last couple of Fridays. This was due to technical difficulties beyond Karen’s and my control (and for once it wasn’t my computer breaking down.) What had happened was the company where the Whispers’ Website is located as well as from where Whispers has been mailed for the last month had a disgruntled employee. (I admit the disgruntled is an assumption but read on and I think you will agree.) He was in charge of maintaining the computer system. A couple of weeks ago he locked everyone out of the system and disappeared. So come Friday I was all finished with the latest issue of Whispers and went to try to send it out to everyone. I went to the front page of the company we get the web space from (where they advertise get your web space from us) and received a “you are forbidden to enter this site notice. So I decided “I will try to move Whispers back to Yahoogroups.” I still haven’t heard back from customer service even after a couple of e-mails to them telling them I needed to move my newsletter list ASAP. So This week I will send Whispers via Yahoogroups and also via the way we have been sending it (that is if we can get the e-mailing out.) Currently yet another new home for Whispers is being searched for but at the time of this writing it isn’t sure where. So for those who didn’t sign up on Whispers via Yahoogroups, I will be moving you over in groups of 100 per day which is the limit they give. If you wish to sign up for Whispers at Yahoogroups for yourself please follow this URL: Also more then one of you has been contaminated by the Klez virus so I encourage everyone to update your anti-virus program. For those of you who haven’t heard, this virus mails itself to so far standard virus type thing but it has a twist. When it mails itself, it takes another e-mail address from your address book and says it came from there. I know more then one person has it because Whispers has been the name du jour for more then one sending of it. (I have received several notices about it.) 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. ~*~*~*~ Mabon Moon By Sheila K. Watkins I stand under the moon Speaking the words within my heart A simple Thank you Two simple words But they mean everything My full heart feels Thank you for the blessings Showered upon me Through no effort of my own Thank you for love Which I didn’t recognize And almost threw away Thank you for children Both the ones who try to drive me nuts And the one within my womb Thank you for friends Entered into my life Who by their presence makes me whole Thank you for pain, pleasure, happiness and sorrow All the things that have made me who I am Over these years It is just a simple thank you But it means everything As I step back inside ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: AlgaeBase: A searchable database of "information on the algae of the world and includes terrestrial, marine and freshwater forms." Duh, Plants: Getting Started with Gardening for the Black Thumbed Plants-in-Motion A collection of time-lapse movies that demonstrate various phases of plant growth. This is from a professor of biology at Indiana University. ~*~*~*~ The Celtic Tradition By Matthew Ellis 1998 Fighting retail, they were beaten Wholesale. Had they been inseparable, They would have been unbeatable. Publius Cornelius Tacitus (57-117 CE) Roman Historian To some, the mere whisper of their name can conjure images of a mystical time, a Golden Age of Art, Poetry, magic and the epic battles of King Arthur himself. You could imagine fairy castles in the mist, the sacred groves of the Druids and the ancient powers of stone circles. With a growing interest in the Celts and their heritage, and so many different books on the market, it can be difficult to get a clear picture of who the Celts really were. Over the next few months, I would like to take a closer look at these fascinating people, and give you a clearer view of their religion, artwork and way of life. The Historical Beginnings The Celts were the first race to emerge into history north of the Alps. Although the first written references to them date back to the Sixth and Fifth centuries BCE, there is evidence to suggest that there were Celtic people in existence as early as 2000 BCE. Unfortunately, they left no written records of their own until after the advent of Christianity. They were not illiterate or uneducated, but it was considered taboo to set down any of their traditions or history. However, business dealings were always recorded by using Greek characters. The first time the Celts were mentioned in historical times was when they met with the Mediterranean people such as the Greeks and the Romans. The Greeks called them Celt and, according to the Greek historian Polybius (c.200-118 BCE), the word Galatae was popular in his day. In Rome, they were known as Galli or Celtae, but later, Diodorus