Ravens’ Call
THE TASMANIAN PAGAN ALLIANCE, INC. NEWSLETTER WINTER/SPRING 2012
NUMBER 58
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Ravens’ Call - Winter/Spring 2012
Contents the Team State Coordinator Jess Steers taspainc@gmail.com 3
Editorial
Regional Coordinator
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Eye of Newt
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The Herb Obsession
Mel Dolliver melsteers76@yahoo.com
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Samhain 2012
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Green Practical Magic
Secretary
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2013 Calendar Project
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Feature Article— Isobelle Carmody
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Abundance Baskets
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Luna Journey
Treasurer
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Internet Interest Familiar Friends
Terri Baran thegeekwitch@gmail.com
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Profiling Tassie Pagans
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Never to be Lent, Swapped or Sold State Coordinator’s Report Secretary’s Report Treasurer’s Report
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Moots
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AWC 2012 - Interview with Mark
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Silver Broomstick Awards 2012
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Yule Ball 2012
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Needful Things
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What’s On
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Interview with a Pagan Friendly Business
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Pagan Parenting
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Membership Invitation
Mandhi Allen
Moot Convenors
Ravens’ Call
Hobart - Allannah Turner Launceston - Mel Ell North-West - Jo Corvinus
Editor - Mel Dolliver Proof-reader - Heather Jensen Graphic Designer - Terri Baran Printer - Mandhi Allen
Postal Address PO Box 1127 Launceston TAS 7250 Disclaimer: The views contained within the Ravens’ Call newsletter are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or members of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc. Likewise, the advertisements are placed in good faith and do not signify endorsement by the editor or members of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc.
Back Page - Membership Renewal Form
© Copyright 2012 Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Pagan Alliance Ethic
Love & Kinship with nature. Reverence for the life force & its ever-renewing cycles of life & death. Each individual is responsible for discovering & developing his/her own true nature in harmony with the greater world, & takes full responsibility for his/her actions. Acceptance of the many-faceted nature of Divinity: Acceptance that divinity exists in many forms, & can be worshipped/respected as male, female, androgynous, or in a form beyond human definition.
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Firstly – unsure if you can see this from my editorial photo, but I’m sporting a fantastically sparkly top Mel Dolliver - Editor hat!! Oh…we had an absolute blast at the Yule lovingly worship and congratulate award winners Ball, organised by Avril and her awesome team but also to make the most of a delicious free and held in Kingston – games, prizes, disco, prizes, Pagan Alliance barby! burlesque performance, prizes…read on for a further re-cap with Avril’s Yule Ball report. CHOCOLATE – yep that’s right, all submissions of articles receive prizes of chocolate – either Back pedal: Thank-you so much to Ed and Freddos or Caramellos – so send in your book, Jeanette for hosting a sensational Samhain party, there is nothing better on this earthy plane than a tarot card, CD, podcast reviews, event reports, candle lit trail into circle, stomping/chanting up a photos and poems and in return win love and chocolate…..it’s all a person needs to be happy storm, weeping over departed loved ones, flicking right? leeches off your legs, dancing with fireworks, Due date for articles/images/reports towards the sending the mead around our circle at least three times, listening to the wind howl through the Spring/Summer issue - 13th October. eucalypts in the blaze of a roaring bon-fire *bliss* Brightest Blessings for the Spring, let’s do it again soon xxxx And the pagan river of events just doesn’t stop flowing…our very first attempt at an interactive, game playing, prize winning all singing all dancing Imbolc pagan movie night (held on the second weekend of August), with the broad and hopefully less challenging (organisationally) general theme of……’magic’ promises to be a hoot!
melsteers76@yahoo.com.au About the Artist Front cover: Miss Crackpot E. M. Lawrence is a self-taught, published illustrator. She resides in a story-book style haunted house with her partner, and far too many pets.
Read about the annual Australian Wiccan Conference celebrating the Spring Equinox - the venue is near Sydney, and in a micro interview with Mark Hepworth – AWC 2012 Event Coordinator, seems like they’re brewing up an exciting array of magical activities!
"The undertones in my work invoke a darker whimsy, my illustrations are created with traditional tools, the feel of paper and pigment inks, paint and water under my hands makes me feel at home. The folklore of a time gone by features heavily as a theme throughout my art; strange young women dressed in elegantly tattered Victorian dresses, whether traipsing through the deep dark woods or inquisitively wandering through tumbled down old buildings filled with tiny beast’s and strange little fellows are embarking on their individual journeys within a secret world."
The Tassie Silver Broomstick awards BBQ and Summer Solstice celebration draws near with every light increasing day, to be held this year in the state’s north at Deloraine. I’m hoping everyone will make their best effort to attend – not only to 3
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VEGAN DESSERTS As those among us become more conscious of our food intake or have certain dietary requirements, it’s fantastic to have successful recipes that please meat-eaters and vegans alike! I thought I’d start with some easy desserts for this issue and later work my way towards a more challenging main meal...
VEGAN APPLE BREAD PUDDING Warming and comforting, this apple bread pudding is perfect for the Autumn and Winter months and will fill your home with scents of the season. While these puddings are easy enough for a weeknight dessert, they also have a beautiful home-cooked essence that’s perfect for holidays like Yule and Imbolc, and also special family dinners.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly oil two 2-cup heatproof dishes or, alternately, 6 6-ounce ramekins. Set aside In a medium-sized bowl, combine the bread cubes, apple pieces, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until well mixed. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the almond milk and agave nectar and allow the mixture to stand for 10 minutes. Portion the mixture into the prepared dishes and bake until golden brown, about 30-35 minutes If baking ramekin-sized puddings, bake for 15-20 minutes. Drizzle with syrup and serve warm with a dollop of vegan cinnamon cus tard , if des ir ed
Makes 2 x 2-cup puddings or 6 x 6-oz ramekin puddings. Prep Time: 10 Mins Cook Time: 30 Mins Ingredients: 4 cups of 1cm wholegrain bread cubes 1 cup finely chopped apple pieces (fresh or canned) ¼ cup chopped walnuts ¾ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt 2 cups plain almond milk ⅓ cup and 1 teaspoon agave nectar or maple syrup, plus more for drizzling. Method:
Variations: My apple pieces where quite chunky (not fine) this worked well I used more nutmeg than cinnamon (swapped the quantities) personal taste I had leftover apples – so I lined the dish with them and added the apple/bread mixture over the top Cooked whole mixture in the same dish and added 10 minutes extra cooking time
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Meat-Eaters Report “Surprising with in its softness—nuts are a tasty touch.” 7 out of 10 (Female, 26) “Fantastic! Lovely taste.” - 9 out of 10 (Male, 61) “Yuck! It’s too soggy!” - 1 out of 10 (Female, 11) “Nice texture and taste—reminds me of bread and butter pudding.” - 8 out of 10 (Female, 55)
Size 14-16 was medium?! Remember making an apron in Home Ec? Read below: OUR HISTORY OF ‘APRONS’ I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
~*~
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to prot e ct t he dre ss underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
VEGAN ARBORIO RICE PUDDING WITH PEARS Serves 6 Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Ingredients: 1 cup Arborio (sushi) rice (raw) 5 cups soymilk 2 tablespoons soymilk 2 cups pears (diced un-peeled) (fresh or canned) ¼ cup sucanat (vegan sugar) ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.. And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Method: Combine the rice with the 5 cups of soy milk, the pears, sucanat, cinnamon and salt Over medium heat, bring to a simmer, stirring constantly Cook uncovered, stirring, for about 15 minutes Lower the heat to medium-low, and continue to cook, stirring, until the rice is tender and the liquid is almost all absorbed, about 15 more minutes. Stir frequently to prevent scorching Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the remaining 2 tablespoons of soy milk Serve warm
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. During autumn, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes. Share this with those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons. Remember: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw… and they would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron! I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...
The Taste-Testers!
