Hello All I would like to announce that soon Whispers will soon be having a new web home as well as a new way to mail the newsletter to you all that isn’t via Yahoogroups. The person who is helping me (Read this as doing all the tech work and trying to explain things to me in simple terms.) needs to teach me exactly what I need to do to make the system work. For a sneak peek at what Karen is doing you can check it out here: http://www.jbinc.com/Whispers/ I am also planning to make a few changes in Whispers’ appearance starting at the beginning of next month. For those subscribed to American Witch and Pagan Weekly, you know that it will be discounting at the end of the month and I am planning on merging some of the things I liked with AWAP to Whispers. The weather here in Central Iowa has been rainy here as late and I love that fact. Everything just feels newer after a good storm. I stayed up a bit later then planned last night listening to the thunderstorm we had raging outside. At one point it was coming down so hard that a shower would have been very possible if I had been so inclined. I am fairly tired today so I will finish up this note here. Last night was the first good night’s sleep I had had in a while. I have managed to catch poison ivy for the first time in my life and the itching wouldn’t let me sleep comfortably. While looking up effective treatments for this new bane on my existence, I found this site: The Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Information Center (http://poisonivy.aesir.com/) I found it pretty interesting myself although some of the treatments people suggested sounded worse then the poison ivy. So until next time, Sheila K. Watkins Editor: Whispers of a Stone Circle See last page of this newsletter for submission guidelines, forwarding guidelines, where you can subscribe to Whispers and copyright information. ~*~*~*~ On Viewing Bok Tower And Gardens Arrogant, skyward thrusting spire! You perch precariously on Gaia's crown as if to poke an angry finger into Her azure eye. You tug at the skirts of our vision, pulling our gaze from what true Eden the Earth has to offer, and impel us to ignore the serene beauty that surrounds you. In stentorian song you declaim your dominance of these grounds, yet no ears have you to hear your song returned - such songbirds are few and far between. Those lesser birds without conspire only in your silences. Ere brick was placed on brick the wind whispered warnings to the trees that you would come. In stone and glass you mock the ancient oaks, yet I tell you three times that we will remember you but briefly when you have gone. And the wind and trees will remember you not at all. ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: http://www.aaaai.org/ Are you ready for ragweed season? Here's advice on managing your symptoms, and identifying allergy triggers in your child's school, among other things. Botany Online: the Internet HyperTextbook: http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/ Available in entirety in German; 45 chapters are also available in English. Richly illustrated and hyperlinked to other entries in the textbook. On the home page, there's also an Internet library on teaching botany and related topics. Specialty Search Engines: http://searchenginewatch.com/links/specialty.html When you want to narrow the universe you search through -- ONLY medical sites, ONLY law sites, ONLY newsgroups, etc. -- Search Engine Watch suggests appropriate search engines. ~*~*~*~ The Shaman's Path 2 By Jodi Wetherup (ierne) First Published on: November 21, 2000 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/women_healing_methods/53163 Methods of Healing - Animal/Spirit Guide Retrieval Please note that these are the common methods of healing, there are others personal to each shaman. While I may utilize many methods in my own healing practices, I am not an expert on all methods. As I wrote in the first part of The Shaman's Path, there are three main methods used by modern shamans of many paths (Native American, Celtic, and other various Goddess and Earth centered spiritualities). These methods include Animal/Spirit Guide Retrieval, Soul Retrieval and Extraction. Oftentimes, through counseling or perhaps a person's own "soul-searching," people come to realize that they feel alone, not whole, as if part of their own being were missing. This often causes melancholy, listlessness, abnormal and occasional criminal behavior. In rare, severe cases it may be a leading factor in suicide. Although I had intended to wrap up The Shaman's Path in this installment, I have decided to bring precise information on the guides available, therefore in this article, I'll describe Animal/Spirit Guide Retrieval. This method is not only practiced by shamans, but also by others interested in the metaphysical/ magickal realms. It is not always a simple, fast solution - but often has very high results. Animal/Spirit Guides come into our lives for various reasons, and can leave us once they feel they have served their purpose. While occasionally this will happen and we won't notice - if the lessons taught by the guide have not "sunk" into our conscious mind and actions, our sub-conscious will attempt to facilitate learning by causing irregularities - manifesting as chronic depression, melancholy, irritability, anger, illness and personality changes. Although this does not always follow the loss of a guide, it can presage the need for one. The shaman will begin by asking a few questions of the person requesting help. Through subtly placed inquiries, a shaman may gain some insight as to the person's personality, their likes/ dislikes, and the nature of the problem resulting in the quest for guidance from the Other Realm. Thus completed, the shaman will go into trance, using one of the various methods such as dance, drumming, or chanting to achieve an ecstatic state. It is in this state that the shaman can commune easily with the inhabitants of the Other Realm, and thereby gaining access to the person's Animal or Spirit Guide. More often than not, this