You probably noticed a couple of goofs in last week's issue. First off for some reason my week was all thrown off and I got the date wrong even if I did send it out on Friday. I also forgot to add the submission info. Submissions are very much appreciated by the way. Also I am going to let you know that the Sphinx oil that I posted in issue 5 does open the chakras and can help in going astral. Sheila K. Watkins Webpage: Subscription & unsubscription information: Submissions: Zeliziw@n... ~*~*~*~ In the Silence of the Heart By Sheila K Watkins In the silence of my heart I wonder why Why I was chosen to be who I was meant to be Why I was given visions of sights unseen As I look out my window at my herb garden covered in snow, I am reminded how close we are to the season of rebirth. Yule is just a few short days away and you can sence the anticipation in the air. Soon the Goddess will be giving birth to the god again. Soon he will be a young man than lover and spouse to her and father to himself before the year is done. Happy Solstice Sheila K. Watkins Webpage: Subscription & unsubscription information: Submissions: Zeliziw@n... ~*~*~*~ The Phoenix By Sheila K. Watkins Fiery hands gift to me A sphere Of clearest crystal Gazing down within it's now Smokey....? depths I see a reflection of me... But it's not me Is it me? Long black hair flows around my face There's wisdom in my eyes So beautiful, mysterious So different from the me I see Hearing the words "Do you accept?" And without a word I do Pulling the sphere within Body shaking as it does Than everything is frozen Awed by my snowy hand Which turns to pure white flame A body made of flame Flowing dancing skyward The jewel now resting in my third eye crown Will I be the same again? No, never the same again ~*~*~*~ Cool Link of the week It's not exactly pagan but very useful for finding cheap books. Find the best price for new and used books from online bookstores ~*~*~*~ A Yule Ritual By Sheila K. Watkins This can be done inside or outside Set up needed If you have a cauldron, use it. If you are inside place a red candle in the cauldron (You can put a small candleholder in the bottom if needed to hold the candle straight). You can also use alcohol to fill the cauldron no more than one-third full. Make sure the cauldron is on a heatproof surface cause it will get hot. If you don't have a cauldron a red candle in a fireproof candleholder can be used. If this ritual takes place outside, you need to ready wood in your cauldron to be lit when the time is right. (Do remember a bit of kindling for fires. I have forgotten that part. Oops) If you don't have a cauldron a wood may be readied on a prepared bit of ground. (Always remember clear a good distance around where a fire is to be burned.) Long matches do come in handy for all but lighting the fires. If you don't have those you can light the end of a long piece of spaghetti. It will burn and can be used to light things. With the alcohol you can drop a lit match from a safe distance as well into the cauldron but use care. Decorate the area in a manner you chose. Pine works well but feel free to use what feels right to you. Gather all the other stuff you wish to use. The ritual: Cast the circle using your Athame, Wand, staff, a crystal or your hand. Seeing/feeling/knowing the power is flowing out of you as you send it while saying: "I call upon the goddess to hear my plead cast this circle strong so mote it be" Face the East: "I call upon the element of Air to come and be welcome." Face the South: "I call upon the element of Fire to come and be welcome." Face the West: "I call upon the element of Water to come and be welcome." Face the North: "I call upon the element of Earth to come and be welcome." "I call upon the Goddess* at the time she will give birth to come and be welcome" Light the fire making sure it's going strong: "I call upon the God* at the moment of his birth to come and be welcome" Place an offering of some kind to themselves now. "Great Goddess,* Mother of us all I wish to thank you for the gift you have given the world. The birth of the sun renewed" "Great God, At the moment of your birth I wish to thank you for the warmth you give through the coming year." Contemplate the fire and the warmth of the sun and how thankful we are that we have it for a while. End by saying "We thank you Great Goddess and newborn God for your being here. Go if you must stay if you will." Face the North: "I thank you element of Earth. Go if you must stay if you will." Face the West: "I thank you element of Water. Go if you must stay if you will." Face the South: "I thank you element of Fire. Go if you must stay if you will." Face the East: "I thank you element of Air. Go if you must stay if you will." "To any spirits attracted here during this rite, please depart in peace." Open the circle pulling the energy back in. Eat a bit of something to ground. * Use Deity name of your choice here Copyright (c) 2000 Sheila K. Watson. All Rights Reserved