Thank-you Jess’s Auntie Yvonne, WA
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Ravens’ Call - Winter/Spring 2012 carried when hiking or at the beach. It not only quenches the thirst, but keeps the throat moist and a dry mouth at bay. *Liquorice was an ancient root grown by early American colonists. It is wild form (Galium circaezans), has been used as a food and medicine for centuries. Combined with hyssop water for asthma and upper respiratory complaints pioneers and travellers used it to reduce thirst on long journeys. As a general tonic, medicinal ales were brewed with anise, sassafras and liquorice. *Liquorice root is very nutritive, soothing tonic, beneficial for convalescing and elderly people. The sweet taste comes from fifty molecules of natural sugar abating low blood pressure. It is helpful for overcoming alcoholic and addictive behaviour; also liquorice builds muscle in children. Liquorice root is an intestinal tonic that combines well with marshmallow root. It is not recommended for hypertension. *Kan Tsao – (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) Chinese liquorice root. Kan Tsao is known as ‘the great harmoniser’. The Chinese believe it revitalises the centre, digestive organs and encourages a balance between the liver, spleen, pancreas and stomach, by detoxifying over twelve hundred toxins. They use Kan Tsao in combinations to eliminate side effects of other herbs. It is a sedative and gentle laxative. As a tonic, it regulates blood sugar, helping anorexia and addictive tendencies.
Liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Description – This hardy herbaceous perennial grows 2-5 feet (60cm – 1.5m) tall with long narrow dark green leaflets. Its tap root has several long branches, which are wrinkled and brown with yellow flesh. During late summer short spikes of pale yellow flowers bloom turning purple as the season lengthens, they are similar looking to pea flowers – forming long reddish-brown pods in the autumn. Cultivation: Plant in fertile, deep, well cultivated soil in a sunny position – not suitable for growing in pots or containers, unless they are very deep. Uses: Root flavours beers, confectionary, tobaccos and snuffs. Root pulp is incorporated in mushroom compost. Root contains glycyrrhizin, a substance many times sweeter than sugar. Infuse as a refreshing drink and as a remedy for coughs and chest complaints. Strong decoction makes a laxative for children and may reduce fever.
Liquorice, Ginger and Yarrow tea This tea is designed to create an inner warmth to help you survive cold, gloomy winter days. It is a good all-round tonic. Liquorice is particularly helpful for treating upper and lower respiratory conditions and is used extensively in Chinese and Western herbal medicine. Ginger is warming and soothing to the chest and stomach, yarrow like ginger acts as a diaphoretic (brings on sweat) and is a decongestant with strong antiallergenic properties.
Lore: Liquorice is one of the few herbs with little lore available, although liquorice has been recorded and used from the third century. To me liquorice has a heightened feminine vibration focused upon healing the physical body, liquorice has a strong distinctive sweet aroma – I would use this herb in association with love charms and healing the heart. Powers of restoration and transformation are vibrant aspects; the liquorice plant is barren during the winter, renewed in the spring, bright green leaves herald the warming season and new life.
Makes 1 cup and serves 1 I tablespoon chopped fresh yarrow leaves and/or flowers ½ teaspoon of ground dried liquorice root ½ teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger 1 cup boiling water
Medicinal: Liquorice is much-used in the treatment of congestion from colds, bronchitis and all sorts of pulmonary complaints. It may be used in the treatment of sore throats, hoarseness and laryngitis. The natural ingredients in liquorice make it ideal as a drink on hot summer days. A little of the finely ground root may be added to water and
Combine the yarrow, liquorice and ginger in a small ceramic or glass teapot and add boiling water – cover and steep for 3-5 minutes. Strain and drink. **Liquorice be avoided have high pressure **Yarrow be avoided pregnancy
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should if you blood should during
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Samhain 2012 7
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Homemade Soap So yes, soap is a very cheap purchase in the weekly shop, but from some research I have been doing there can be some pretty nasty and environmentally unfriendly stuff in the common soap. So hence, I have been experimenting and making my own soap, the below recipe is the easiest I have found and I also like to add oat meal and lavender which you just presoak in some of the allocated olive oil. I have compiled the below information and background from different soap making sites on the net, basically once you have all your “soap making” equipment your imagination is the limit to your soap. But please do not make soap in your everyday soup pot, as this will have ill effects with all involved.
and dropped it in the recipe. It became popular because it was a soap which hardened further and even when it aged, it never lost its whiteness. Eco friendly Castile soaps Making the rounds in environment-friendly quarters, the Castile soap is enjoyed a number of ways. As the soap is mainly created from plant oils, like jojoba and vegetable oil, apart from olive, it makes many users keener to use it as it is less harmful to the environment. It is important to safeguard from harmful chemicals. This extends to our environment as everything that is used at home ultimately affects the environment.
Making Soap is a Basic Chemical Reaction Soap is the result of a basic chemical reaction between fats or oils and lye. That’s it. The difference between Grandma’s harsh, greasy, “lye soap,” and your luxurious hand-made soap, is the choice of ingredients. Think of it this way: With just some flour and water, you can make primitive bread. Not very exciting or tasty, but still bread. But when your recipe is made with your favourite wholegrain flour, fresh eggs, sea salt, yeast, and honey, simple bread becomes a remarkable home-made delight. It’s the same with soap. By carefully choosing a combination of quality oils, adding your favorite fragrance or essential oils, and swirling in a lively colorant, your soap suddenly takes on that charming “character” that commercially manufactured soap can’t even begin to compete with.
Castile Soaps Uses As the Castile soap has been present in households since the 16th century, it nestles in your homes for a variety of purposes as well. The Castile soap is a favourite of people who have sensitive skin. It is gentle and the natural ingredients still address skin problems such as dryness, chaffing, blemishes and acne. The oils in the soap also contribute to moisturizing the skin which is critical in those who have eczemas and psoriasis. Dryness and constant trauma to the skin propagates and exacerbates psoriatic plaques. Therefore, the moisturizing effect of Castile soap could address this. Not only as a healthier alternative, but Castile soaps are also best for your baby’s skin. As the skin of infants and toddlers are sensitive, it is best not to expose them to harsh chemicals. But not only will the babies enjoy, but men as well! The Castile soap gives a good lather which is essential for getting a close shave. Plus the moisturizing effects will prevent unsightly stubbles and ingrown hairs. But Castile soaps are not relegated to the world of bathing and beauty alone. In the kitchen, Castile soaps could function as a laundry and dish soap. Ridding the smell of food on cooking utensils is possible. The soap could even combat stinky nappies and clean soiled clothes effectively. Apart from the countertop, the Castile soap could address your kitchen floor. Ergo, Castile soaps are really worth trying as they have been always in the
From Castles to Homes Castile is a word meaning castle, and is also a name garnered on soaps. Actually, Castile soaps are olive oil based soaps. These have been named because they originated in the region of Spain called Castile, where similarly styled soaps were created. A little history on Castile Soaps For millennia, Castile soaps have been made by artisans. The soaps were made from olive and laurel oils. Tied to the Crusades, these soaps travelled the world. As the Crusades expanded, the production of the soap expanded as well to the entirety of the Mediterranean area. Through time, the artisan soap makers in Europe found it difficult to access the laurel oil
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castles, now is the time to have it in your home! Castile Soap Recipe – 100% Olive Oil Soap Handmade olive oil soap (Castile) You should expect it to take about 6 weeks to cure. Castile Soap also takes longer to reach Trace. The recipe provided below is made with 32 ounces of oil/fat to make a 2 pound batch of soap.
are a lot of options for silicon moulds. A couple of rubber spatulas to scrape any last bits of soap out of the pot And last, but not least: Paper towels or dishcloths to wipe up the inevitable spills Assemble all of your equipment, materials and ingredients, your recipe, and organize your workspace. Because it takes time to cool, make your lye solution first, and set it aside in a safe place.
Castille Soap Recipe: 100% Olive Soap 6% super fat 32 oz Olive oil(generic olive oil works the best) 4.07 oz lye 12.16 oz Distilled water 1/2 to 1 oz soap safe fragrance oil
The Soap Making Oils Put your soap pot or glass pitcher onto the scale and zero out the weight. Following your recipe carefully, weigh the oils one by one into the pot or pitcher. Be sure to zero out the weight after you've measured each oil. Pour slowly. You can always add a tad more...but once the oil has been added, it's part of the mix, and can't be backed out. Tip: Weigh your solid soap making oils like Coconut, Palm, Cocoa Butter or Shortening into your soap pot. Weigh the liquid oils like Olive, Sunflower, Canola or Castor separately into the glass pitcher.
