Whispers Of A Stone Circle Volume 4, Issue 4, January 31,2003 In This Issue: Editor's Note Poem: Snow! By Mina Cool Link(s) Article: Chinese Health/Healing Balls By Jodi Wetherup (ierne) Suggested Book of the week Skyward Happenings In the News: Religion in the News Author's Lifetime of Collecting Information on Religious Sects Produces Invaluable Guide Announcements: Missouri: Ostara Awakening a Celebration of the Spring Equinox DEN Alert: Protect the Arctic Refuge Against a Sneak Attack The humor edition of Whispers of a Stone Circle information Writer's Biographies Submission guidelines and other stuff Current Subscriber Count: 935 ~*~*~ Hello All: My seasonal movie binge has started this week, I watched "Groundhog's day" for the first time. Somewhere along the line it seemed to become a tradition with me to watch it repeatedly at this time of year. I have no clue why but I also do the same with "Scrooged" in December. Although December also incorporates, "It's a wonderful life" which has my oldest daughter cringing lately. Not sure why but she has decided that there were no good movies (excluding animated ones) made before she was born. Maybe it is just the fact that I have an affinity for old movies (especially musicals.) She has deemed it torture when I watch things like "How to marry a millionare" or "Yours, Mine and ours" Admittedly not all the old movies I watch are "good" but I do enjoy them. She was very vocal bout her complaints when I was debating watching "forbidden planet" one night. I decided to give her a break and watch my other choice the aforementioned "How to marry a millionaire." Considering she was born in 1991 though there are quite a few movies made before she was born which are considered classics. Of course she also objects to my choice in music so of course being the good mom that I am, I dance around to it just to annoy her. I told her long ago it was my job to embarress her and she is getting to believe it. I have it figured out, I'm going to embarress her no matter what I do as she reachs the teen years so she might as well think that I mean to do it. I would like to ask people to submitt poetry and articles, especially those who have done so in the past (or just write me, I am trying to rebuild my address book on this comp.) Submission guidelines are linked below. Comments etc can be sent to me at zeliziw@jbinc.com 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. ~*~*~*~ Snow! By Mina Sweeping yet shapeless glittering white stinging cold or soft delight Packed tight in orbs or shaped in frozen statuary winter palaces snow forts or icy topiary Drifting up high over chilled land will freeze the fingers on any child's hand Snow snow and yet more snow angels made in it as the wind yet blows. ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: Pagan Authors links http://members.tripod.com/pansland/paganauthors.htm And just because I spent quite a while laughing over this one: The 213 Things Skippy is No Longer Allowed to Do in the US Army http://www.skippyslist.com/ ~*~*~*~ Chinese Health/Healing Balls aka Baoding Iron Balls By Jodi Wetherup (ierne) First published on: May 15, 2002 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/women_healing_methods/94045 I only orered these balls from Azure Green because I like the color and pattern - rich, cobalt blue with a Dragon on one, and a Phoenix on the other. I really didn't think I'd be using them as often as I do... Each iron ball is hollow inside, and contains a "sounding plate", one high, an the other low. The tones themselves are soothing, as the balls are rotated or moved. In my particular set, the high tone is the Dragon, and the low tone is the Phoenix. The balls have been in production since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was originally made of solid iron. According to many "New Age" theories, and in fact, Chinese Medicine, there are energy channels running all through out the body, connecting everything to the vital organs and brain. The hands are no exception, and are amazingly full of pressure points an channels. By using the balls in the method described below, you are in fact giving these points and channels a massage that clears any blockages, allowing the energy (chi) to flow unobstructed. Now, for those of you to whom Western medicine is the be all, end all, and ONLY route for a person to take for healing, let me just say this. These balls are recommended by many doctors worldwide, as are stress balls. Why? Because the exercise provided is an excellent therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Arthritis, Writer's Cramp, and muscular aches in the forearm. The balls work the muscles, joints and tendons, all of them, cooperatively, at once - the needed strengthening in many cases. To use the balls, you must first find a set that's the right size for you. I have never seen any other sizes other than the one I have (the balls I have are approximately an inch and a half in diameter), although I do know more sizes exist. It's likely that as I live in a rural area, with limited shopping choices, that the one size is all I could get. Once you've purchased your set, I suggest starting off by rolling one around in your palm, then add the other. Now, roll them clockwise or counter-clockwise by flexing and extending your fingers, in a "drumming" motion. My doc suggested five minutes in each hand to start with, gradually adding time, or sets of time during the day. As many of you know, I'm always looking for ways to meditate easily, as reaching that level of relaxation doesn't come easily to me. If I exercise with the balls in my right hand, while getting my mind to slow down - the relaxed state kinda slips up on me. These balls are not just to look pretty after all...