Siculus (c.60-30 BCE) considers that the name Celt is the proper term for them. Pausanias (160 CE) considers the Celtic race to be of a much greater age than that of the Gauls or the Galatians. There were in fact two distinct Celtic groups. One group, often referred to as the lowland Celts, originated from the region of the Danube. Around 1200 BCE they left their homeland and slowly spread across Europe. There are remains of Celtic Lake settlements by the Danube and in Switzerland as well as Ireland. Being predominantly Matriarchal, they blended in peacefully with the indigenous people that they found. They were skilled in the use of metals such as gold, tin and bronze as well as being agriculturally orientated. They contributed powerfully to the art, customs and the religions of the people they had settled with. It was their custom to burn their dead rather than bury them. The second group of Celts were far more warlike and originated from mountains of the Balkans and the Carpathians. Making their first recorded appearance on the left banks of the Rhine, they were said to love fighting for the sake of it. It is not surprising then to find them acting as mercenaries in many great armies. These Celtic warriors served in the armies of Syracuse, Sparta, Carthage, Macedonia, Bythinia, Syria, Egypt and eventually Rome herself. Belonging to a military aristocracy, they had a distinct class system, and had their own way of settling battles. It was traditional for the two chieftains of the opposing forces to settle a conflict with single combat. During the first invasions of Britain by the Romans, some Roman commanders adopted this system, much to the displeasure of Rome. In fact, the might of the Celtic warrior was so renowned that it reached the ears of Aristotle himself. He wrote (somewhat grudgingly it seems): “It is not bravery to withstand fearful thing through ignorance – for example if through madness one were to withstand the onset of thunderbolts - and again, even if one understands how great the danger is, it is not brave to withstand it through high-spiritedness as when the Celts take up arms to attack the waves; and in general all the courage of the barbarian is confounded with high-spiritedness.” Though blaming it on high-spiritedness, Aristotle does acknowledge the bravery and courage of the Celtic Warrior. It was these Celts that sacked Rome and Delphi and marched triumphantly over much of Europe and the British Isles. However, there was another side to this great warrior tribe. They had a great love for philosophy, art, poetry and music. And their qualities of bravery, chivalry and courage were to live on for many centuries in the tales of Arthur and the chivalrous code of the mediaeval knights. They buried their dead and held great religious festivals in the name of Lugh, which have been elaborately recounted in the annals of history. Appearance Classical and native sources give us some first class description of the appearance of the Celts. As a race, both sexes were tall and the men, at least, were powerfully built. In fact, the same could be said for many of the women, if the descriptions of Boudicca (Boadicea) are true. According to the Roman Dio Cassius she was said to be 'huge of frame and terrifying in aspect with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees'. As a race they were predominantly blue eyed and had blond or reddish hair. According to Diodorus Siculus, both sexes were quite vain! Highly conscious of their natural good looks and eager to make the most of their appearance, they readily resorted to the use of cosmetics. The hair could be thickened by constantly washing it in lime, which also served to lighten the natural hair colour. Great emphasize was laid on the length and the quality of the hair which is often mentioned in the great epics as 'fair, yellow-golden streaming manes'. Their oval faces had naturally pale white skin, which tended to be freckled. This astonished the Romans who were so used to their darker shade. One area of their appearance they were particularly fastidious about was their waistline. According to Strabo (c.63 BCE - CE c.23), the Greek geographer and Historian: "The following is a peculiar trait, they try not to become stout and fat-bellied, and any young man that exceeds the standard length of the girdle is fined." That is definitely something for us to think about today! The main distinguishing feature of the Celts was that the head was long in proportion to its breadth. The inhabitants of the British Isles are predominately like this; the round headed, Alpine type is quite rare. It is also known that the Celtic tribes belonged to the 'O' blood group. This is interesting as they belong to the Indo-Aryan group of people that first surface in Bohemia, which was for a time part of Czechoslovakia. This separates them from the nearby aboriginals of the Indian subcontinent, who are predominantly, blood group 'B'. Language The roots of spoken Celtic are embedded in a common Indo-European language of great antiquity, which is still a spoken language in some districts. The original common Celtic language is supposed to have been spoken around the first millennium BCE. Two definite groups emerged from the original Celtic language. This is where it gets complicated. 