Whispers Of A Stone Circle Volume IV, Issue 1 2002-01-03 In This Issue: Editor's Note Poem: Whispers On The Wind By Sheila K. Watkins Cool Link(s) Article: Seekers bill of rights (modified by me) Suggested Book of the week In the News: Big Foot riders remember Wounded Knee Rael Religion? 'Cultist' Cloning Advocates Test Definitions of Faith Announcements: 2nd annual April Fools' Edition Writer's Biographies Submission guidelines and other stuff Current Subscriber Count: 945 and holding ~*~*~ Hello All, First off I would like to wish you all a happy 2003. Next I would like to announce the second annual April Fool's edition. Yes I have gone insane thinking I can put out two issues in one week, a serious one and a spoof one but I figure Samuel will be regulated napwise by that time. Rules, etc are down in the announcements. The girls went back to school yesterday and I basked in as much peace as the youngest's new rock tumbler would let me. (Day 5 and counting, now I know why ,my uncle always kept his in the garage. I love them but they can drive me nuts when they bicker and they did a lot of that this last week. When they came home the youngest was carrying a dead owl they had found. they took it along the bike trail and buried it. Its at times like that I remember just how wonderful and special my daughters are. Mercury went retrograde today, so careful with communications. (My pet theory is he goes on vacation and he has a substitute.) So until next time, May your 2003 be much better then 2002. 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. ~*~*~*~ Whispers On The Wind Sheila K. Watkins I hear whispers on the wind Voices from who knows when Telling me secrets I need to know Things I never dreamed Clues to who I might be And who I've always been ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: Its that time of year again: Herbal links Growing herbs in your home garden: http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm Page of the same name as above: http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/NRES/extension/factsheets/vc-44/VC-44.html Growing Herbs at Home: http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06470.htm ~*~*~*~ Seekers bill of rights Been floating around on the net forever Author unknown to me modified by Sheila K Watkins Given as a hand out at BBMMDM '02 Feel free to use this modified in any THE RIGHT TO VERIFY CREDENTIALS: Seekers shall not be obstructed from contacting persons who can substantiate claims made by groups or teachers. In the case of Elders who were inspired to create a new tradition, the Seeker has the right to know the circumstances surrounding the inception of that tradition. (If a teacher browbeats you for asking questions or plays the "well you must not trust me to ask these questions" card, run.) THE RIGHT TO ANONYMITY: Seekers have the right to keep their involvement in the occult a secret to preserve their personal and professional lives. THE RIGHT TO FINANCIAL STABILITY: Seekers shall not be required or coerced into taking on any excessive financial burden on behalf of a teacher or group. (I think it is important to note at this time that there are different standards on students paying teachers. In some traditions, teachers are not allowed to accept money to teach. But even in these traditions students should expect to pay for their own supplies, compensate the teacher for photocopies, if any, and chip in for ritual items the group uses that are expendable. (candles, etc) Other teachers do require payment for their time, etc. If they do they should state the cost of teaching ahead of time. They should not change fees on a moment's notice and the fees should not be excessive.) THE RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR PROFESSIONAL GOODS AND SERVICES: Seekers have the right to be paid for goods produced and/or skilled labor from which they would normally receive an income. Seekers shall not be required or coerced into providing "freebies" or discounts on behalf of a teacher or group. (Students should expect to help clean up after rituals and simple chores like that, You are asking for a teacher not a maid. On the other hand, you should not be required to provide free maid service, lawn service or whatever for your teacher. An exception to this is if you have arranged work exchange for your teaching, if you have done this make sure it is an agreement that both parties find acceptable and its terms are spelled out beforehand. Being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is well beyond excessive and into abusive.) THE RIGHT TO SEXUAL FREEDOM: Seekers shall not be required or coerced into sexual relations with unwanted persons. Nor, shall Seekers be restricted from sexual relations with consenting adults. (Side note: Teachers should not get involved sexually with their students while they are students except in the case where the teacher is a spouse of said student or a long term partner of said student. If someone is in romantic partnership with the student or teacher to be previously a great deal of thought should be done. A teacher/student relationship is very different then a couple's relationship. Sometimes a teacher has to say "just do this" and have it done which can adversely effect a couple type relationship. Also if anyone tells you he or she can make you an instant high priest/priestess if you do the actual great rite with them, that you