Gratitude Ritual of Thanks Greenerosity Ceri Norman Margarete Handy Turning Over a New Leaf We Have Hexes For That Let’s Be Grateful
“Gratitude Within & Without” November 2010 Volume 1• Issue 11 ™• November 2010 • Volume I
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PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS
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Eberhardt, Personal Visions jess*ca mae Tootie Marie Dawn Sherwood Faelin Wolf Mya Om Michelle Crowskin Bond V.L. Wendy Beth LJ Rose Ankolie Donovan Refraction Design & Creative Services Personal Visions Eberhardt
Our goal at Pagan Edge is to provide readers a high quality, timely magazine with content relevant to modern pagans’ lifestyle and passions. Our publication is a lifestyle magazine so while we may publish spells, rituals, and some magick how-to; we aim to focus on ways that pagans, wiccans, earth-based-spiritualists, and those of like mind can incorporate their values and beliefs into their everyday living. Pagan Edge Magazine & paganedge.com exist solely to offer information to our readers. The publisher, editor, and the entire personnel of Pagan Edge., Pagan Edge Magazine, Personal Visions, Refraction Design and paganedge.com cannot be held responsible for misuse of any information provided. The views expressed in the articles and ads are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect these of Pagan Edge Magazine. Product descriptions, recipes & any how-to information: While we, and our affiliates, attempt to provide accurate information in the magazine and on the site, we do not warrant that the content on this Site will be accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. It is your sole responsibility for the use of the content of this Magazine or web site. For additional details please see www.paganedge.com
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Connecting Alternative-Faith Writers and Readers
EDUCATE INSPIRE PROMOTE http://paganwriters.com/ Join our Fan Page on Facebook PaganWriters on Twitter
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contents 6 Elders Corner Gratitude 8 Urban Shaman Ritual of Thanks 10 Plant Vibes Greenerosity 12 PE Book Review Celtic Maidens Inside: Pagan Edge™ Welcomes Ankolie to our staff as illustrator for the Urban Shaman column
14 Art & Soul Margarete Handy 16 101 A Comic Strip 18 Handecraft Turning Over a New Leaf
20 Keeping the Edge We Have Hexes For That
Inside: Pagan Edge™ Welcomes Donovan to our staff as cartoonist and writer of the 101 Comic Strip
22 Our Lady’s Counsel Let’s Be Grateful
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 2010 “GRATITUDE WITHIN & WITHOUT” PAGAN EDGE™ IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY PERSONAL VISIONS ADMIN@PAGANEDGE.COM ™• November 2010 • Volume I
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G ratitude
Many of us have been taught at a very young age to observe our manners, which includes saying “please” and “thank you.” We are taught to say “thank you” even when and if we do not mean it. Saying “thank you” takes only a second and very little effort or energy. However being grateful is a word with meaning, feeling and involvement.
Being grateful takes takes energy and includes the heart and mind. Example… during this past summer, we decided to remove paneling, plaster and drywall in our living room. Two of our friends came to our house on the scheduled demolition day with hammers and in hand andonsmiles smiles their on their faces. At the end of faces. At the end of the day when the day when we were finished, we were finished, I might have Iforgotten might have forgotten to say to say “Thank You,” but “thank butother I know I made I know you,” I made comments other comments that expressed that expressed my appreciation my appreciation and help. gratitude and gratitude for their Now for their help. Now when I when I am sitting on the coucham in 6
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the living room, I seein new walls sitting on the couch the living with fresh room, I seepaint new and wallsI remember with fresh our friends for helping My paint and I remember our us. friends gratitude for helpingwill us. be My expressed gratitude through the reciprocation of will be expressed through the help when ourof friends reciprocation help need whenit.our friends need it. The current Dali Lama is one of my authors. does The favorite current Dali LamaThis is one of not mean I amauthors. a Buddhist Wiccan, my favorite This does Inot ammean a person who follows the I am a Buddhist Wiccan, path and IWiccan am a person who appreciates follows the the teachings of Buddhism. Wiccan path and appreciates After all, Gerald Gardner created the teachings of Buddhism. Wicca from many different paths; After all, Gerald Gardner created Buddhism beingdifferent one ofpaths; the Wicca from many many paths upon which Wicca Buddhism being one of the was based. Dali LamaWicca tells many paths The upon which us we do much of our growing was based. The Dali Lama tells from us we experiences do much of or oursituations growing that are unpleasant, difficult from experiences or situations and challenging. We should be that are unpleasant, difficult grateful for our enemies because and challenging. We should be they present with the most grateful for ourusenemies because opportunities to learn and grow. they present us with the most Do we say thank you? we opportunities to learn andDo grow. feel or express gratitude? Often Do we say thank you? Do we timesor expressing gratitude is feel express gratitude? Often the one thing we do not do! We times expressing gratitude is whine, cry,not anddo! often the onecomplain, thing we do We indulge in the one-person pity whine, complain, cry, and often