'Q' Celtic The first group, known to philologists as 'Q' Celtic, or Goidelic, retains the old Indo-European 'q'. This later became 'k' in sound, but it was written as 'c' (always hard). This branch of Celtic was introduced into Scotland in the late fifth century CE. It was also spoken and written in Ireland and the Isle of Man. Of all the surviving forms of the Celtic language, most scholars agree that it is the Irish dialect of 'Q' Celtic that is the oldest. 'P' Celtic The second group is known as 'P' Celtic, Brythonic or Brittonic. This turned the Indo-European 'q' sound into 'p'. This group was spoken in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. For example, the Celtic word for son in Goidelic was mac. In the Brythonic branch of Celtic this is altered to (m)ap (Wales), mab (Brittany) and map (Cornwall). The two dialects are indicative of a split in the Celts. It would seem that the Goidelic speaking Celts arrived in Britain before the Brythonic culture. This separation gave the Goidelic Celts time to develop their dialect, which in turn became Irish, Scottish and Manx. When the Brythonic Celts finally arrived, they caused the Goidelic speaking people to recede, making their dialect, 'P' Celtic, the dominant language of southern Britain. Culture As had been said before, the Celts were not just warrior but poets, artists and philosophers. A wealth of Celtic artifacts has been discovered all over Britain and Europe. The breadth of their artistic skill is truly breathtaking. Appearance was very important to them. Both sexes adorned themselves with pieces of intricately crafted Jewelry. Torque's made of Electrum, brooches of Gold and Silver and scabbards of Bronze have been found, along with other items such as wooden bowls inlaid with gold and small figurines made of coloured glass. Whilst The Goidelic Celts differed from the Brythonic in many ways, however both of them seem to have held women in high regard. Women were both mothers and warriors, often seen fighting on the battle lines alongside the men, matching them with equal skill, courage and ferocity. The settlements in which they lived were often large and prosperous. The thatched houses were spacious and made of arched wooden timbers with wickerwork walls daubed with clay and lime. Thick stone and timber walls surrounded most towns. Farming and agriculture was widespread and developed to quite a high degree, but what the Celts especially loved was the horse. Even a Goddess, Epona, is given the shape of a horse. They felt that the animal had an aura of mystery and magic about it. The warriors often rode into battle and the invading Romans often observed that the Celts fought better when mounted than they did on foot. Therefore, it is not surprising that these horsemen were to form the beginning of the Roman cavalry. Whilst very little was written down until the advent of Christianity, the Celts possessed a vast and complex oral tradition. This was because recording anything in written form was prohibited by the Celtic religious caste, the Druids. However, myths, legends and history were all remembered in the form of songs, rhymes and tales that were periodically retold by Bards. These were often the most important members of the local Celtic tribe. The deeds of the tribe as well as the history of the surrounding area were recorded by them, though, of course, they exercised a degree of artistic license! Rulers came and rules went, but all had to heed the words of the Druids. Not just priests and philosophers, the Druids were the sovereign power in all the Celtic lands, and they could rule with a rod of iron. Their authority was drawn from the Celtic Otherworld. And it is to this Otherworld and the wealth of Myth and Legend that we will turn to next. Reproduction is encouraged, so long as the text remains untouched. For more information contact: Matthew Ellis, 'Alderaan', 3 Goosen Green, Bedgrove, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP21 9BX Or, Matt@s... ~*~*~*~ Suggested book of the week: Patricia Monaghan The Goddess Path: Myths, Invocations & Rituals Paperback - 288 pages (May 1999) Llewellyn Publications; ISBN: 1567184677; Dimensions (in inches): 0.74 x 9.11 x 7.53 ~*~*~*~ In the News: I think the biggest news this week is the sniper in the Washington DC area who has left the Death Tarot card as a marker. I am not providing a link as the news is on several places all over the net. (Also