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Cauldrons & Broomsticks: a magical newsletter

BELTANE 2005

www.wyldwytch.com

Merry Meet...

... and welcome to the Beltane issue of Weavings' Cauldrons and Broomsticks: a magical newsletter. It seems like only yesterday that we were putting together the Ostara edition and now, here we are at Beltane. Is someone out there fooling around with the cosmic clock? I can remember as a kid hearing my parents say how time goes faster as you get older and that sure seems to be the case. Ah well, enough of this banter and down to business. In this issue of Cauldrons & Broomsticks we bring you the usual wealth of informative articles. We are also starting a new series called People in Magick. We often hear about various people associated with magick and paganism, many who have strongly influenced its course. Some are more well known than others, some who lived way back when. Each Sabbat we hope to bring you a little more insight into the lives and occult world of these people.

Whatever you do this Beltane, remember, it is a time for rejoicing. It is a time for sharing. It is a propitious time for new beginnings - which may well include courtship and marriage, but can also refer to any field of human endeavour. So, above all have fun!

Bright blessings

Garnet & Magi

About Beltane

The origin of the word "Beltane" is unclear, but it is fairly certain that the "-tane" part comes from the Celtic word for fire. Several of the Solar festivals are associated with fire, but the fire of Beltane has a particular significance. In ancient times, the art of making fire was known only to a few. Hunters and travellers would know it, but, in the villages the secret was carefully preserved by just a few privileged men. These men, who might well have been the priests, tended the fire, called the Need Fire, that burned perpetually in the village's main hall; from which all the other fires in all the dwellings of the village would be lit. Once a year, on the eve of Beltane, all the fires in the village would be extinguished, including the Need Fire. The keepers of the flame would go to the woods in the darkness of the night to collect the nine sacred woods to make a new Need Fire, which through their art would blaze up afresh the following morning, and from which everyone in the village would ultimately derive their own source of light and heat.

At this time of year, people could also burn their winter bedding and floor coverings, ready for them to be replaced afresh. Referred to as a Gaelic ceremony, it has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. In Ireland, it supposedly marks the arrival of the Gaels on to Irish shores.

Celtic festivals often tied in with the needs of the community. In spring time, at the beginning of the farming calendar, everybody would be hoping for a fruitful year for their families and fields. Beltane rituals would often include courting, for example, young men and women collecting blossoms in the woods and lighting fires in the evening. These rituals would often lead to matches and marriages, either immediately in the coming summer or autumn.

Early accounts of Beltane celebrations have been passed down by Julius Caesar, whose description of the Scottish Celts celebrations of the festival must be seen as biased. Supposedly, animal sacrifices would be made each Beltane to ensure the fertility of their crops, however, every five years the Highland Celts would sacrifice humans, the numbers being made up of convicted criminals and prisoners of war. They would be sacrificed by the Druids, though the manner of their death would vary. Many were supposedly shot with arrows, but descriptions of Gaulish Celt ceremonies have them being burnt alive in huge wicker men.

Apart from this, there is little evidence to suggest the use of the wicker man but many Iron Age 'bog bodies' have been found preserved in peat in the British Isles and Northern Europe. These show signs of having been ritually murdered in a variety of ways (strangulation, blows to the head, throat cutting and a combination of each). While we do not know if they were sacrificed on Beltane, it does give a glimpse into the savage part of ancient religion.

Fires were lit on hilltops at Beltane as late as the 1700s, and Beltane is still a major ceremonial date in the Wiccan and Pagan year, although today these don't include sacrifices! Later accounts of Beltane festivities refer to a Beltane Cake, baked with eggs. A special piece of this referred to as the Beltane Carline spelt symbolic doom to whoever was unlucky enough to receive it. Once identified, the person with the Beltane Carline would be set upon by some of the others who would attempt to throw them on the fire. This would be prevented by the rest of the festival-goers. The unlucky person would then be considered a symbolic sacrifice and referred as being dead for the rest of the evening.