parties cake, party favors, indulge (hat, in the one-person pity drink and music included). I am parties (hat, cake, party favors, making a conscious effort toI am be drink and music included). grateful aforconscious these experiences or making effort to be situations. Notice I did not say grateful for these experiences or happy or thrilled. situations. Notice I did not say happy or thrilled. What are some of the things for which I am some grateful? Where do I What are of the things start, because is so Where much for which I amthere grateful? for which I am grateful. I am do I start? There is so much grateful for Imy my husband, for which amlife, grateful. I am son, grandchildren, relatives, grateful for my life, my husband, friends,grandchildren, coven members, home, son, relatives, opportunities, life experiences, friends, coven members, home, indoor plumbing, clean well water opportunities, life experiences, from the faucet when I move well the indoor plumbing, clean handle,from electricity, a warm shower… water the faucet when I move And when look out any window the handle, electricity, a warm in our home, reminded of shower… AndI am when look out many other things we take for any window in our home, I am granted. I ofammany grateful the reminded otherfor things sun providing warmth, the rain we take for granted. I am grateful precious to everything on our for the sun providing warmth, planet, the magnificent Chinese the rain precious to everything Elmour trees, the graceful Ash, the on planet, the magnificent beautiful Maple, the grove of Chinese Elm trees, the graceful Quaking andMaple, Minerva’s Ash, the Aspens beautiful the favorite: the Mulberry bush taller grove of Quaking Aspens and than a telephone Around Minerva’s favorite: pole. the Mulberry the end of June and the middle bush taller than a telephone
From the Elders Corner by Lucille M Rose
pole. thegrateful end offorJune of JulyAround I am VERY the and the middle July I am abundant amount of of mulberries VERY grateful forforthe and I am grateful theabundant branches amount andwhich I am that fall oftomulberries the ground grateful thewands, branches that I use to for make handles fall to the ground which I for usefull to for rattles or as kindling make handles for rattles, moon wands, ritual fires. or as kindling for full moon ritual fires.
I especially am grateful for the Deities have I especially amwho grateful chosen me towho provide for the Deities have them me withto endless chosen provide them with endless hours hours of amusement. of amusement. A couple years ago one of my A couple thought years ago meditating one of my friends friends thought meditating would be helpful for her. She would be ifhelpful for borrow her. Shea asked me she could asked me if she could borrow few of my books on meditation.a few my booksthem on meditation. Afterof reading she said After reading them she said she just could not meditate. she just could notdifficult meditate. Meditating was too for Meditating was too difficult for her because she could not quiet her because she could quiet mind. How did I not learn to her mind. How did I learn to meditate? I told her to clear her meditate? I toldsecond, her to clear her mind for ONE for just mind for ONE second, for just one second think of absolutely one second of absolutely nothing. Thethink next time she nothing. The next she meditated she neededtime to clear
her mind for seconds and meditated sheTWO needed to clear every timeforshe meditated she her mind TWO seconds and needed to increase the time. every time she meditated she Learning totoincrease give ortheexpress needed time. gratitude can be learned through Learning to give or express the same procedure. gratitude can be learned through the same procedure. How do I express my gratitude? IHow express my gratitude and do I express my gratitude? for everything am Iappreciation express my gratitude I and given or offered in my life by appreciation for everything I am accepting and being given or offered in grateful my life for by the challenges, opportunities accepting and being grateful for and gifts. At full moon rituals, the challenges, opportunities we smudge, create sacred space, and gifts. At full moon rituals, call smudge, the quarters and Deities, we create sacred space, ground/center and one fortunate call the quarters and Deities, member is volunteered to lead a ground/center and one fortunate meditation. We then raise member is volunteered toenergy lead a to be used for work, followed meditation. Weour then raise energy by telling theour group we to be used for work,what followed are grateful for since last full by telling the groupthe what we moon ritual. We offer incense, are grateful for since the last full chanting, drumming our moon ritual. We offer and incense, energy. For our coven, chanting, drumming and our energy. For our coven,
There is no need to write up a complicated ritual, nor smudge everything in sight, or set up an elaborate altar and light several dozen candles. On Thanksgiving Day, take ONE minute and say THANK YOU from your heart and BE grateful for what you have been given: the food, your family, your friends, whatever comes to mind and in any order you choose. Then on another day, say Thank THANKYou YOUfrom fromyour your heart heart and BE grateful. Since there are eight Sabbats, thirteen full moons, 365 days in the year and twentyfour hours in each day, you have many opportunities to express your gratitude. Soon you will discover how blessed you are in this life and
expressing expressing gratitude gratitude will as will be be as natural natural as breathing.