communication takes the form of symbolic imagery, rather than verbal communication. Following Celtic ideology, there are many animal guides, although only a few are explained here. This that are explained are a few of the Power animals of Celtic mythology, and they are as follows: Blackbird: The blackbird can help a person gain mystic knowledge; spirituality. Boar: The boar helps release creative inspiration. Bull: Symbolizing strength and potency, the bull may come to one who is weak in nature. Cow: The cow is a symbol of happiness and contentment. Crane: Cranes are symbolic of the Triple Goddess, showing the fullness of life - youth, maturity and old age. Wisdom, learning of knowledge and keeping secrets are this animal's points. Crow: Crows have long been considered bad luck or an "ill-omen," however, the crow is also a guide to bringing knowledge to the recipient. Deer: Represents knowledge and swiftness. Dog: Dogs often symbolize companionship and steadfastness. Dragon: Dragons of any sort represent the elements (there are lines of dragons for each element), therefore symbolizing the content of the sub-conscious. Eagle: Eagles bring forth hidden wisdom and knowledge. Fox: As in life, the fox is cunning and swift of mind, as well as being able to view another's true motives without being seen. Hedgehog: Often, the hedgehog helps others bring down their guard to be more accepting of others and life. Horse: Stamina and willpower are the traits of this animal guide. Magpie: An omen of life and death, the magpie helps those who are unable to accept a death or loss of another. Owl: Birds of great wisdom, the owl brings intuitiveness and keen sight to the recipient. Pig: The pig is symbolic of the sacred "food" of spiritualism. Raven: Another sacred bird, the raven brings the ability to see through the mists and develop foresight. Salmon: This sacred fish of the Celts brings shamanic knowledge and the understanding to us of it for practical means. Swan: This beautiful bird brings spiritual balance and growth to help with life transitions. Unicorn: Fabled beast bringing the Other Realms and Physical Plane into balance, and the understanding of different realities. Wolf: Often the wolf brings protection and guidance by revealing a path to a person seeking enlightenment, possibly via a teacher. Wren: These sacred birds are considered to be messengers from the Other Realm. Often, wrens as guides are only transitional. When a person's guide is found or revealed, the shaman brings it into her/himself, and then at the end of the trance, transfers the essence into the heart center of the recipient, thus transferring the qualities of the guide into the person. Through careful inner listening, learning and adaptation, the recipient then begins to take on those qualities, bringing wholeness to their lives. Researched via the Web, and books such as Oak, Ash and Thorn (DJ Conway), The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom (John and Caitlin Matthews), and Celtic Women's Spirituality (Edain McCoy). ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): this place reserved for announcements and press releases I find of interest. I’m pretty lenient about what I place in here but please no Spam that’s been around the world so many times everyone has it memorized. I will consider books release announcements, local and national event announcements, and noteworthy news applicable to those in the pagan community among other things. Thank you. Sheila ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: Jodi Wetherup (ierne) is the editor of more newsletters and publications then I even want to count. Fortunately editing this many newsletters has not been declared a form of insanity Sheila K. Watkins knew from the time she was 15 that she wanted to be a writer but did not really start writing until she entered college where she worked on her college newspaper and also worked as the editor of the feature section for one semester. She was also introduced to the love of writing poetry at this time. Fortunately for all of us most of the poems have been lost to the world of men. After college she worked several jobs during the next few years but none included writing. It wasn’t until after both of her children had started school in 1998 that she went back to her love of putting words on a computer screen. Her first submission was accepted by publication by the Iowa Witch and Pagan newsletter and it started her on the path of truly honing her work. In October of 2000, she founded and became editor of Whispers of a Stone Circle. ~*~*~*~ Submissions are always welcomed and can be made to: Zeliziw@netins.net In submitting materials writers are agreeing that if accepted I may post them in the newsletter and on the web page (whenever I finally get back to work on it.) Works submitted must be the writer’s own work and they must still retain the copyright OR it must be verifiably public domain. Works can have been published before but please nothing that has been around over and over again. Copyright remains in the author’s possession. The Author also realizes that they will not be paid. (If I had money I would be hosting this on something other then Yahoo.) If a submission is accepted, I will check for punctuation, capitalization and spelling in submitted articles. I will fix minor errors if they are present. I will NOT reword things (except for an occasional “an” for “a” and vice versa.) Poems are published as submitted. Forwarding information: If you chose to forward this newsletter, do so in its entirety, including copyright and contact information. People may subscribe to Whispers of A Stone Circle at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhispersOfAStoneCircle/ All articles, poems, etc, except where noted are copyrighted by the writers and are used with permission. They are not to be republished without the express permission of the writers. Contact information may be obtained by contacting the editor of Whispers of A Stone Circle at Zeliziw@netins.net Copyright (c) 2002 Sheila K. Watson. All Rights Reserved