Standard Cold Pressed soap making procedures **As soap making is a chemical reaction, I have just copied and pasted the below instructions from the Web Site I use, just to be safe. To get started making cold process soap, you’ll need: An accurate scale (Ideally one that measures to 1/10th of an ounce) the scale is for measuring everything including the oils, lye, fragrance, additives and even your water. Accurate measurement is key to successful soap making. Safety goggles and rubber gloves to protect your eyes and hands from the lye solution and the caustic raw soap. Do not skimp or skip here - you absolutely must have good safety equipment to make soap. A 2-3 quart heat-resistant plastic or stainless steel pitcher with lid for mixing up your lye solution (I prefer clear plastic) - clearly labelled "danger lye" A large stainless steel or plastic spoon for stirring the lye solution If you're making small batches (2-3 lbs) of soap, you can start with a large Pyrex pitcher to mix everything in. If you want to make bigger batches, you'll need an 8-12 quart stainless steel pot (Your "Soap Pot") with lid for melting your oils and blending the soap Another 2-3 quart glass or plastic bowl or pitcher (Large Pyrex pitchers work great.) or a large bowl for measuring and holding your liquid oils before you add them to the soap pot An accurate, quick reading thermometer for monitoring the temperature of the lye solution and the melted oils Stainless steel measuring spoons to measure the fragrance or essential oils, colorants and/or additives A few small beakers, ramekins or measuring cups to hold the fragrance/essential oils, colorants, separated soap, and/or additives before you add them to the soap pot A few miscellaneous spoons or small whisks to blend colorants or fragrance oils with melted oil before you add them to the soap A large stainless steel or plastic ladle to ladle out a bit of the raw soap to blend colorants A Stick blender to blend the oils with the lye mixture and start the saponification process A soap mould – I use a cheap silicon loaf mould and the cut the soap into pieces the next day, there
Heating and Mixing the Soap-making Oils Place your soap making pot with the solid oils onto the stove over medium heat. Slowly melt the oils while stirring gently. Monitor the temperature. Turn off the heat when the oils get to about 110 degrees. Keep stirring until all of the solid oils are melted. Once the solid oils are melted, add the (room temperature) liquid oils to the soap pot. This will bring the overall temperature down. You want the oils to be at about 100 degrees when you add the lye-water. The Actual Soap Making Process Begins Here's where things really start "cooking!" Make sure all of your soap making additives, colour, and fragrance are ready to go, and readily at hand. Make sure you've got all of the spoons, measuring cups, spatulas and whisks you're going to need nearby. Grab your handy stick blender, and let's roll. Slowly add the lye-water mixture to the soap pot. The oils will immediately start to turn cloudy. Using the stick blender as a spoon (not turning it on,) blend the lye-water into the oils. This is the true beginning of the saponification process. Set the lye pitcher aside (in a safe place,) and we'll begin blending. Saponification in your Soap Pot Once the lye is added to the oils, the soap making chemical reaction begins, and you'll need to move steadily. While stirring the lye-water-oil mixture with the stick blender, turn on the blender in short bursts. To start with, blend for 3-5 seconds and then stir some more. Once you start using the s ti ck bl e nde r , yo u wi ll immediately see the soap mixture begin to come together. Keep blending in short bursts until the oils
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and lye-water are completely mixed together. Once they are completely mixed together, you are nearing trace. If you were to hand-stir the pot of soap, like soap makers used to do, it might take an hour or more to reach trace. With the advent of stick blenders to soap making, trace can be reached in under a minute.
The Soap Takes Shape By now the soap will have thickened quite a bit. Pour the raw soap into your mould using a back and forth motion to make sure that the soap evenly spreads out. Scrape the last, thick bits of soap out of the pot with a rubber spatula. If the top of the soap in the mould is uneven, smooth it out with the spatula. Pick the mould up and gently tap it on the counter top to dislodge any air bubbles that may have been trapped. Set the soap in a warm, safe place to set up and begin curing. The soap mixture will begin to get hot as the saponification process starts. Depending on the temperature of the room, it often helps to lay a towel around or over the mould to help keep it warm, and keep
Adding Fragrance or Essential Oils to Your Soap Once the soap mixture is completely blended, but before it begins to get too thick, slowly add your fragrance or essential oils to the mixture. Stop stick blending the mixture and just use the end of the stick blender like a spoon. For this recipe, I'm using an original essential oil blend of lavender, patchouli, and orange essential oils. This is one of the most fun steps - where your soap making becomes fragrant - and you start to get a real preview of what your homemade soap is going to smell like
the reaction going strong. The Soap making is Done (for today at least) Set your soap in a safe place and leave it alone until tomorrow. It will take about 24 hours for the soap to harden enough to take it out of the mould and slice it. Put all of your ingredients and equipment away. Keeping your gloves and safety goggles on, wash all of your utensils and soap pots with hot, soapy water. (Note: The oily raw soap residue that's left in the pan is still a bit caustic, and can cause irritation and burns.) After your soap has set for about 24 hours, it should be hard enough to unmold and slice. Pop or slide the soap out of the mould. Slice it into whatever size bars you like, and set it aside to cure. While the saponification process will have stopped in several days and the soap will technically be safe to use, it really needs to cure for approximately four weeks until it's ready to use. Once the soap is cured, grab a bar and head to the bath! Congratulations! You've made a batch of cold process soap from scratch
Customizing Your Soap Recipe with Additives If your soap making recipe calls for any additives like spices, flower petals, or special moisturizing oils, now is the time to add them. As you did with the fragrance, gently stir them into the pot using the stick blender as a spoon. Before you move on to adding the colorant, give the mixture a brief blend with the stick blender to make sure that the fragrance oil and additives are well blended in. For this soap recipe, I'm adding some lavender buds to the soap. The saponification process will make them turn brown, but, even brown; they add a nice texture and interest to the soap. Colour for Your Soap If you want to add colour to your soap, now is the time. If you want the soap to all be one unified colour, add the colorant to the pot and stir. If you want to achieve more of a swirl effect: 1. Ladle about 1/2 to 1 cup of the soap mixture into a measuring cup. 2. Add the colorant to that bit of soap. 3. Holding the measuring cup several inches above the pot, slowly pour the coloured soap into one corner of your soap pot. Then, using a rubber spatula, swirl the coloured soap through the pot. Don't stir too much or you'll end up just blending the colour in with the entire batch.
Blessings Rebecca References: http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/ coldprocesssoapmaking/ss/sscpsoap.htm http://www.soaprecipes101.com.
Colour is one of those variations where soap making becomes truly an art - and where you can really create your own custom homemade soaps.
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Tasmanian Pagan Alliance 2013 Calendar Project As you may have read amongst the pages of the last edition, we (Tas PA) are producing a fundraising calendar, that we know will be wildly successful – professionally colour printed on the most exquisite card, featuring all the most important dates – Sabbat festivals, pub moots, PA events, moon phases and more! It’s the 2013 calendar that will be the ‘must have’ organisational tool for every pagan. So far we have received a fantastic response from both members and businesses alike. Donations of artwork images and beautiful photos that are so inspiring I thought we’d better share a glimpse….it sure is a feast for the eye!! There is still time to send in your images - finalisation by 30th September Each image has to be at least 2400 pixels wide and/or 3150 pixels high (if you’re not sure what size your image is, just send it through anyway, but chances are if you have your camera set on the highest resolution possible, it will be fine). This is just to ensure that your images print to the best quality possible without pixilation. Please send them to Terri – thegeekwitch@gmail.com Details about purchases to be found in the following issue of the Ravens’ Call and at your local Pub Moot.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Isobelle Carmody By Korinna ISOBELLE CARMODY, the amazing Australian fantasy writer, graced us with her flamboyant presence at the Bah’ai Centre for Learning on May 8th 2012. Nan McNab who is also a writer, editor, and personal friend of Isobelle's came along as well. I sneaked in early and waited in the gorgeous ambience of the foyer of the domed building. I was so early and so excited that I felt a little self-conscious when I entered to find the café area empty save a quiet man labouring at his computer hidden behind the reception desk. Half an hour later, the Tasmanian Writers Centre entourage came in to set up followed by two women; one sporting a short hair style and a sensible suit set off with a red scarf, while the other one sported a mass of wild raven hair wearing an exotic flaming red tapestry coat set off with a sensible black scarf. I immediately knew that these very opposite, and yet complementary women were the authors/editors presenting their newest work tonight; an anthology in two volumes of short stories entitled ‘Tales from the Tower’.