expressing gratitude gratitude isexpressing now automatically is now automatically included as part of included ritual. as part of ritual.
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Illustration by Ankolie 8
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Thanks
A Simple Ritual of
the Urban Shaman
by Michelle “Crowskin” Bond
Honoring the Spirit of Giving
This time in the season is dedicated to the bounty of harvest, giving, and sharing with loved ones. But sometimes with all the bustle of modern life there isn’t enough time for sitting at a dinner table together. It isn’t always possible for friends and family to celebrate together. If plans, schedules, or distance prevent you from being with those for whom you are most thankful; try taking a small amount of time to dedicate a ritual which will send out energies of good will, bounty, and thanks to everyone you hold dear. What you will need: • Sheets of paper and a pen • Candle in harvest or apple scent • Fire safe bowl, cauldron, or offering plate • Apple and ritual athame or kitchen knife • Goblet of apple juice, mead, or wine What you want to do first is set up your working space. Place the fire safe bowl on the center of the space and the harvest candle behind the
bowl. To your left of the bowl, place the goblet filled with whatever drink you choose. To your right, set down the athame and apple. Now that you have the basic setup, feel free to add any harvest decorations to the space. You can also add pictures of your family and loved ones. Simply make sure you give both the bowl and candle enough space so nothing will catch flame. If you feel comfortable working in a circle, this would be the time to open one. Now that you are set up, take the paper and a pen and start writing “A Letter of Thanks.” List all the things you are thankful for, and all the people in your life you wish to share prosperity and bounty with. Feel free to truly express yourself and write about how each person has affected you. What you want to do is transfer your feelings of thanks and desires for good things to come to you and your loved ones. Keep thoughts and writings positive and only mention good things you wish for the coming months and years ahead. Now is not the time to dwell on mistakes,
troubles, enemies, or bad times. Visualize the energy of thanks transforming into bounty for yourself and your family. Imagine giving Karma a boost and working its way to those who have helped you. Feel free to thank your ancestors for what they have passed to you, and the ways in which they have given you strength to move through your life to better opportunities and situations. It is a perfect time for honoring the elders in your family and community for the years of wisdom and stories they have shared. Thank them as well for all the sacrifices their generations have given which allow your generation the freedom and possibilities it has. When your letter is finished, fold it and place it beside the fire safe bowl. Pick up the athame and carefully cut a piece of apple. Set the piece of apple into the bowl and announce however you feel comfortable that this piece of apple is meant to represent an offering of bounty you are sharing with those who could not be with you. Thanks continued on page 23 ™• November 2010 • Volume I
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Plant Vibes
by Dawn Sherwood
GREENAROSITY When it comes to sharing of plants, it’s hard to say who gets more excited, the giver or receiver. The former gets more space for new plants - NEW plants, Whoo Hoo! - and the satisfaction of sharing something they put themselves into, but the latter is the lucky recipient of free plants - FREE plants, Whoo Hoo! - and a fellow gardener’s advice on how to grow them! Of course, recipients should be sure they can provide not only the proper site, but any special needs. Does the giver have to perform a special chanting ceremony during the full moon to get the plant to look gorgeous? Is it a female, and the only known male plant, on this side of the state, to pollinate it is in the yard of the giver’s neighbor…who is not sharing, so - no blooms for you? And if you change your mind later, is it the type of plant you have to call in the National Guard to eradicate? Mom and I once tried to remove some yuccas, gifted to her, when she no longer wanted them. We recruited two strong men to dig four feet down and four feet around each one, removing every bit of root we could find, and… she was still pulling out newly sprouted yuccettes two seasons later! Oddly, sometimes it is not the recipient that ends up flummoxed. I’ve given away plants that “just don’t work with my design.” - translation “I can’t get this to do anything and it’s making my landscape look bad” - only to have them look like perfect botanical garden specimens after a few weeks in the giftee’s yard! My friend Louise however, suffered the worst of greenarosity pain. A true plant lover and advanced