this issue is also getting fairly long.) ~*~*~*~ Letter to the editor I liked seeing something positive about John Edwards. I think he does a very good job, is for-real and I can observe that he even TEACHES as he puts on this "show." We can learn by watching him how to read our own impressions and trust them, and in every show he states that our people are around us, and how they like being acknowledged. He frequently explains what he gets in his impressions and what they mean to him and how it works for him, while standing there doing the reading, while in action. He does in every show say something to that effect but I can't quote him. Someone had told me that they thought he was a fraud because she overheard him say on the set "ok, just like we did in rehearsal." This was over a year ago I heard that one thing but I watch him all the time and enjoy the show quite a bit. It surely couldn't be that these readings are set-ups, as the critic implied. (You WILL have to rehearse some things if you are going to be taped, wouldn't ya think?) I hope nobody thinks they CAN'T learn how to do something by watching someone else do it! Some can learn from him while he's doing his service. I've heard of one other who's opinion I consider highly say he was for real. I was glad I wasn't the only one. Yup that was a very good, fair, and solid call you made. The shows are great if you ever get a mind to watch more of them! Nan ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): Iowa: Blessed Be and Meet Me in Des Moines Merry meet! I finally have some long-awaited answers to questions that folk have been asking in regards to the event. Camping at R & R Ranch will be $10 per night per site, and the fee for day visitors is $1.50. This is out of my control, it is the policy of the parent company of R & R. Mike Bauer told me on the phone this afternoon that he argued that we were poor, and they said "well, they won't buying any memberships". This is slightly cheaper than a public campground, and there will be flush toilets and showers available at two locations on the grounds, plus an indoor place to eat in case of inclement weather. The cabins are $25 a night for ones with electricity, water and toilet, and $15 a night for electric-only (there are several of these). For those who have not yet signed up in advance for the meals, there is still time to do this. I can e-mail you the forms. Prices are: $3.50 for Saturday and Sunday breakfasts, and $7.00 for Friday supper, or $12 for all three in advance, $14 if you buy tickets upon registration. The potluck is free, and you can either put your contribution in a disposable container, or in your own serving dish, and remember to put your name on it. To help cover the entertainment and other expenses (remember, the coordinators are spending their own money for things like photocopying), we are asking for a donation of $5 per person, $15 for a family or group (arriving together) of five or more, with those 12 and under in free. The concert with Peter Conover and the performance by the Mirage Dance Troupe are free; however, they are not, which is the reason for the registration donation. Both groups are very excited to be coming. We will have a sample t-shirt in black on a white tee at the registration table in the Rec Hall, where also will be the silent auction table. The actual shirt will be white on burgundy, price to be determined. If we have enough orders, we will get them made and sent out. Barring aforementioned foul weather, the concert, potluck, and costume ball will be held outside. In case of rain, the barn will be the location for that activity, as it will be for the dance troupe (the wind interferes with certain aspects of their performance). Here are the directions as given on R&R Ranch's web page. From the North on I35 take Exit 33 (Osceola) go Right (East) 1 1/2 Miles on Hwy 34 to Hwy 69 turn Right (South) on Hwy 69 go 5 Miles. The Resort will be on your Left (East) side of the road. From the South on I35 take Exit 22 (Van Wert) go Right (East) 1 Mile to Hwy 69 turn Left (North) go 6 Miles to the Resort. The Resort will be on the Right side of the road. Be careful the entrance comes up fast. If you do not mind gravel from both directions take Exit 29 go East 1 Mile to Hwy 69 turn Right and go 1 Mile to the Resort entrance on the Left (East) side of the road. If you are on Hwy 69 we are 15 Miles North of Leon or 5 Miles South of Osceola. A sign will be posted that reads "BBMMDM" to alert you of the imminent proximity to the camp entrance. That's all the latest information. Gypsy will be posting an updated schedule and listing of workshops soon. Blessed be, Kevin Romaine (Sings With Coyotes) Event Chairman, Blessed Be and Meet Me in Des Moines 2002 October 18-20, 2002 Osceola, Iowa, USA BBMM Mirror Event SuperGroup Workshop info: (Editor's Note: Please check