Isobelle continued. She pointed out that the choice of a favorite fairytale is often a window into the author’s psychological world. Having had a background in journalism, Nan agreed that she is very keen on contemporary subjects, hence her unique version of the traditional Scandinavian story. Isobelle is still thoroughly “gothic’ even in a modern setting, and each of the other contributing writers wove their personal choices in with the weft of aspects of themselves as well. Regarding being "true to yourself" as a writer, Isobelle and Nan gave some sage advice:
The list of authors invited to participate in this exciting literary project is a long one. Isobelle challenged her list of writers to pick their favorite fairytale and rewrite it in 10.000 words, which according to her, is much more of a challenge than the usual 3,000 words. Isobelle hatched the plan and publishers, Allen & Unwin, leapt at it. With sparking eyes and scarlet-lipped enthusiasm, Isobelle grinned as she explained, ”Fairytales never die, they just get a face lift” …”These are Gothic stories…they have an edge. The aim of the new anthology is to reclaim fairytales from Disney by putting back the ‘dark heart’ and getting rid of the sugar coating.”
The new works are in 2 volumes. The first is more for young adults and the second, definitely for adults as it has a ‘tougher’ tone. Nan McNab, who authored one of the stories as well as co-edited the twin set, decided that she would transform Hans Christian Anderson’s THE SNOW QUEEN by setting it in the Sydney drug scene. Nan read out an excerpt that indeed was gritty and raw in its descriptions of street kids living in the ‘dark heart’ of the big city. Her language was precise and achieved the no doubt desired effect; I had chills up my spine. No one moved.
Find the characters within yourself. Begin to write…don’t try too hard to say anything important. Keep it simple Avoid ‘fashion’ topics Make your own path Find your inner journey You MUST connect with the topic Try not to be too ‘categorized’ however Let what you love get into your stories and rings true Use your imagination and free your mind As a writer you can be whatever you want to be ; you can live vicariously via the people you write about Eavesdrop at restaurants/park benches/ go out alone and LISTEN…SMELL… USE YOUR SENSES SHOW …don’t just tell Also include BODY LANGUAGE Watch non-verbal interactions Ask; who are these people?
After a spellbinding presentation the floor was open to questions. The one that burned on my lips was one of curiosity. I kept thinking, 'HOW DOES ISOBELLE DO IT?'. This lively, engaging woman has produced an enviable equivalent of Everest in published works. The first book Isobelle wrote at the ripe age of 14! It started off the
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FEATURE ARTICLE Obernewtyn Chronicles (8 volume series) and her fabulous career….AND MANY MORE FOLLOWED; 28 books, 4 anthologies, 24 Short stories, 5 Picture books, and as well as that, she has won 25 literary awards…so far…I posed the query carefully, “It is obvious that you have had, and continue to have, a prolific career. Do you have a specific method that allows you to produce such a huge volume of work? “ With an impish grim she generously agreed to share her personal recipe for success!
ISOBELLE’S WRITING METHOD Handwrite the first draft and set aside Move onto the previous project of handwritten draft and type it out…then set aside Pick up a previously typed draft (not the one just typed, but the one before that!) Work on polishing it…. Go back to the next ‘shelved to percolate handwritten draft’ and repeat this process
Isobelle revealed she does. Nan seems to favour thinking and dwelling and finally taking each considered word to sentence, to paragraph, to story completed. What really struck me as wonderful was the diversity of these two women, and the common denominator being a spirit of enthusiasm and generosity. When the talk concluded, we queued to have our Isobelle Carmody books signed by the creative genius herself. She sat on the edge of the stage and spent a moment eye-to-eye connecting with each and every one of us. A very intense little red haired boy sat there in awe as Isobelle giggled and twinkled and shared a few whispered comments. His freckled face suddenly burst into an enormous smile as he bounced to his feet clutching her book under arm. I felt the wave of inspiration as he skipped past. She inspires and touches the very core of everyone she meets. … Isobelle Carmody, I have always loved your books…and now I am equally enamoured with you.
By using this approach, Isobelle feels that projects are kept fresh and viewed from a distance. She describes each one as a journey. She feels that the handwritten first draft is initially important because typing immediately into the computer looks too ‘finished’. She added that in her opinion, when you handwrite, you are more likely to make bigger changes when you do finally feel ready to type it out. After the initial outline of her ‘method’, Isobelle had more tips to share. “If you get an idea, don’t write right away. NOT TOO SOON is my motto. DREAM. Integrate ideas…rough draft it and leave it…. let it flow…Stillness is a key. It is like those moments at the bus stop when you are sitting there on the bench waiting for the bus to arrive that the ideas come.” WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE STORY…THEN..ONLY THEN..IT IS TIME TO START WRITING!” She emphasized, “DON”T lose all the creativity via too much planning…PLUNGE IN. And find the happy medium. Let the characters lead you…. Go chapter-bychapter, story-by-story. Let it unfold as you go along.” It was interesting to note that Nan is the very opposite to Isobelle in this regard. She types directly into the computer and ponders each word as she writes rather than dashing it all down, shelving and polishing later, as
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Living Goddess
Abundance Baskets Before the first Living Goddess Workshop in January, Jo and I decided that a regular feature would be an Abundance Basket. This basket would contain nonperishable food items and be given to a Living Goddess attendee to take home for a month. The purpose of the Abundance Basket is to share surplus items from our cupboards - those items that end up being pushed to the back and not being eaten. Rather than leaving them there until they pass their use by dates, participants can place them in the Abundance Basket for someone else to enjoy. This not only contributes to someone else’s wellbeing but lessens any waste and the impact that would have on the environment. The Abundance Basket however, is about more than just sharing food. The recipient of the Abundance Basket knows that the rest of the Goddess community are there for her during the month - when she needs comfort from a hearty soup, feels sick and can’t go shopping or needs extra items to make a tight budget stretch further. It could be something as simple as a large bill coming in at an unexpected time. Having some extra food items on hand, to help her through until the next pay, can make a huge difference. I like to call it a basket of Goddessy Hugs! We ask the recipient of the Abundance Basket to place it somewhere prominent in her kitchen. It needs to be visible so that she can’t forget it’s there. If she needs any of the items throughout the next month, they are hers to do with as she likes. At the end of the month, the recipient is asked to look through her own pantry and place any non – perishable items in the basket that she feels she won’t use. She is also asked to write the name of the town / suburb she lives in and the date on a card that is attached to the basket. When the card is full, we can have fun mapping out the journey the basket has taken. The Abundance Basket is something any group could have fun with and help the environment and each other at the same time. FAQs Can only Goddess members take from the basket? No. Not at all. Sometimes it may actually be a friend of that month’s recipient who needs the basket. By having placed the basket in her kitchen, a goddess member can encourage a friend to have a look through and take what she needs. Sometimes a Goddess member feels she doesn’t need the basket which is fine, no one is obligated to take it. However we ask her first to consider if perhaps the basket could be of use to one of her friends instead. The basket may actually be meant to go home with her so that her friend will have the opportunity to take from it. Does the recipient have to place the same amount of items in the basket that she took out? No. The items placed in the basket can be less or even more than was taken out and if someone cannot place any items in at all, that is also fine. The Abundance Basket is about sharing our ‘excess’ items only. How do you decide who gets the basket each month? At Living Goddess we do it by a lucky draw in a way. It may be a simple as a special mark on the back of one of the note sheets given out to everyone. Or it could be a mark under a chair. When you start your own Abundance Basket, you can work out what is best for you and your group / friends. Zahira Atkins Copyright 2012
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We feel powerful tides ebb and flow in our emotions, our bodies, depending on the phases of the moon. We feel her push us and then tighten the pull. The energy of the moon is a personal journey...