actually are one but just need to experience the divine joining or whatever, run. If someone insists on sexual favors for teaching, run fast.) THE RIGHT TO PHYSICAL WELL-BEING: Seekers shall not be required or coerced into submitting to any form of physical injury. (Admittedly some traditions do require initiates to be bound and scourged but initiates are warned ahead of time and given the chance to withdraw from studies at this time. Beatings within or out of the circle other then the fore mentioned ritual are not acceptable. I would also like to add that verbal and emotional abuse are not acceptable behaviors either which in my experience are more common then actual physical abuse.) THE RIGHT TO ABIDE BY THE LAW: Seekers shall not be required or coerced into committing any illegal act. ('Nuff Said.) THE RIGHT TO CONSISTANCY: Seekers have the right to expect consistency in policies by a teacher or group. Seekers should be formally informed in a timely manner of any policy changes. THE RIGHT TO SEPARATION WITH IMPUNITY: Seekers have the right to discontinue association with any teacher or group without fear of harassment or reprisal. THE RIGHT TO BE AT PEACE WITH ONE'S CONSCIENCE: Seekers shall not be required or coerced into committing any action contrary to their code of ethics and morality. The following is: My opinions on what you should look for and what you should avoid on top of those things listed in the Seeker's bill of rights. (These are also things teachers should avoid when it comes to students.) Lack of accepting of responsibility for his or her actions. If it is always someone else's fault that things happen you are asking for trouble. At the best, you're asking for frustration because your teacher is acting worse then a 10-year-old. At the worse, if things go sour, it will be "all your fault." The other extreme, taking responsible for everything that goes wrong, is bad also but a bit easier fixed with a boost of self-confidence. If the teacher to be is apologizing for everything, it is a good sign he or she still has some work to do on his or her own spirituality. Someone who tries to control your life including your life outside of the area where he or she is teaching you. A teacher should not try to tell you who to talk to, who not to talk to, who to get married to, where you should work, what type of work you should do or anything along those lines. Blackmail along the lines of "if you even talk to so and so, I won't be your teacher" are big time warning signs. The teacher may have good reasons for not associating with said person but that doesn't mean you will have the same reasons. Teachers that discourage you from learning from anyone else or from any source not on his or her approved list. Now I can see saying he or she prefers you to read such and such information first as to provide you with a basis or a foundation for the path you are being taught but any teacher who claims that he or she knows everything is full of BS. A good teacher-student relationship should have the teacher learning things as well as the student. A good teacher will encourage you to find teachers who can teach you things for which you show talent but which are a area of weakness for him or her. A good teacher will also encourage you to do your own research and question what you are being taught. Anyone who always has some crisis going on in his or her life. Now I don't mean short- term life has happened and everything is a mess. Bad things happen even to good witches but if it is a chronic situation then something is wrong. Signs that the person is in chronic crisis mode are: Someone is constantly attacking them magically, they and their loved ones are constantly ill, dying, etc. (Yes long term illness happens and yes sometimes loved ones die in groups but if it goes on week after week, month after month, year after year then there is a problem.) If nothing good ever happens in his or her life then this is also a bad sign. They should be able to feed themselves and provide a roof over their head. Again short term financial troubles happen even to the best of us and I am not saying you shouldn't learn from someone who is relatively poor but if financial troubles are a chronic situation then it should be considered a warning sign. If the teacher is not honest then he or she should be avoided, if he or she can't keep a secret then you might want to reconsider him or her as a teacher also. (If the person does not know the difference between keeping a secret and lying then warning bells should be issued.) The teacher should be dependable, if they say they are going to meet with you on such and such a day then he or she should be there unless there is a valid reason. (The same goes for students.) I guess it boils down to honest, dependable and trustworthy. If the teacher isn't those things then you should avoid him or her. Other things you should think about when you consider a teacher. Do your personalities mesh? You should like and get along with this person. It is a bad idea to ask someone to teach you whom you have just met. You might end up annoying the hell out of each other which is not a good teacher-student relationship. In your honest opinion are you at a close level when it comes to intellect? You want to fit together at that level too. Someone who is way too bright for you and makes it so you are sitting there with a stupid look on your face as you try to