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master gardener of many years, she was kind enough to dig, divide, and pot up a landscape’s worth of perennials for a co-worker that, “really, really wanted to have a beautiful garden at her new home, but just couldn’t afford it.” My friend gave her co-worker proper care and planting instructions and looked forward to hearing enthusiastic stories of how the garden, that her gift created, beautified the recipient’s home and enriched her life. After a few months of not hearing anything, my generous friend inquired as to how the plants were doing in their new garden. Let’s just say it was a good thing she didn’t have a sharp trowel in her hand when the nonchalant response was “oh, we never got around to planting them and they all died…”!!! So, if you are the giver you may want to do a plant care reference check before handing over your beloved divisions to just anyone. It is also best to go for complete honesty on your end. The recipients are generally so excited to be getting FREE plants that even the scariest full disclosure will not deter them. Your intro to the plant as “something that spreads easily and thrives on neglect” will have them so busy envisioning some gaping hole in their landscape filled with lush green that they won’t even hear as you further elaborate that the plant may clamber over their back fence and devour their neighbor’s dog. When they complain about this in the future, you can truthfully say “I tried to warn you!” Besides, you know they don’t like that yappy dog anyway…
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Envisioning Spiritual and Climate Wise Living mypersonalvisions.net
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The Pagan Edge
Book Review
by Faelin Wolf
Book Review on Celtic Maidens and Interview with Author Ceri Norman I admit I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the back cover! I can’t resist a book that includes reincarnation. Most fiction books I’ve read involving reincarnation have been somewhat mushy, overly romantic, and definitely clichéd. But I had my hopes Celtic Maidens would be different and it certainly didn’t let me down. Plus, it had Celtic magic and lore and incorporated megaliths (which I’ve been increasingly interested in lately) — I’m sold! What a great read! From the first page, I was drawn into the story and the characters. Ceri intertwines the story of Owein, Morwyna, Badden, and Gwalchwen with the modern day characters of Ryan, Siân, the body Badden possesses and Gwalchwen’s reincarnation (I can’t give those away!). The mix of old and new is intriguing throughout the book and the story of Badden, Owein, and Morwyna unfolds slowly, giving the book some mystery and encouraging further reading. The descriptions of the village of Maenddu, the Preseli Mountains, the Ring of Maidens and the other megaliths are breathtaking. As I read, all I could think about was how much I wanted to visit Wales and see these beautiful places that inspired this story for myself. Ceri’s love for this area and for nature shines through her writing.
Celtic Maidens
by Ceri Norman, 2010 ISBN: 978-1-907040-55-9
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As for the story itself, Badden, who is now a spirit, is determined to have Morwyna who has been reincarnated as Siân and he will destroy whomever he has to in order to reach her. The town becomes imperiled in his quest and it seems that nothing
can stop him, especially when both Ryan and Siân are having difficulties believing in the magic that is occurring and connecting their dreams of their past lives to the reality that they are reincarnated lovers. Only Ffi, the owner of a local pub and a neo-Druid, seems to understand and recognize the magic and negativity that is invading the town and the danger Siân is in, but she can’t seem to get others to believe her in time or figure out how to effectively help. You will definitely feel the suspense and be guessing right up until the very end of the book! If you’re looking for a beautifully descriptive and magical read, I suggest you find yourself a copy of Celtic Maidens. I was delighted to be able to ask Ceri a few questions. My appreciation and enjoyment of Celtic Maidens has increased since our conversation. Faelin: As I read I could feel your love for the Preseli Mountains and the megaliths there. Tell me more about what connects you to this place. Ceri Norman: Family connections, studying the history of the area and what can only be described as a profound spiritual connection. The megalithic monuments and hills are out of this world, with such beautiful energies and mysterious histories. Some of the monuments puzzle the
experts, even today. Plus the area is particularly rich in folklore, it’s been called “gwlad hud a lledrith” – the land of magic and enchantment. The area feels like my spiritual home. Could be the time I’ve spent there, a past life, or could just be a love of and respect for the area. F: Is Maenddu a real village or a village based off another place? How about the Ring of Maidens?