DIY Blessed Moonlight Water The moon is the symbol of the mother, and she watches over us day and night. She brings the changing tide, the shifting night, the flow that changes women's bodies, and the passion of lovers to their beloved. Her wisdom is great and all-knowing, and we honor her tonight. Keep your watchful eyes upon us, great mother, until the cycle returns once more, and bring us to the next full moon, in your love and light. http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/ Esbat_Rite.htm l The lady moon, a goddess bright, With shoulders gleaming bare and white, And stately head in reverie bowed, Leans from her balcony of cloud In the blue palace of the night. Down peering from her queenly height, She pours her soft, refulgent light Upon a merry-making crowd-The lady moon! Apart, a maid and lover-wright, Their troth with eager trembling’s plight-Lips meet, and solemn vows are vowed The while, serenely fair and proud, Smiles sweet approval of the sight-The lady moon!!!
Water is naturally grounding. The following is a simple activity to bless your drinking water. What You Will Need: Water bottle Water Silver (or other) marker Moonlight Collect some rain water and a previously used water bottle. On the front of the bottle write something with the marker that is significant to you. You can choose a rune symbol, a word you wish to focus on, something that is personal to you and will help you stay grounded. Place in the light of the waxing, full or waning moon [over night] - Waxing moon for new beginnings and projects or to manifest an idea. Full moon to keep energy high and momentum building, blessings of prosperity and abundance. Waning moon for keeping secrets, meditation, dreams and divination. As you fill your bottle say something like the following, "Great Goddess and energies of the I ask you to bless this water that I drink today Let it fill me with calm loving energy and keep me grounded throughout my day By the powers in me and the energies that be, I infuse this water with the loving light of the divine. So mote it be"
Andrew Downing http://www.wiccantogether.com/group/bluemoon/forum/ topics/the-lady-moon-poem?xg_source=activity
universe,
Keep the water bottle with you throughout the following days, repeat the chant when you can.
Due to her frolicking in England with the fae, Jo didn’t have time to prepare an article for this issue of the Ravens’ Call. Never fear though! Tune in next time for information about moonstone.
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Internet Interest SilvaGem - by Maz My aim is to provide quality designed Silver and gem jewellery at affordable prices. These pieces have been sourced from small individual designers from around the world. Imported quality 925 silver and gem jewellery. All pendants shown without a silver chain or plate come with a leather clasped necklace. If you are local to Launceston you can always pick up an item and save on postage again just contact Maz through her web site.
http://www.facebook.com/mazsch
Ok you guys better start sending me content for this page…. melsteers76@yahoo.com.au We’re running out of pets to showcase!! This is Max (my son) and his prize roster aptly named: Raspberry Robber – Robber for short. I thought these photos were magic! Max has been hand rearing chooks since he was 5 years old, he loves them – carries them around and tries to teach them tricks!
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What spiritual path do you follow? Hmmm, I’ve never really been a follower of anything or anyone. I tend to read a lot and I take this knowledge with me. I’m the sort of person who checks all external information internally with my intuition before believing in anything. I guess I could be called an eclectic pagan.
the monthly moot, but that’s about it lately.
Favourite Sabbat? Why? Ostara. For some reason it’s the one I tend to have time to be able to celebrate properly. And I love the chocolate side of things! It’s a good one to celebrate with my kids and teach them the proper origins of the holiday.
First Pagan book ever bought? I have no idea, I have thousands of books! I remember buying Cunningham’s Incense, Oils and Brews. I have most of his books. I have a huge collection of herbals and natural medicine books. I have lots about symbols and my favourite is The Element Encyclopedia of Symbols. I use my Wiccan cookbooks the most though.
Which moot do you most regularly attend? Launceston. Favourite ritual tool? Why? I design my own rituals, so my Book of Shadows. Mead or Mulled wine? Do I have to choose? Both! I love Goddess Mel’s Mulled wine, and the Mead from The Honey Farm. I have recently tasted Scottish Winter Warmer, a delicious concoction made from rosehips, organic apples, bourbon and honey, which I may end up liking even more than Mead (you can taste this at the Community & Pioneer Skills Fair in October). The most used crystal/herb in your collection/garden is…and why? I use my Green Obsidian crystal ball a lot. It’s from Mt St Helens and it’s very special to me. My mum gave it to me for my 13th birthday. It’s about the size of baseball, very rare and the most beautiful turquoise colour. I think I love the contradiction that something the colour of the ocean came from volcanic fire! It’s great for scrying and meditating.
Favourite movie? The Princess Bride (I know it’s not a Pagan movie, but I can practically quote the whole movie). I like Practical Magic. I’m more into books than movies.
If you could meet one famous Pagan person (author, singer or other) who would it be? Why? I would rather meet my great grandmothers. I come from long lines of witches on both maternal and paternal sides, so I would love to speak to my Nanna Marie and my Granny Lynn again. Favourite Ravens’ Call article? I love the herb profile articles and Compost Heap. Skyclad, robed or casual? I tend to be casual. I would not subject anyone to my post-pregnancy skyclad body. Wouldn’t want anyone to go blind! How would you like to be remembered? That I lived my life according to my values (Love, Joy, Integrity), walked my talk, and left my little piece of land full of life sustaining herbs and plants. Thanx Lisa for answering the 13 Pagan Profile Questions xx Ed.
Do you have a recent pagan interest/activity? Or an event or workshop attended? I’ve been a bit out of things for a while. With young kids it is hard for me to attend workshops and events. I manage to get to
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Avebury, England. Some incidents that Sue mentions may be very familiar to women who were taught patriarchal religion as children. An incident that resonated with myself was the one that took place when Sue was eight years old and the boys at Bible School were telling her that boys were the boss and God said so. She raced with her friend to their teacher, expecting her to tell the boys they were wrong but instead they were told that it was true and that the bible backed it up. Even though she couldn’t express it, at eight years old, Sue still knew what that meant. ‘That we were less than males and that we were going to spend the rest of our lives obeying and asking permission or worrying if we didn’t’.
Dance of the Dissident Daughter Sue Monk-Kidd Harper San Francisco ISBN 978-0060645892 Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd is the true story of the author’s journey in search of the Sacred Feminine. It begins on a very ordinary afternoon when Sue stops by the local pharmacy where her teenage daughter works. She spots her daughter, kneeling in front of a shelf and is just in time to witness two middle aged men approach her. One of them remarks ‘Now that’s how I like to see a woman – on her knees’. The young girl sits there horrified while the men laugh at her. Sue’s anger spills over and she rushes to defend her daughter. After years of remaining silent, of not ‘rocking the boat’, this is the catalyst for Sue to find her voice and question her participation in patriarchal beliefs. The book will take you step by step through the process she went through - from a small Southern town in the US, where Sue leads her ‘traditional’ life that includes a lifelong affiliation with a church that teaches its females members they are inferior to men (‘second made, first to sin’) – to several sites of spiritual significance around the world including sacred ruins in Crete and a circle of stones in
This story brought back a memory of my own from when I too was about 8 years old. I was at a religion class and the minister kept talking about ‘man’. I asked the minister why he never included girls. Why was it always about men only? The funny thing is, I knew what his answer would be. I had been told the reason before. However I had not been satisfied with it. I was hoping the minister would give me a better reason and I also think I was naively hoping that he would start using feminine terms. As you can imagine, the minister’s answer was no different to the one I’d been given previously and just as unsatisfying. I wasn’t happy to listen only about ‘men’ – as if women had never existed in history or had not participated in any way and I didn’t want to have to listen about fathers and sons and men while my own gender was ignored. I found it very interesting that in both our stories, we’d been very young, yet still able to recognise that something was very wrong. We instinctively knew that we needed to question what we were being taught. Sue’s decision to start questioning her whole religion though wasn’t an easy one. At first she takes very small, tentative sideways steps. As she re-examines everything that had once been comfortable in her life, the thought of jumping completely into the unknown has her holding back from truly immersing herself in her Goddess journey. But as she stands in church one day, while those around her are singing a song
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written ’ by men for men’, she knows that she no longer belongs there and it’s time to start taking big steps forward. Sue writes of her confusion at the time and the problems that arise in her previously ‘traditional’ marriage as her life changes. She tells of making waves where she would previously have gone with the expected, of a letter writing campaign against her that sees her labelled as a ‘dangerous woman’ and of Goddess women who share her journey. This book is divided into four sections, Awakening, Initiation, Grounding and Empowerment. I found the first and last sections to be very easy reading. However the two middle sections were very laborious to get through. The writing style changed and the sentences became a lot longer. It was almost as though two different people had written the book. It was also very repetitive in those two middle chapters. The author would present the same information over and over but in different words. I found this very tedious to read, though I do wonder if the author had done this on purpose. Several years ago, I was sitting in a lecture at a conference and trying to stop my mind from wandering. The facilitator had just been saying the same thing over and over but presenting it in different ways. He explained later that he deliberately taught that way, as often an explanation that worked for some people, may not necessarily be clear to others. I wonder if this was what Sue Monk-Kidd had in mind when she wrote the middle chapters. The only problem being that a book and a workshop are two different situations and while it may work in a workshop, (where an attendee who has already caught on can just take more detailed notes) it doesn’t work in a book. The repetition can just result in the reader putting the book down and never returning.