figure out what the hell is going on will not help you. But if you have a teacher who is not up to your level you might end up bored out of your skull. Above all you need to remember teachers are human and they have their own faults. Not one is perfect and you are doing both of you a grave disservice if you expect him or her to be. Also use this if need be: The Advanced Bonewits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html ~*~*~*~ Suggested book/item of the week: This is on my wish list, no review of it: (Gee, Sheila wants another herb book, go figure) Herbs for Sale: Growing and Marketing Herbs, Herbal Products, and Herbal Know-How http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/096216352X/whispeofaston-20 ~*~*~*~ Skyward Happenings: SW/1427728 The Quadrantid meteor shower will be appearing in 2003 from January 1 to January 5 and will peak at January 4. For additional information and links go to: http://www.sky-watch.com/meteor.html#quadrantid SW/1431519 Just a quick reminder that Comet Kudo-Fujikawa has brightened (to magnitude 6.5) and can be easily seen through binoculars while looking east just before dawn. For more information see: http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article_816_1.asp ~*~*~*~ In the News: Big Foot riders remember Wounded Knee Posted: January 03, 2003 - 7:00am EST by: Staff reports WOUNDED KNEE, S.D. - In 1968, Birgil Kills Straight had a recurring dream. He and other community members were envisioning modern people riding horses down the Big Foot trail in South Dakota. In 1986, Kills Straight decided to make journey along the trail on horseback to honor the Lakota people who died in the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. Once word of his ride got around, others asked to join him. Nineteen riders and two support vehicles made that inaugural trek. Now, over 15 years later, groups of up to 250 riders retrace the ride of Big Foot and his band. The ride takes about two weeks, ending around December 29, the anniversary of the massacre. Rest of Story: http://www.indiancountry.com/?1041534621 Rael Religion? 'Cultist' Cloning Advocates Test Definitions of Faith By Geraldine Sealey Jan. 3 - If Claude Vorilhon is right, Dec. 13, 1973, was a big day for the planet Earth. That's when 4-foot, dark-haired, olive-skinned extraterrestrials appeared to Vorilhon at a volcano in France and told him they created human life in their image using DNA, he says. The scientifically advanced visitors, known as Elohim, supposedly stayed in contact with humans through the years via prophets such as Buddha, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed, says Vorilhon, now 56 and a former car-racing journalist. Rest of story: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/raelians030103.html ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): Feel free to forward announcement as you wish but please keep the total announcement together. (In other words: feel free to clip this portion out and send it on to others if you wish.) Announcing for April 1, 2003: The humor edition of Whispers of a Stone Circle : http://jbinc.com/whispers/ What is eligible: Deliberately cheesy poetry, Spoof articles on any pagan subject, Wildly inaccurate History, whatever your little heart finds funny. Goddess in Training Editoria will edit the issue. Deadline: March 15, 2002. Judges: whomever I can con into helping me, (Limit 3, these positions filled up fast last year) Prizes: To be announced as soon as I figure them out. Rules: 1) Submission must be an original work with the copyright still in the name of the writer. Copyright as always remains the author's but agrees to be published in the special edition if deemed the winner. The Winners as well as second, third and all runners up will be placed on the website for the world to read. 2) I would prefer is submissions came in as the body of e-mail but if submitted as an attachment must be a .doc file and something I can read on MS word 97. 3) Author must submit under his or her real or craft name but also must provide a pen (goofy) name for the article to be published under as well as a fake bio for the pen name. The more outrageous the bio the better. The author's real name will be posted with the fake bio in parentheses unless the author begs to be protected from anyone ever knowing he or she wrote the submission. 4) Sections for the contest: poetry and prose, Articles, Other. Please place submission for April Fools' issue: Poetry & prose, submission for April Fools' issue: Article, or submission for April Fools' issue: Other as the subject line of the submission. 5) Submissions will be judged for creativity, originality, and humor. Bios will be considered as part of the submission. 6) Submissions should be made to: zeliziw@jbinc.com on or before March 15, 2003 ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: 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 found here: http://www.jbinc.com/whispers/submissions.txt Forwarding information: If you chose to forward this newsletter, Please do so in its entirety, including copyright and contact information. People may subscribe to Whispers Of A Stone Circle by mailing: Whispers-subscribe@jbinc.com or unsubscribe by mailing: Whispers-unsubscribe@jbinc.com Any other commentary may be sent to: Whispers-owner@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) 2003 Sheila K. Watkins All Rights Reserved. .. .