with times at the event, I know there have been a couple of last minute changes.) Less than 2 weeks to go for the Blessed Be. All of us have been very busy with last minute task to do. I finally got the times for the workshops and divination tables. If there is a conflict on times with the workshops/divination leaders please let me ASAP. Children workshops: 9:30-10:30 Recycling (Sanna) 1030-1130 Bead Bracelets (Susan) 11:30-12:30 LUNCH TIME 12:30-1:30 Pagan Banners (Willow Ring) Making Pendulums (Sheri) 1:30-2:30 Belly Dance Troupe (no workshops) 2:30-3:30 Making Rainsticks (Andi) *If anyone still want to do a workshop there still can* Adult Workshops: 9:30-10:15 Group Mantra Meditation (Susan) How to Find a teacher (Sheila Watkins) Perfumes & Lotions (Willow Ring) 10:30-11:30 Crystal Ball (Sings with Coyotes) 8 fold Path (Thunder & Gypsy) 11:30-12:30 LUNCH 12:30-1:30 Cooking for Pagans (sings with Coyotes) These are the days: Honoring scared occasions from around the world ( Staci Schwartz) Cold Weather Survival Skills (Doc DL) 1:30-2:30 Belly Dance Troup (no Workshops) 2:30-3:30 Political Paganism (Alaine) Altered States (kalishra) ** still room for more workshops, just let me know** Divination: Friday Night 3-4 pm Crystal Ball/tarot (Sings with Coyotes) 4-6 pm Rune/Tarot (Susan) Saturday 9:30 - 10:30 Tarot (Kalishra) Crystal Gem Readings (Alaine) 10:30-11:30 Pendulum readings (Sheri) Tarot (Kalishra) 11:30-12:30 LUNCH 12:30-1:30 Crystal Gem Readings (Alaine) 1:30-2:30 Belly dance Troupe (No Divination) 2:30-3:30 Pendulum & Tarot (Sheri) **WE CAN REALLY USE SOME MORE IN THIS AREA, PALM READER WOULD BE NICE OR ANOTHER RUNE READER** contact us at thunder1@i... or thunderdragonfyre@y... if you are interested. Hope everyone can make it this year. Also there will be a bake sale that the Sisters of the Goddess is doing. They can use some bake goods to sell, any questions on the bake sale contact them at SOGlist@yahoogroups.com This is what the bake sale is for: The bake sale will be a fund-raising event for Spiral Scouts, a scouting program for boys and girls of minority faiths. The money will be used to fund activities the kids will participate in to earn their awards in Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit categories. Is that enough info? If you need more specific questions answered, please let me know. Missouri: Ozark Avalon Announcements The weekend of Oct 18-20 will be a busy one -- there are lots of Activities for all levels of interest. Oct 18: BCC OUTREACH. This is the evening we do outreach for the Boonville Correctional Center. The Missouri Department of Corrections requires volunteers to take a once-a-month class in Jeff City at no charge. Volunteering at BCC is well worth this investment in time. The young men at BCC are interested and eager students. Please contact Rose, Jay, Becky, or Moose if you are interested being involved. Oct 18: SEAFOOD. Following BCC outreach, a caravan will leave OA at 7:30 pm for the Isle of Capri restaurant in Boonville for all-you-can-eat crab and shrimp. This meal will be less than $20 per person, including tip. Oct 19: ANIMAL SPIRIT DANCE. The full moon ceremony will be an Animal Spirit Dance, facilitated by Moose and Rose. A talk on totems and animal spirits will precede the circle. The dance will start about 8 pm -- actual full moon occurs at 8:37 pm CST. This dance will be in a cast circle -- please contact us if you would like to call a quarter. Oct 20: YEAR AND A DAY CLASS. This is the last Year and a Day class of 2001-02 for completion by Samhain. The next year's class will start on Nov 17. Students who have not completed all the requirements for 2001-02 are welcome to finish in the next class. Please contact Rose for details. Oct 18-20: WORK WEEKEND. This is the last work weekend before Embracing the Dark. If you need to gather work credit for this event, we can use your sweat. Please contact Rose or Moose for work details. Embracing the Dark details may be viewed at * *. Bright Blessings! Rose 'n' Moose EMBRACING THE DARK October 25-27, 2002 Site: Ozark Avalon Church of Nature and Nature Preserve near Columbia, Missouri • All Meals Included • Body and Energy Work Available • Silent Auction for the Land Fund • Traditional Crossing the Veil Ritual • Pagan Traditions of Death and Dying • The Grief Process from a Pagan Perspective • Honoring the Ancestors with a Feast of the Dead Embracing the Dark will focus on transition and reincarnation: a serious retreat for Pagans dealing with death and rebirth on a personal level. If you are dealing with issues of death and dying, through recent or impending loss, or personal fears, this weekend is for you. Due to adult subject matter, it is not recommended that children attend this retreat. Older teens will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Massage and energy workers will be