Daughters of the Witching Hill Mary Sharratt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN: 978-0547069678 Thought I would share a recent Kindle purchase ‘Daughters of the Witching Hill’ by Mary Sharratt. The book is set in 1612 during the Witch Trials at Lancaster and a well researched honestly given book of the Lancashire witches of Pendle. Mary Sharratt gives her references and openly admits the parts where she has used her artistic license.
Once started I could not put it down, it had me enthralled with exploits of families leading to the gallows. I found the blessings and curses interesting from a magical point of view and the wisdom of Demdike and the like had me thoughtful In my case, I had to read the book as part of my Goddess for hours after. Studies so giving up on the book was not an option. I had to force myself to read four pages every night (no more, no Mary Sharratt has another book out in October ‘Illuminations’ less) to get through the middle chapters. about Hildegarde von Bingen which I look forward to. Having said all this, I would still advise readers to resist the More information on Daughters of the Witching Hill and strong urge they will have to skim through the middle Mary Sharratt is available at sections. While they were repetitive and drawn out due to http://www.marysharratt.com/books_dwh_excerpt.html an overuse of metaphors, every now and then Sue does make a great point or include a pertinent quote which you ~ Nettie won’t want to miss. **Apologies to Jeanette, this article was due to feature in the Don’t read this book if you are expecting an ‘answer’ previous RC but unfortunately was overlooked. Sorry! ~Ed. though. It doesn’t offer one. How can it? What works for one woman, may not work for another. And as is made very clear, the journey is always a work in progress. If I had to give this book a score out of 10, I would say 6. The story is worth hearing but could have done with a good edit first. ~ Zahira Atkins
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Although winter is traditionally a time for hibernation, family, hearth and home, and taking time to spend reflecting on one’s self, it never quite seems to turn out that way, both in my life, and the life of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance! I’m happy to report that things have been as productive as ever, especially as we celebrated the heart of winter at our first ever Yule Ball. Avril, Jan and Dee went above and beyond to bring us this fabulous event, and thanks to everyone supporting the night, the Yule Team have the funds and enthusiasm to start planning for next year already! The end of June also saw membership renewal time – thank you to everyone who has already renewed this year. If you are yet to renew, you are now late! Please get your money to us if you wish to continue supporting the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance – still only $20 a year, as the Raven’s Call gets fuller, our moots continue and we bring more events to you than ever before, we hope you will continue to see this as value for money and support us for another 12 months. As we head toward the renewing time of Spring, Imbolc celebrations will be hosted in Launceston this year, with a Pagan Movie Night in August! Promising to be a night of fun, laughs and popcorn, we hope to see you there. On the Sunday will be our Annual General Meeting – a quick formality – and we will also be announcing our new committee for the next two years. In the meantime, I have finally moved to Hobart! A change is as good as a holiday, and I’m looking forward to catching up with our Southern crew at the moots from now on. A huge thank you to the Launceston crew for their up close support and love over the last handful of years – I’m going to miss seeing you all once a month, and hope to get around the state to see everyone soon. Tasmanian Pagan Alliance Elections The nominations for our elections are: State Coordinator / President - Jess Steers Regional Coordinator / Vice President - Mel Dolliver Secretary - Mandhi Allen Treasurer - Terri Baran Southern Moot Convener - Allannah Turner-Hughes Northern Moot Convener - Mel Ell North West Moot Convener - Jo Corvinus North East Moot Convener - None. With only one nominee for each position, there’s no need to vote! The continuation of these positions will be made official at the Annual General Meeting. Blessings, Jess x
For the 2011-12 Financial Year: Member numbers increased in the last financial year by 12. Even though we had 17 new single memberships and 5 joint memberships (total of 27), there were 15 members who did not renew their membership for the 2011-12 year. On the 30th June 2012 member numbers were as follows: Single Memberships—49 Joint Memberships—12 Total—73
In the last financial year, total income was $18,334.80, consisting mainly of income for the AWC event but also included $370.00 in new memberships and $695.00 in membership renewals.
Remember that membership renewals for the 2012-13 year are now due!
The opening bank balance at 1st July 2011 was $10,487.00. Closing balance at 30th June 2012 was $517.69.
Correspondences—Outgoing 22 — Welcoming letters for new members, membership cards Raven’s Call Edition 51 Membership cards for renewing members Correspondences—Incoming 1 Membership renewal 9 Membership application enquiries
An unusual financial year because of the AWC, but we’re so far on track for another successful year.
including
Total expenses were $28,304.11. Again, the majority of these funds were in direct relation with the AWC, going towards accommodation, catering, entertainment and the costs of producing t-shirts and showbags, etc.
It would be great to see some more memberships coming in so that we can have the funds to continue to hold fun and exciting events for everyone! ~ Terri ~ Mandhi
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Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc.
MOOTS North-West Moots When: 2nd Thursday of every month Where: Burnie RSL, 36 Alexander St Start Time: 6:00pm Contact: Jo on 0437 366 711 or jo.corvinus@yahoo.com.au ~*~ Launceston Moots When: Last Tuesday of every month (except Dec) Where: Alchemy Bar, 90 George St Launceston Time: 7:00pm onwards Contact: Mel & Greg - northmoots@gmail.com ~*~ Cindy always puts her doodle on the table!!!
Southern Moots When: First Thursday of every month Where: New Sydney Hotel - 87 Bathurst St Time: 6:30pm onwards Contact: Allannah - taspalliance@hotmail.com
- at the Alchemy Bar & Restaurant, Launceston Moot
Notice: All Moot Convenors who send the editor their Moot reports by the allocated submission date receive a gold star and a prize of chocolate!! Those who forget to send the busy editor their promised moot reports get a brown star of doom and very little in the way of prizes.
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Interview with Mark Hepworth AWC 2012 Event Coordinator What can attendees expect for AWC 2012? My intention is to put on a gathering that people will look back on fondly. To have some Wow factor, but also to find enjoyment in enlightenment, that is what I most enjoy about gatherings and the AWC in particular is coming away from the weekend with new ideas or a fresh perspective and therefore feeling that the event has been worthwhile. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the theme of AWC 2012? The Theme for the AWC for 2012 is Wicca in the Modern World. This actually came about in a very roundabout way. When I was first discussing my desire to see the AWC back in Sydney with David (PAN president David Garland) we spoke about the timing, I think one of us joked it would be a few months before the end of the world was supposed to happen. Gabby Cleary who has been my teacher for many years and I discussed how important a theme is, and that you build your conference around the theme so that sent me on a very long though process about the theme, and over say a 2 or 3 month period when I was tossing up running the event (back in 2010) I started noticing how influential things like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other things had become in normal life and that they were starting to creep into my magickal life, and how much more accepted the modern world is in the lives of Magickal people so I wanted to explore that theme more, and see if there is more to it than we see on the surface, so the theme Wicca in the Modern world came into being. Who are the main helpers this year? Are they all locals? Well apart from myself, I do have a very committed group behind me working on the AWC and it is a joy to be sharing the load with them. Pete Christie and Kris Apolony from a local group called Ostarian Grove are heading up the workshops team. David Garland and I are dealing with all the behind the scenes work of payments, registrations, bills and event planning, and I have a group of about 5 or 6 others who are committed to helping with various other tasks - they are Darius, Tom, Pippa, Matt, Scott and of course our Canberra ring in, Kimi Ravensky. We also have our presenters, not only from New South Wales, but all over, and we hope to announce who they are and have the full list of workshops available by the end of July, but we have already announced Gede Parma Akheron, Lucy Cavendish and Gabby Cleary will all be presenting, and we will be dancing the night away Saturday night to the music of Spiral Dance. Can you share a highlight of the weekend with us? I hope there will be many, but the one I am really looking forward to people experiencing is the venue or indeed arriving at the venue for the first time. I was lucky enough to get the same venue as the last AWC held in Sydney in 2006. Our venue holds such a special place in many people’s hearts, so much so that when I announced the AWC would be coming to Sydney in 2012 at the 2010 conference, Peter who was running the 2010 conference took me aside and asked “Are we going back to the Island?”, when I said yes I could see that was the answer he was looking for, because so many who visited the island in 2006 loved it. So as you many have figured out, the venue is a private island in the Hawkesbury River. I recently took a trip out to the island, and it has changed since the 2006 conference, with some great new additions, but it still retains the feeling that it had last time the AWC was there, and I can’t wait for people to experience it.