*wink* ~*~*~*~ Suggested book of the week: This is a pre order deal from Amazon. Admttedly I haven't read it yet but I know it is something my oldest is going to want us to buy her when it comes out. (I am thinking birthday present) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and a movie I watch over and over during this time of year: Groundhog Day ~*~*~*~ Skyward Happenings: Astronomy - free software Freeware downloads of planetarium and assorted astronomy programs. http://freeware.intrastar.net/astronmy.htm ~*~*~*~ In the News: Religion in the News Author's Lifetime of Collecting Information on Religious Sects Produces Invaluable Guide The Associated Press Jan. 31 - Americans are proud of their freedom of religion, and the work of J. Gordon Melton shows they have a whole lot of religions to choose from. The Roman Catholic Church may be huge but it's only one among 116 Catholic denominations. Orthodox Christians have an even higher total, and Protestantism is notoriously splintered; its Pentecostal segment alone counts groups by the hundreds. There's a denomination for practically everyone. Rest of story: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030131_438.html ~*~*~*~ Announcement(s): Ostara Awakening a Celebration of the Spring Equinox March 21-23, 2003 Once again the nights and days are equal -- the light is gaining and green leaps into our world. Nature spirits are lively and ready to dance. We celebrate the Spring equinox by focusing on healing and personal growth. Look for workshops on growth and balance in all areas of your personal and Magickal life. We'll honor ourselves and our community with a Reiki workshop and attunements by Osci, a Massage workshop with Doug and Elizabeth, and an open Polyamory Discussion with Moose and Rose. We will also have a healing drum circle and Nature Spirit Ritual to celebrate spring. We welcome all beings of good heart to come celebrate the magic of the new-born spring at Ozark Avalon Church of Nature. The weather may be a little cool still so pack appropriately. Children are welcome and can expect egg dyeing, egg hunting and a visit from the Great Bunny. The Saturday night feast is pot luck: please share your favorite dish. OA is providing main course. All participants are asked to donate time to the community. You may opt for preparing feast, tending the fire, child care, clean up, etc. Saturday's feast will be "My Big Fat Greek Ostara" -- we plan to spit roast a lamb in full seasonal celebration. Please bring side dishes and deserts for the grand feast. Except for the potluck feast Saturday night, all meals are included. Registration includes camping or inside sleeping space. Those who register early may choose location: farm house or trailer, bed, couch or floor. Registration fees are $40, $50 after February 28, $60 at the gate. No refunds will be made after February 28: no exceptions. If an emergency causes a last minute cancellation, the fees can be applied to a future event. Work exchange may be used for all but $10 of the registration. Send the completed registration form at * http://www.ozarkavalon.org/retreat_registration.shtml * with payment to Ozark Avalon, 26213 Cumberland Church Road, Boonville, MO 65233. Make checks and money orders payable to Ozark Avalon. For more information, call (660) 882-6418, (573) 289-3657, or send email to * ws@undata.com *. Bright Blessings! Rose & Moose http://www.ozarkavalon.org DEN Alert: Protect the Arctic Refuge Against a Sneak Attack The 108th Congress convened this month and already oil corporations are renewing their campaign to drill in America's premiere wildlife sanctuary - the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Big Oil's allies in Congress are hatching a back-door scheme to hide their measure in the massive federal budget bill. Last year's bipartisan Senate vote to reject drilling reflected the wishes of a solid majority of Americans. It would be a perversion of the democratic process to use the arcane budget process to authorize this failed and widely discredited proposal. Drilling in the refuge has nothing to do with the federal budget, and this issue shouldn't be decided in that context. The only purpose of putting this issue in the budget is to prevent open legislative debate and could even prevent a vote on the issue. Don't let Big Oil destroy the home of polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, millions of migratory birds, caribou and hundreds of other species - all for six months of oil that would take 10 years to make it to market. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Tell your representative that it's wrong to try to pass Arctic drilling in budget legislation. Thankfully, we have many supporters in Congress, and even more who object to the procedural trickery to which the oil industry and its friends have stooped. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., is collecting the signatures of conservation-minded Republicans on a letter aimed at persuading their party leadership to keep this issue out of the budget process. Please phone your representative and ask him or her to sign Rep. Johnson's letter. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard today at 202-224-3121. Thanks for your support of the Arctic refuge -- the crown jewel of the national wildlife refuge system. When you reach your representative's office, ask to speak with the staff member who handles environmental or energy issues. Here are some suggested talking points: * I urge my representative to show support for one of our nation's last truly wild places - the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - and to sign a letter being circulated by Rep. Nancy Johnson that opposes using the federal budget process to open the refuge to oil exploration and drilling. * The oil industry and its allies in Congress will say or do anything to open the refuge to oil drilling, despite the fact that a majority of Americans oppose drilling there. * Back-door schemes don't change the basic facts: Drilling in the refuge will ruin one of our last great wild places, for what the U.S. Geological Survey estimates is less oil than the United States uses in six months - and it wouldn't get here for 10 years or more. Feel free to forward announcement as you wish but please keep the total announcement together. (In other words: feel free to clip this portion out and send it on to others if you wish.) Announcing for April 1, 2003: The humor edition of Whispers of a Stone Circle : http://jbinc.com/whispers/ What is eligible: Deliberately cheesy poetry, Spoof articles on any pagan subject, Wildly inaccurate History, whatever your little heart finds funny. Goddess in Training Editoria will edit the issue. Deadline: March 15, 2002. Judges: whomever I can con into helping me, (Limit 3, these positions filled up fast last year) Prizes: To be announced as soon as I figure them out. Rules: 1) Submission must be an original work with the copyright still in the name of the writer. Copyright as always remains the author's but agrees to be published in the special edition if deemed the winner. The Winners as well as second, third and all runners up will be placed on the website for the world to read. 2) I would prefer is submissions came in as the body of e-mail but if submitted as an attachment must be a .doc file and something I can read on MS word 97. 3) Author must submit under his or her real or craft name but also must provide a pen (goofy) name for the article to be published under as well as a fake bio for the pen name. The more outrageous the bio the better. The author's real name will be posted with the fake bio in parentheses unless the author begs to be protected from anyone ever knowing he or she wrote the submission. 4) Sections for the contest: poetry and prose, Articles, Other. Please place submission for April Fools' issue: Poetry & prose, submission for April Fools' issue: Article, or submission for April Fools' issue: Other as the subject line of the submission. 5) Submissions will be judged for creativity, originality, and humor. Bios will be considered as part of the submission. 6) Submissions should be made to: zeliziw@jbinc.com on or before March 15, 2003 ~*~*~*~ Writer's Biographies: Mina is a practicing if quiet Witch, living in the Midwest for the past seven years, she is married with three cats, and a yappy part Terrier dog. Only one of which is her familiar, the others are just kitties in waiting. Jodi Wetherup (ierne) is a pagan author/editor/publisher/mom/fill in a ton of other stuff here from Canada. http://busywitch.cjb.net/ Sheila K. Watkins founded and became editor of Whispers of a Stone Circle in October of 2000. She is past editor of The American Witch and Pagan Weekly Newsletter, A long time Wiccan/Pagan/Witch as well as being a Wife and Mother. ~*~*~*~ Submissions are always welcomed and can be made to: zeliziw@jbinc.com Submission guidelines can be found at: http://jbinc.com/whispers/submissions.txt Forwarding information: If you chose to forward this newsletter, Please do so in its entirety, including copyright and contact information. Subscribe: Send an email to Whispers-subscribe@jbinc.com Unsubscribe: Send email to Whispers-unsubscribe@jbinc.com Back issues may be found at: http://www.jbinc.com/Whispers/ All articles, poems, etc, except where noted are copyrighted by the writers and are used with permission. They are not to be republished without the express permission of the writers. Contact information may be obtained by contacting the editor of Whispers of A Stone Circle at: zeliziw@jbinc.com Copyright (c) 2003 Sheila K. Watkins All Rights Reserved. .