available to help you process any issues that may arise. A Feast of the Dead will be a centerpiece of the retreat. Please bring the favorite dish of your beloved dead for the Saturday evening post-ritual meal. All other meals are included, catering to all from vegans to omnivores. Please bring a pumpkin to be carved into a Jack o' Lantern, which will be an integral part of main ritual. This ritual will be held out of doors, so please dress appropriately. Camp on the land, or throw a sleeping bag inside the retreat center for no extra charge. Send the completed registration form below with payment to Ozark Avalon, 26213 Cumberland Church Road, Columbia, MO 65233. Make checks and money orders payable to Ozark Avalon. For more information, call (660) 882-6418, send email to ws@u... or visit our website at www.ozarkavalon.org. (Editor’s note: the registration form may also be received if you write me and request a copy) Kentucky: Samhain ROCK - October 19 The October ROCK (Rotating Open Circle - Knoxville) will be held at the Westside UU on Saturday, October 19. The schedule is: festivities begin at 4:30pm, with ritual at twilight (apx. 6:30), potluck feast after ritual, and entertainment after everyone is fed. This Circle will be a ritual of cleansing and renewal appropriate to the season. (Please note that this ritual may be too intense for some young children.) Everyone is encouraged to bring a photo or memento of someone who has passed and who meant a great deal to them - not necessarily a blood or craft relative, but someone who made a significant mark on their life – to add to our Ancestor Altar. Ritual garb is welcome. Of course, contributions for the Potluck Feast are also welcome and highly encouraged! Lady Emrys will be helping to provide proper music for the occasion, along with other musicians from the community. Drummers are invited to bring their instruments for our after-feast enjoyment as well. This ROCK is being facilitated by Home Circle, along with many of their friends and relations. If anyone has any questions, or would like more information, please email homecircle@m... We hope to see you there! Directions: The Westside Unitarian Universalist Church is at 616 Fretz Road; the easiest directions are to take I-40 to exit 373 (Campbell Station Road), turn south from the exit, then right at the first traffic light (Grigsby Chapel Road). You'll see the church on the right just past the first subdivision - turn right on the first road past it (Fretz Road) to get to the parking lot. New York State Pagan Assembly to be held November 2002 Inspired by the National Pagan Summit, which was hosted by the Pagan Educational Network in March 2001, we are scheduled to assemble November 1 thru 3, 2002, in Waterloo, New York, to identify and address the challenges currently facing Pagans and Pagan Organizations in New York State. Our Mission is to provide an opportunity for Pagans statewide to come together to honor our commonalties and our differences, and to identify concerns and ways to address them. If you are a Pagan living in New York State. If you are ready to move beyond on-line discussions of the challenges facing Pagans in New York State. If you are ready to personally engage in the healing and empowerment of our community. If you are ready to work with other Pagans who share your concerns. Then you are invited to a gathering specifically designed to address those issues! During our time together, there will be no leaders to teach us. Instead, all attendees will participate in discussions and activities, focusing on issues such as leadership, funding, solidarity, conflict resolution, media, government, interfaith dialogue, etc. This Assembly is not for the purpose of discussing personal beliefs, theology or doctrinal issues, nor to define Pagan beliefs. Information is available both on-line and off. Online, go to www.nyspaganassembly.org or Offline, please write to: Gail Wood, 8 East Malloryville Road, Freeville, NY 13086. Or Write or Call: Myriah, Othala Grove Spiritual Center, Red Creek, NY 315-754-0774 (guardian@o... ) Writers Wanted: Serendipity, Inc. P.O. Box 2444 Fairfield, Iowa 52556 Email: serendipity52556@y... Phone: 641-919-0694 GENRE: Story/Essay LENGTH: 1,500 words or less DEADLINE: November 30, 2002 ________________________________________________ THEME: Seeking stories about synchronicity - those coincidental encounters that caused spectacular turning points in your romantic life, your work life or your family life. Please bring us into the initial situation, describe the "otherworldly" set of encounters that altered your world, and detail the uplifting consequences. The winning anecdotes will be published in an anthology about the benevolent forces of synchronicity and a full biographical byline will attribute the story to you. Thank you and we will be in touch soon. Defenders