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& BBQ 2012 Date: Sunday 16th December Time: 10:00am onward Venue: Rotary Park Hut, Deloraine Cost: Free for members - $5 for non members Entertainment: Holly Lord vs Oak Lord BBQ starts: 12:00pm Award Ceremony Starts: 1:00-1:30pm 2011 SBA winners The Silver Broomstick Award - Chris Riley & Cindy Watkins Green Man Award - Chris Riley Maiden Mother Crone Award - Zahira Ravens‘ Call Award - Lisa Bolton Up & Comin‘ Youngen Award - Danielle McCarthy Wooden Spoon – Allannah Turner-Hughes North-West Moot Attendee - Rebecca Clarke North Moot Attendee - Mel Ell St Helens Moot Attendee - Grace Hobart Moot Attendee - Avril Holderness-Roddam Previous SBA winners 2001 - Heather Jensen & Bob Cox 2002 - Mel Steers & Jess Steers 2003 - Sabian Popow 2005 - Allannah Turner-Hughes 2006 - Mel Dolliver 2008 - Rose Dragonwulf 2010 - Terri Baran 2011 – Chris Riley & Cindy Watkins The 2012 PA members choice categories are:
The Silver Broomstick Award - For the TAS Pagan Alliance member who has gone above and beyond for their pagan community during the year. The Green Man Award - for the fella that keeps the beer flowing and the fire going! The Mother, Maiden and Crone Award - For the most inspiring pagan woman – who’s strength, vitality and humour are magical Up and Com’en Young’n – for the newest & youngest contributing member Wooden Spoon – for the biggest pagan dork! Editors choice The Ravens’ Call award – For a member(s) who has contributed to the publication of the RC 2012 Moot Convenors choice of regular moot attendee North, South, North-West, East **Stay tuned to find out how you can cast your vote for the 2012 Silver Broomstick awards**
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Yule Ball 2012 Where do I start?!
though, the young Oak King turned-up and challenged the Holly King! A sword fight ensued that would have made Errol Flynn envious, and resulted in the Oak King claiming the crown!
It was a cold just-after-mid-winter-'s night as Pagans from around Tasmania (and from Victoria!) arrived at the Southern Lights Hotel in Kingston. Each chose a wooden rune and a piece of tektite to keep as they entered the room. Once inside, everyone was greeted by the sight of gorgeous Yule decorations made by the creative and talented Dee, including a Yule Log complete with holes for inserting pieces of paper containing our Yule wishes.
It was unanimous that this year's Yule King and Queen were Kynan and Heather, what a lovely couple! Big thank you to Pete and Tim for providing us with Oak and Holly Kings!! :-) Watch the Oak & Holly Kings “battle it out” here http://youtu.be/XaToX13Lc24
On a bench beside the door was a pile of prizes wrapped beautifully by Morgan and Pat, ready to be won by the Pagan Party-animals and their family and friends. DJ Saphira of Huon FM greeted guests with a great selection of Pagan tunes and Yule carols, and kept the music going all night!
Morgan was fantastic, helping with everything throughout the night, while looking fabulous at the same time, speaking of which, she won the Best Dressed prize hands-down, which was a lovely fern candle, also donated by Heather and Kynan.
To one side of the room was a table with a lovely selection of platters containing vegetarian and non vego nibbles, as well as a selection of cakes, including one very delicious chocolate cake. Yum. Once everyone had arrived, Jan welcomed all with some lovely, thoughtful words, then lit a sun candle.
We ended the night by burning the Yule log in the wood fire which had kept us toasty warm all evening.
The dancing and general merriment commenced!
The Yule Ball was such a lovely, fun way to celebrate the Winter Solstice with a friendly group of party Pagans! Thank you so much to everyone who gave their time to help make the event such a success!
After a while a rather economically dressed young lady emerged from a door way and treated us to a cheeky burlesque act to the tune of a Rock cover of Love Potion Number 9. The highlight was when she chose Pete to be her helper! Thank you to Missy, of the Diamonds of Burlesque Troupe!
I was thrilled at how generous the local businesses were! In the end, so many items were donated for prizes, that EVERY person received something! Lucky door prizes consisted of packages containing things like dried botanicals, tumbled stones, incense, candles and prayer flags.
During the course of the night there were plenty of opportunities for general silliness, including the exciting game of Musical Chairs and a game of Celebrity Head - the Deity Edition! (Thank you to Karl for coming up with the deities and blurbs with thirty-minutes’ notice!)
Every business I approached donated items for prizes without hesitating, and Otherworld Candles approached ME to offer candles! The Wishing Well, Goulds Naturopathica, Silk Road Empolo's, Babylon Bookshop and Dymocks contributed crystals, incense, runes, dried Vervain, a pendant, candles, books and more. Make sure you check them out next time you're in Hobart.
Now and then a few lucky door prizes were drawn, but the super exciting draw of the night was the raffle! First place was a gorgeous bowl from Silk Road and second prizes was a beautiful painting donated by a friend of Jan's from Alice Springs. Third prize was a wonderful set of Elemental candles donated by the lovelies Heather and Kynan (Otherworld Candles). Fourth place was a very sexy burlesque witch costume kindly donated by Nettie!
The Wishing Well has a wonderful collection of books, crystals, jewellery and other items, and the ladies are very helpful! Silk Road Empolo's is a gorgeous store, full of amazing items like beautiful cushion covers, clothing, decorations and wall hangings, to name a few things. They even have ponchos. PONCHOS! Awesome, right?!!
During the night, the Holly King rocked-up, looking a bit tired. He mingled for a while, then we decided to do a spiral dance with such a special guest. Half way through
Down the road at Goulds, you will find a wonderful range of dried botanicals, essential oils, candles,
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incenses as well as natural remedies and very friendly staff. Babylon Books have a wide selection of books, but they also have clothes, tumbled stones, incense, CDs and all sorts of things! I am sure you know of Dymocks! The book store has a massive range of books on all types of topics, fiction and non-fiction, books for all ages and interests. They have a nice little "New Age" section, where I found one of my favourite Tarot decks a couple of years ago. The exciting news about the Ball is that we ended up on top with money thanks to the raffle! So we can use that to start making plans for Yule Ball 2013! Rumours on Yule 2013... *cough*Spiral Dance*cough* ...Somethingaboutmulledwineyay... ...*mumble*bonfire*mumble... So thank you, to everyone who attended, it was a beautiful feeling to see my friends dancing and having fun, not noticing the rain outside for one Winter's night! Blessings, Av!