The idea of the book came to me while meditating in that circle in the midst of the thickest, dampest mist I’ve ever encountered! CN: Maenddu (Blackstone) is fictional, but nestled in the mountains are two places upon which the name is based, Mynachlog-ddu and Maenclochog. They influenced my idea of the village, what it might look like and what would be there but neither actually embodies what became Maenddu. The Ring of Maidens is firmly based on a real stone circle called Gors Fawr (Big Bog). It is a phenomenal site surrounded
by the mountains, gorse bushes and very soggy ground. Two of the stones, from what was once the avenue leading to Gors Fawr are shown on the front cover. The idea of the book came to me while meditating in that circle in the midst of the thickest, dampest mist I’ve ever encountered! Many of the other places in the book do exist, Pentre Ifan, Bedd Yr Afanc and also the Hurlers. There are so many Otherworldly goings on in the book that I also needed to make it very real and keep it firmly connected to this world - almost as if Maenddu and the Ring are portals between worlds. F: You describe what seem to be Druidic practices in the book as well as describing Ffi as a neoDruid. There is such a magical feel to these passages. Do you practice yourself? Do you know if there were Druids in your ancestry? CN: I am a practicing Druid and have been ever since I can remember! I grew up being a Druid. Ffi’s faith and practices are based on my own. The Druidry of the past, of Gwalchwen and the two rivals is based on what little history we have, for example the reference to years of training from Caesar and the reference to types of union from the Brehon laws. Naturally there is an element of fantasy added to make the plot more interesting... Celtic Maidens continued on page 24 ™• November 2010 • Volume I
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Mudwerkes & Gypsywerkes
MARGARETE HANDY
Tree of Life
Raised in Dallas, Texas, USA by her grandparents, Margarete Handy grew up being told she was “going to be an artist”. Indeed, she came from a long line of artists from her Mexican ancestry and at one time her grandfather ran a theatre company in Mexico. She was raised on tales of folks in their family needing to find a way to use their creativity, for if they did not, “they went crazy”. Handy’s journey of creative endeavors began at the age of six, particpating in theatre on a regular basis until her mid-twenties. In the mid-1970’s she worked on the staff of an “Alternative Press” publication. She “sold ads, wrote the occult, New Age, stories and did the monthly horoscope along with the character blast on the sign”. She stepped back from some of her artistic expressions as she found becoming a mother and raising four children to consume much of her time. As her children grew and became more independent, she added into her life serving on the Board of the Artist’s Alliance of San Antionio.
Hand of Creativity
One day... she “found clay.” Or perhaps, it found her. The bond was instantaneous and Handy found a way to create her own style in a manner permissive of her busy life. “I never had time to go to a big studio and work on the wheel to make pots but then these creatures started crawling out.” The more she created and experimented, the more the general public began to take notice: ”People began buying them!”
Tree Couple
Eventually, Handy found the perfect environment for her clay creations to find a captive audience. She found home when she discovered Rennaissance Faires. She even helped to coordinate a two day Faire in San Antonio for a number of years. “For over 25 years I made money selling dragons, wizards, mirrors, fountains, etc. Then the botttom dropped out of the market... with WalMart and imports entered the ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ for what seemed like forever.” Although a challenging time for Handy, she found a way to “make lemons into lemonade” and aligned her
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Art & Soul “...each day lovely art appears; primative cave art, tribal art, magick, and symbols.” energy to focus on new projects. “Since I no longer had to make dozens of the same item, slowly but surely I played with other mediums... in a way it is all related.”
featured artist by jess*ca mae
Night & Day
Handy’s creations themselves reflect an interconnectedness as multiple symbols are laid next to eachother or intertwined. Passionate brush strokes and vibrant glazes give viewers the feeling that each element of the pieces has been lovingly placed into a nurturing composition. Under the gaze of the viewer, the pieces then grow to their full potential. Attracted to alternative spiritulity from a young age, Handy shares, ”From the point I was in the 6th grade my brother branded me a witch... I did not even question why. I have made extra money doing Tarot readings. Some people call it ‘natural wild magick,’ it is just the way I do things... what seems right for the given moment.” When questioned as to whether or not these practices influence her art, she responds “It is a symbiotic relationship. According to parts of my chart: ‘You have a grasp of higher and broader concepts; an intuitive feeling for symbols and connections... You live in a magical, ethereal world...’”