of Wildlife: Dolphin safe Tuna Dear Friend of Wildlife, If foreign governments have their way, tuna caught by brutally setting deadly nets on dolphins soon could be sold in the U.S. bearing the same "dolphin-safe" label that now means dolphins aren't harmed. "Dolphin-safe" would be meaningless! You can help Defenders fight to maintain our current "dolphin-safe" standards -- and protect countless dolphins -- by contributing to Defenders of Wildlife at: (Editor’s note: This was sent to me via an e-mail list. All that was removed was the name of the list and the sender to protect her privacy.) Do You Know An HIV Long-Term Nonprogressor? Strictly speaking, this is not pagan / witch business, but since my little brother is a witch, and since there are other HIV positive people in the pagan / witch community, here it is. This is the article I have been waiting for. My little brother is one of the 15 nonprogressors in this study. He & others like him are probably carrying the cure for HIV in their genes. If you know of anyone who may be a long-term nonprogressor, have them contact Drs Fauci, Connors or Migueles at the NIH NIAID. More of them are needed for this research. Spread the word. This may be forwarded as long as it remains intact. -----Original Message----- From: Greg Folkers Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:39 AM Subject: NIAID: STUDY SHOWS WHY SOME IMMUNE SYSTEMS CONTROL HIV NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIH NEWS RELEASE EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE Sunday, October 6, 2002 2:00 p.m. ET Contact: Jeff Minerd (301) 402-1663 nerd@n... STUDY SHOWS WHY SOME IMMUNE SYSTEMS CONTROL HIV Scientists are beginning to change their thinking about why the immune systems of most people infected with HIV cannot control the spread of the virus while the immune systems of a rare group of individuals, called long-term nonprogressors, can. For some time, scientists thought that people who could not control HIV had too few HIV-fighting white blood cells called CD8+ T cells. However, a new study suggests the difference is not the number but the quality of these cells: both nonprogressors and others have about the same number of HIV-fighting CD8+ T cells, but the cells of nonprogressors function better. "Understanding the mechanisms by which the immune systems of long-term nonprogressors control HIV is important to our development of effective vaccines," says Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). "Studies like this one, which reveal basic knowledge about how the immune system interacts with HIV, form the foundation of our effort to fight this disease." Details of the study, conducted by NIAID scientists, will appear on October 7 in the advanced online issue of "Nature Immunology." Instead of attacking HIV directly, CD8+ cells inhibit virus spread by killing off other immune system cells infected with HIV. "For some time we have known that even patients who cannot control HIV maintain high numbers of HIV- specific CD8+ T cells," says senior author Mark Connors, M.D., of NIAID's Laboratory of Immunoregulation. However, this study represents the first time scientists have observed a difference in the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response of nonprogressors, he says. This study also suggests a mechanism whereby the CD8+ T cells of nonprogressors control HIV and those of most individuals do not. Dr. Connors and colleagues closely examined the immune systems of 40 people infected with HIV, including a group of about 15 nonprogressors-people who have controlled HIV for up to 20 years without antiretroviral therapy. The researchers found no significant difference in the number of HIV-fighting CD8+ cells between nonprogressors and the others. Instead, the scientists found that the nonprogressors' cells were better able to divide and proliferate when called on to go into action; they also produced higher levels of a molecule called perforin, which helps them to kill off cells infected with HIV. "Some of the newer techniques used in this study enabled us to see the functional differences in the CD8+ T cells of the two groups," says lead author Stephen Migueles, M.D., also at NIAID's Laboratory of Immunoregulation. "The CD8+ T cells of people in the study who did not control HIV had retained only a limited ability to divide and produce perforin." This finding is especially important to HIV vaccine research efforts, says Dr. Connors, because many candidate HIV vaccines attempt to induce a strong CD8+ T cell response. New knowledge about CD8+ T-cell function opened up by this line of research might lead to preventive vaccines that avoid the development of poorly functioning CD8+ T cells. In addition, this research might lead to therapeutic vaccines for HIV-infected people that improve the function of their CD8+ T cells and