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Alraun Magic The alraun is a root that has formed a roughly human shape or has been manipulated into this form - carved to resemble a human figure. The alraun is traditionally a mandrake root, as these have the unique habit of growing in a vaguely humanoid shape, however any root may be used – plant, herb or tree roots, it is the virtue of the properties a particular plant may possess, and in turn the root, that provides the necessary magical energies. Alraun (also alraune, alruna, alrune) is a German word that means simply "witch" (In 1700s Germany there were witches who called themselves Alrune believing it was the name of a goddess of the crossroads) Alraun comes from the word ‘rune’ that derives from the same linguistic root as "rowan" Saxon witches were also known as alrauns because they made and sold them. Once an alraun is made it belongs solely to the maker or the receiver and is not to be seen by any other. It was once common even into christian times for alraun to be passed on within families at the owner’s death. The alraun was considered the protector of the family. As Root-Beings or Root –Creatures they are a link to the ancestors and deities of the underworld. As familiars they act as confidants and advisers. They are called upon for love, fertility, childbirth problems, divination, good health, prophecy, protection as well as cursing and harm. How to Make an Alraun You may need: A digging stick – making and using an Alraun is considered old magic, therefore any type of metal, especially tools made from iron, are not usually used for root removal directly from the ground Gardening gloves A libation or offering – honey mead makes a useful libation, however whisky, wine or water is fine. Some personal token like hair or blood and other bodily fluids is acceptable as an offering - red threads, a white silk ribbon, coins or a smooth stone also serve well. Wand, staff or sigil powder A sharp ritual knife Small square of natural undyed fabric Paper bag Small box Stage 1 – the digging Stage 2 – the transplanting Stage 3 – the crafting The digging: It is best to craft an alraun in winter or spring while the plant is dormant and will suffer less stress during transplanting. Seek out your intended plant just after the new moon, this period represents new beginnings and the start of projects and endeavours, draw either a physical circle in the soil around the plant with your ritual knife, wand, finger or sigil powder or visualize a circle in your mind. A connection with the spirit of the plant is of upmost importance, try to clearly convey your intention and purpose of making an Alraun , use your intuition to receive a positive vibration in return. Carefully dig away the soil around the plant and remove the whole plant – trying not to break roots or bruise leaves. Bury a libation or offering in place of the plant you have taken. Tradition states that once the offering has been made you are not to look at the hole again and must walk away without looking back! The transplanting: Swiftly transport the live plant to a pre prepared hole, the root aspect of your chosen plant should have a human form or the basic shape of genitals, (always the opposite gender of yourself) refine the form with your ritual knife if necessary. The A lraun can also be carved into a hermaphrodite, try not to over carve at this time, a rough semblance is good enough. Leave any foliage attached. To transplant your root form it is best to bury it at a crossroad if possible and on your own property. Water the plant after transplanting then leave to rest for three weeks to a month. If the original foliage dies back - this is normal, all the plants energy is focused upon healing the root from disturbance and carving. One week before you plan to dig up your Alraun feed it a mixture of milk and honey, maybe a drop of your own blood if you will keep it for yourself. The crafting: On the next dark moon or at a preferred time, dig up your root, and again leave an offering behind in the hole without looking. Take your root home and carefully wash it, removing any excess hairs or growths that distort its human form. Loosely wrap it in a cloth of natural fibre inside a paper bag and leave in safety somewhere warm and dry, in one month’s time you should have a perfectly dried Alraun. Wrap it in linen, wool, or silk and place it in a small box. The cloth is symbolic of a funeral shroud and the box represents a coffin. Hide the Alraun away in a dark place until it is time call upon it. When you do, offer it milk and honey, wine, or blood depending on your purpose. Treat the Alraun as a beloved child or family member. Speak to it sweetly and with care, decorate with trinkets or coloured thread depending upon your intent. WARNING: It is incredibly dangerous to throw one away or sell an Alraun for less than you bought it for. It is a sentient familiar spirit and not a curio to be tossed aside. The Alraun has the power to bless or curse its owner so think carefully on your intent before making one. Resources: Jilli the hedge witch Pan’s Labyrinth http://teufelskunst.wordpress.com/mandrake/ http://afwcraft.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/alraun.html http://www.answers.com/topic/alraun http://witchofforestgrove.com
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Next Issue SPRING/ SUMMER 2012 27
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TASMANIAN MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE FESTIVAL Aug 31 - Sept 2 - 2012 Checkout the web site for: Workshops, Bazaar details, Saturday + Sunday timetable, booking forms, vendor prices for the floor show and Saturday bazaar and heaps more! The festival for 2012 will be held on August 31st to September 2nd. There will be a Floorshow on the Friday night, a Bazaar and performances on the Saturday night, workshops over two days and a forum. The festival is held in Launceston, Tasmania. LUGHNASADH FESTIVAL 2013 Guest Teachers: Michelle Joyce, USA Keoko Darkstar, NSW Virginia Keft-Kennedy, NSW Barbara Wolfkamp - Zahraa, Vic Robyn Flude, Tas Razi, Tas Zahira, Tas Venues: St Ailbe's Hall - 46 Margaret St, Launceston (Floorshow, workshops, Forum and Bazaar) Classique Dance Studio - Brisbane St, Launceston (Sat workshops) Tasmanian Academy of Dance - 1 Mann St Invermay, Launceston (Sun workshops) If you would like a booklet of all the workshops please send a stamped, self-addressed DL envelope to: Tasmanian Middle Eastern Dance Festival, PO Box 239, Exeter, Tasmania, 7275.
SAVE THE DATE: 1st- 2nd and 3rd of February 2013 Held in the Northwest at the beautiful Forth Valley – Fulton Park Scout hall Plans are evolving towards a fantastic weekend of activities, meditation, divination workshops, market/trade table, raffles and games. The ritual focus will be centred on the harvest God Lugh. We enjoyed an awesome harvest weekend earlier in the year, and hope you’ll support this festival to grow to its full potential. This event will also be catered for – there will be further details about food, options and cost and in the following issue of the Ravens’ Call.
Include a note if you would like us to send you a list of accommodation in the area and a small map.
To submit your event, contact Mel on melsteers76@yahoo.com The above events are submitted by our readers and are placed in good faith. They do not necessarily signify endorsement by the editor or members of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc.
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Ravens’ Call - Winter/Spring 2012 Something Mystical Gift Shop Ravenswood Shopping Complex 9 / 2 Prossers Forest Road (03) 6339 4021 Opening Hours: Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm Sat 9am - 3pm http://facebook.com/something.mystical.gift.shop
As we all know, small privately owned pagan related shops are becoming a rarity in all areas of Tasmania. In a time when retail businesses are struggling, it is great to see some passionate individuals still willing to provide service to the pagan, eccentric, and fantasy loving consumers. One such shop has recently been opened in the past year. The Something Mystical Gift Shop opened in the Ravenswood Shopping Centre by Susan and Karen in December 2011. These ladies began their business as a market stall, travelling from market to market with their trusty suitcase full of dream catchers. They began to think about the need in their own area. They began to notice an increase in pagan population living in the Ravenswood area, and with this grew an increasing demand in particular products, such as incense. They felt that their business would be beneficial for those in the area that have difficulties in travelling into downtown Launceston due to mobility or financial reasons. The ladies decided to trial their business idea on a 6 month by 6 month basis, and so far they feel things are going very well and their popularity is increasing by the day. Although it is not strictly a pagan shop, there is much in here to enjoy. Since opening their inventory has expanded immensely. They stock many things including incense, burners, crystals, dream catchers, and a various array of giftware including dragons, fairies, skulls, Buddha’s, and animals figures. Susan and Karen have also introduced a psychic reading and healing service into the stores calendar. One such psychic is Roy who provides short readings on certain Saturdays. Appointments for these services are best booked ahead of time over the phone. As Susan and Karen continue to trial their business, please continue to support them and other local pagan related shops out there who continue to be passionate about serving both the pagan and general community. BB Mel Ell
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“Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler A book review by Heather This brilliant story is written in rhyme, and tells the tale of a witch who keeps dropping things as she’s flying along on her broomstick. First she loses her hat, which she and her cat search for, but is found by a dog, who asks for a ride on the broom. Next it’s the bow from her plait, found by a bird who also wants a ride. The story continues, picking up other animals along the way. Finally they all fly through a storm, during which an over excited frog breaks the broom in two. The animals fall to the ground but the witch is chased by a dragon, intent on eating her for his supper. The animals band together to save her, and together they make a spell to create a bigger better broom, with room for everyone! This book is such a joy to read, and the illustrations are fantastic. As you can probably tell from the photo – our copy is well worn, and has been read many times over! It’s definitely a favourite in this house!
Pagan Marriage Celebrant Jan Walker
Weddings, Handfastings, Vow Renewals, Commitments, Namings, Wiccanings
Phone: 03 6266 3685 Mobile: 0400 006 828 Email: janwalker@skymesh.com.au www.wix.com/janwalker/janwalkercmc
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