Dragon with Opal
Adopting her subject matter because “It just felt right... and it was fun,” her art is influenced by themes of fantasy and daily inspirations, “each day lovely art appears; primative cave art, tribal art, magick, and symbols.” She hopes her pieces to be seen by viewers “Just that it says something good to them.” Although Handy knows she will always find a way to express her creativity, she makes no big plans, “Always go with the flow; if I make hard plans, the gods giggle...” For more art by Margarete Handy, visit: http://www.ladymudwerkes.etsy.com http://www.gypsywerkes.etsy.com. http://www.ladymudwerkes.blogspot.com
Tree Pot
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by Donovan
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Turning Over a Fall is my favorite season. I remember as a little girl playing in the leaves and collecting all the pretty ones like wild flowers to bring into the house. But what to do with the pretty treasures collected from the yard. Why not make easy to clean place mats for the big feast? Supplies: • Leaves – silk flower leaves can be used as well • Clear Contact Paper • Paper Towel • Scissors • Iron • Ironing Board Collecting & Preparing Leaves: Look for flat clean leaves that have not yet withered. Wipe any remaining moisture and debris from the leaves with paper towel. To dry and flatten leaves, iron between paper towel with iron on a low setting. Iron will dull the color of the leaves slightly. The leaves can also be flattened and dried by placing them between two pieces of paper towel and tucking in the pages of a large heavy book for a few days. When the leaves are ready for use sort them by size. Creating the Design: Cut a piece of contact paper a little bigger than the desired 18
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New Leaf
Handecraft
a how-to by Wendy Beth
finished size. The contact paper has a grid printed on the back to help with cutting, or a straight edge and exact-o knife can be used. Peel the paper backing from the contact film. Place film on the table sticky side up and starting with the largest leaves begin to lay out the leaves as to create the design.
Finishing: Once the leaves are arranged, cut another piece of contact paper a little bigger than the first. Peel the paper backing half way back and line up the exposed edge with the edge of the leaf design. Seal the first edge by pressing firmly. Then peel the rest of the paper backing off while smoothing the air bubbles out. Place paper towel over the place mat and iron on low to finishing sealing in the design. Be careful not to iron too much or on too hot of a setting or the contact paper will melt. Trim the edges with scissors rounding the corners if desired, or finish using decorative edging scissors. This method can also be used with dried and pressed flowers, scrap booking supplies, and many other flat decorations to create custom place mats for many different types of occasions. ™• November 2010 • Volume I
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Keeping the Edge
by Mya Om
We Have Hexes For That Yesterday as I sat on the couch working on this article my roommate and a fellow witch asked me what I was doing. I said I was writing about gratitude and thankfulness. Then I asked, because I honestly was drawing a blank, whether Pagans had a holiday devoted exclusively to gratitude and thankfulness – I could not think of one. I know the Jews have Yom Kipper, the Muslims have Ramadan, the Christians have Easter – all of these holidays are premised on the same theme: gratitude, 20
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thankfulness, and forgiveness. I could not think of a Pagan or Wiccan counterpart. She got a puzzled look on her face and then she said, “Not exclusively, no.” As we talked further I realized the reason for that is because we do not externalize the cause of the fixes and problems in our lives. This is a vital difference between the various Pagan traditions and the big three religions. In Islam, Judaism and Christianity the solution to the daily problems
of life comes from an external source, from Allah, Yahweh, or God. The problems of daily life as well come from an external source – the devil. This tug of war is not present in Pagan religions. I can clearly visualize an image of the Goddess laughing her ass off if I were to ask or demand that she fix all of the problems in my life. She would be equally amused were I to blame her for all my troubles. Witchcraft is about mastery over self, it Hexes continued on page 26
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Our Lady’s Counsel Advice from Lady Fae’s Wisdom Circle
Our theme this month is gratitude. November is a month where we, in the U.S., spend a lot of time giving thanks—primarily because of Thanksgiving. As pagans, we often are giving thanks during the harvest—for all of the good things we have cultivated from the year—whether it’s through actual foodstuffs or through physical health, spiritual gifts, relationships, or other areas that we’ve nurtured and grown. At other times, when someone has done something nice for us or when we appreciate the outcome of a situation, we give thanks. Did you know that expressing gratitude consistently can actually make you feel happier? A study by psychologists Emmons and McCullough in 2003 found that those in the study who focused on gratitude and the blessings in their lives had a greater sense of well-being than others in the study. They suggest “a conscious focus on blessings” can make you feel better emotionally and might even benefit your relationships too! Richard Wiseman suggests that