control HIV infection. Next, Dr. Connors and colleagues plan to analyze an even broader array of differences between the CD8+ T cells of nonprogressors and others infected with HIV, seeking to understand what causes the poor function of most HIV- infected people's CD8+ T cells. NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious and immune-mediated illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, illness from potential agents of bioterrorism, tuberculosis, malaria, autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies. Press releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at REFERENCE: SA Migueles et al. HIV-specific CD8+T cell proliferation is coupled to perforin expression and maintained in nonprogressors. "Nature Immunology," Advanced online publication at # To subscribe (or unsubscribe) from this list, go to Healer’s Site: LANSING, Mich., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Healers – is a new website that serves a growing community of people looking for ways to deal with their physical, emotional and spiritual pain. "The site offers people a wealth of information on healing traditions and approaches from different perspectives, different cultures and different countries," says website editor Bonnie Bucqueroux, whose work with crime victims during the past 20 years persuaded her that people want and need information on healing options. "Western medicine focuses on battling disease, typically with expensive medicines and invasive treatments. But there are other traditions that promote well-being through exercise, nutrition, bodywork, meditation, ritual -- a holistic approach that honors the mind-body connection. The goal is to give people information --and access to healers in their area -- so that they can develop a lifestyle that works for them." This month's new additions include an article on an Ayurvedic approach to menopause, written by Colorado massage therapist Bhanu Kapil Rider, who incorporates this ancient Indian medical tradition in her work. The Vitamin and Herb section discusses Black Cohosh, a natural treatment for menopause found in the old Lydia Pinkham's elixir for women. "Many women who visit our site said that they were looking for tried- and-true approaches to menopause after the recent Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) debacle," said Bucqueroux. "The beauty of the web is that we can be immediately responsive when visitors want information." Last month's new feature was author Eric Shapiro's reflections on dealing with his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Bucqueroux, a National Magazine Award-winning journalist, has contributed pieces on everything from dealing with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to tips on enjoying a stress-free vacation. Sprinkled throughout the site are recipes, music reviews and healing tips, including one on how to make your own Black Walnut Tincture. A growing resource is The Healers Directory, where healers in the United States and Canada can register for free. Visitors can also sign up for a free monthly e-mail newsletter, which offers updates on new articles as well as information on events, for example, the Dagara grief ritual being held in Michigan as a way for people to cope with the aftermath of 9/11. "Our goal is to become the richest possible resource on healing on the web," said Bucqueroux. For further information, contact Bonnie Bucqueroux at bonnie@t... , or 517-381-9884. ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: Matthew Ellis: The 31 year old carbon based bipedal life form currently masquerading as Matthew Ellis was born at a very early age, and is still not dead. Exhibit A spent his formative years much as any other juvenile, by spreading as much chaos, havoc and mayhem around his neighborhood as possible. In fact he'd write a book about it, but no-one would believe a word of it! After stumbling aimlessly into his teens, wrestling with a Darth Vader fixation, Exhibit A as found out that he was actually quite clever, much to the dismay of those around him. Foolishly though, he didn't realize that the best thing an intelligent person can do is try to hide it as much as possible. So to those who say that schooldays are the best days of your life, Mr Ellis says "You obviously never went to my school! It was like the Class of Nuke 'Em High on Acid!" To the astonishment of everyone, including himself, Exhibit A managed to get an education, and quickly realized that writing was much more fun than real work. 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@j... Submission guidelines can be received by writing zeliziw@j... 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@j... Back issues may be found at: 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@j... Copyright (c) 2002 Sheila K. Watkins All Rights Reserved.