during at least three days per week, we should write down three things a day that we are grateful or thankful for. If we do this consistently, we can easily increase our feelings of happiness with our lives. Why does this work? Well, think about it. What do many of us frequently focus on? The problems we’re having, the things that aren’t going well or that made us angry, and the difficulties that may lie ahead in completing a goal. That focus can be helpful. But, the good things often get overlooked. I can attest to this myself and can also attest to the benefit of being grateful daily! I have times when I feel quite depressed. During those times, I try to write the things I am grateful for that day in a small notebook and I challenge myself to think of at least one. You know what I start to think after I do this for awhile? I start to notice those small things that make me feel happy or that I appreciate and I remember them so I can write them down. My favorite thing to do with these statements of gratitude is to write them down on
small colored pieces of paper. Then I fold them up and drop them into a pretty glass bottle. When I’m not feeling so great, I can look at that bottle full of brightly colored gratitude and remember that things aren’t as bad as I think. When I feel really badly or can’t think of anything to be grateful for, I can shake them out and reread what I was thankful for in the past. It’s a nice reminder! Let’s all try this out! Let’s be grateful throughout November, into December and the new year and beyond! What are you grateful for today? References: Emmons, R.A. & McCullough, M.E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84 (2), 377389. Wiseman, R. (2009). 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot. New York, NY: Knopf Publishing.
Need some counsel from Lady Fae’s Wisdom Circle? email your questions to advice@paganedge.com 22
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Thanks continued from page 9
Cut a second piece of apple for yourself and eat it with the intention of allowing bounty to benefit you in the coming months as well. Leave the rest of the apple on the right side of the working space. Take the goblet and pour some of your ritual drink into the bowl and state your intentions of giving back to those you consider family and friends. You want to visualize them celebrating with you and receiving bounty. Make sure to only use a small amount if you are using wine or alcohol. Fire will be introduced later to the bowl.
Again, like the food offering, take a drink from the goblet and feel yourself accepting prosperity and celebration into your life. Open yourself up for receiving bounty and using your own bounty to help others around you. Set it down again on the left side. Now you may reach over the fire safe bowl and light the harvest candle. Think of all the warmth it gives representing the warmth of your family. Fire is a sacred element and helps transfer intentions and messages to the universe. Carefully set the
folded letter on fire and allow the flame and smoke to send out your intentions and thanks to the universe for your blessings. Let the letter burn down safely in the fire safe bowl and let the candle stay lit for as long as you like. You may close your ritual space as soon as the letter is safely burned. Bury the offering and ashes in the ground so that it can still continue its cycle of giving and feeding the earth. Leave the leftover piece of apple and drink outside for the wildlife, and finish drinking from the goblet while thinking about loved ones.
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Celtic Maidens continued from page 13
My family tree is er... very ‘creative.’ Someone in the past had a lot of fun attempting to make lots of important and mythical connections. There are family stories that we’re descended from the likes of Llywelyn the Great and Vladimir the Great (whose mother was Malusha, the famous Prophetess). As a trained historian I don’t set much store by these fantastic, unauthenticated tales. F: If those in Maenddu had known more about the old ways and legends, it seems they might have fared better in your story. What benefits would we gain by knowing the old ways of magic and the old stories and histories? CN: The old stories contain vast treasure houses of wisdom about the natural world and the human condition. It’s fascinating to see how people understood the world around them and passed on the legends and “histories” of love, betrayal, battles and legendary heroes or deities before the popular use of writing. They are captivating and enchanting, quite literally. The old stories can inspire us, motivate us or sadden us just as they would have done for audiences throughout the ages. How we live has changed vastly, but has who we really are deep down? We still have the same emotions, the same hopes and fears, just perhaps in a slightly different format...
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It’s empowering and educational to follow the old ways (or rather an approximation of the old ways with some creativity and updating), to follow the cycles of the sun and moon as much for personal emotions and spiritual practices as for growing goodies on the allotment. They can help us to understand our pasts, our presents and our very selves. It’s about finding connection in an increasingly unconnected world. To know and practice the old ways is to acknowledge the
I am a practicing Druid and have been ever since I can remember! I grew up being a Druid. energies and forces around us, our culture, our heritage and the land on which our ancestors lived (whether spiritual or actual ancestors). The old ways have been practiced for a long time, in various forms, with good reason. I find in practicing them and learning about them, they are as relevant today as ever they were. This is a theme which is explored further in my second novel... F: Is the story of Morwyna, Badden, Owein, and Gwalchwen based on a myth or a legend? If not, how did you come up with the story?
CN: Welsh folklore and legends have been woven into the tale, for example the name of the Pwca is based upon one of the traditional names of the Queen of the Faeries and the Pwca is a Faerie creature found in Irish, Welsh and English tales. The tale of Morwyna and Owein is made up, but again there are elements there from the traditional tales, strands which I threaded together to suit the plot. F: I feel as though I learned a lot about daily life in a small village in Wales. What did you do to prepare yourself to write in that way? Did you learn Welsh? CN: I’ve lived in Wales and spoken the language, though I don’t claim to be fluent. I come from a Welsh family and still have relatives in South Wales. I was raised on the tales of the Mabinogion, as well as myths and legends from the wider world. There are also turns of phrase in the book which I’ve heard used in this particular part of Wales to help bring it alive to readers. The novel was born from my Welsh heritage as opposed to me having the book first and then exploring the Welsh side of it. F: A huge thank you to Ceri for answering my questions and also for writing such a lovely book! I know that I am looking forward to her second novel.
Upcoming Themes & Deadlines December 2010 Issue, theme: Honoring the Dark Deadline: November 5th, 2010 January 2011 Issue theme: Resolutions Deadline: December 5th, 2010 February 2010 Issue theme: Earth Element Deadline: January 5th, 2011
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is about mastery of the world around us. Every act of magick reshapes the world in the image the witch intends; this is an essentially selfish and personal act. If something goes wrong: we deal with it. If we need something: we find the best way to obtain it. If someone crosses us, then well, we have hexes for that. This isn’t to say we are not grateful. As a group we are genuinely grateful on a daily basis. At full moon rituals, we specifically and emphatically name one thing about each person in the circle we are thankful for. Life’s challenges are viewed not as a personal attack from which we need divine protection but as a lesson and an opportunity for growth. This very different attitude towards life is what defines and connects us as a group. It is also the wellspring from which we draw our strength. There is an element of thankfulness and gratitude in every rite – great or small. Each time a circle is cast we thank and are grateful to the Gods/Goddesses invoked. Each time a spell is cast we are grateful that we were led to this path and that we were able to obtain mastery over the self and over the world around us. Because we know that within ourselves are the necessities to make it through each challenge and on to the next one. Doreen Valiente summed up this idea beautifully in The Charge of the Goddess when she wrote, “...for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.” Still, gratitude is a necessary part of acknowledging the blessings 26
™• November 2010 • Volume I
Hexes continued from page 20
in life and a lack of gratitude can lead to arrogance and an over developed sense of self worth. There are many new witches who have fallen victim to this entitlement trap. It is very easy to fall into the entitlement trap precisely because of the nature of the belief system – when one is told he/she has the ability and it does not come from an external source – this can shock the psyche of someone who was raised in a system venerating personal powerlessness and exalting an external savior/ punisher. One vital thing to remember as a new witch is that the universe does not owe you a thing and even with magick
you cannot force it to give you what you feel you are entitled to. In fact, the more you try to force your will on the universe, the more it shifts away from your desire. I highlight the term force to illustrate the difference between the act of a witch in casting a spell which provides a subtle redirection of energy to bring about a desired aim, to the act of force where one attempts to bludgeon the energies into giving in to a desired aim. The first requires a deep understanding of energy, how to harness and direct it, and the second involves a total disconnection from the basic precepts of the craft and possibly a blunt instrument.
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