In nature, the seeds planted last November at Samhain (Sow-an) and moved on their own for the first time in February at Imbolc, are now up and growing (think on the symbolism of this). So for the Celts, this was a time of fertility. The May Pole's phallic shape is but a mild hint at the kind of spring revels that went on during this day and night sacred to the Sun God Bel. The idea of the Sun being masculine is actually a relatively new idea - no more than four or five thousand years old. Originally in the British Isles (as was also the case in most of this Earth of ours), the Sun was a Goddess. (see McCrickard) Bridget, Brighid, Bride and Brigantia, the deity of Imbolc's names.

Greetings to you, Sun of the seasons,
As you travel the skies on high,
With your strong step on the wing of the heights.
You are the happy mother of the stars.

You sink down into the perilous ocean
Without harm and without hurt.
You rise on the quiet wave
Like a young queen in flower.

- Traditional Gaelic Prayer

So at Beltane there is the crowning of the Queen of the May and her King. In their honour, the people dance around the May Pole. Bel supplanted Bride in the British Isles. He was part of the patriarchal takeover of Europe. In Ireland, Bilé, the God of the underworld, is the father of Miled. The sons of Mil (read: Miled), or the Milesians, were the Goidelic Celts who took over Ireland from the Partholanians. They came from Spain, the Gaelic land of the dead. Bel was honoured at Beltane not only as a god of death, but also as a god of life as well, and was depicted as a solar deity. He gained victory over the powers of darkness by bringing the people to within sight of another harvest. At Beltane, all fires were extinguished, and Bel's fire was created from the sacred rays of the Sun, "the sacred fires of Bel." This Fire was then carried to all the hearths of the land.

Beltane is a double Fire Festival, and Fire is a wonderful tool for looking into the past. The cycle is well up and needs fertilization for the next rush of growth, but here is a moment to remember the roots, where this cycle began. How many times have you sat around a camp fire or stared at the burning logs in a fire place and ruminated on the past? As one looks at the glowing embers at the base of the fire, the burning wood takes on all kinds of shapes and meanings - reflections of the past. Beltane is that time for one last look back, one final deep fertilizing breath before the time of massive growth in summer. Fire energizes that growth and fruitfulness, just as the heat of the returning Sun warms the Earth and nourishes the growing seedlings.

Other festivities involved fire which was thought to cleanse, purify and increase fertility. Cattle were often passed between two fires and the properties of the flame and the smoke were seen to ensure the fertility of the herd. Today it is seen to have purifying qualities which cleanse and revitalise. People, leap over the Beltane fire to bring good fortune, fertility (of mind, body and spirit) and happiness through the coming year. But be warned, some say that if you leap sky-clad with your loved one over the Beltane Fire, it insures that you will have a baby in the coming year.

At Beltane the God (to whom the Goddess gave birth at the Winter Solstice) achieves the strength and maturity to court and become lover to the Goddess. So although what happens in the fields has lost its significance for most Pagans today, the creation of fertility is still an important issue.

The Goddess manifests herself in three ways. At Imbolc we see her as the Virgin Bride. Here at Beltane, and again at Lughnasad in early August, the manifestation of the Goddess we see is the Mother - she becomes this, many times, as a result of Beltane lovemaking. She is woman in her prime. Lover. Fully aware. In her power. At Samhain around the first of November, we shall see her in the final phase of this trinity, the wise old woman or the Crone.

Although Beltane is the most overtly sexual festival, Pagans rarely use sex in their rituals although rituals often imply sex and fertility. The tradition of dancing round the maypole contains sexual imagery and is still very popular with modern Pagans. But the maypole is not only a phallic symbol; it is, rather, a symbol of the flames of the new Need Fire for the year to come soaring up to the heavens.

Beltane is also a feast of fertility. The fields are sown, the crops are growing, and in the cycle of the farming year, although there is always some work to be done, there is now a little time to relax and enjoy things for a while before the next surge of activity at harvest time. It may also be a time of charity, when those who have a little left over from their winter store can share with those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Beltane for Kids

Our blessed Mother Earth is now teaming with life and we rush to honour Her reawakening. Given the symbolism of the phallic maypole, this Sabbat is overtly sexual in nature but there are still many ways to celebrate with children.

A favourite tradition on Beltane is to bathe your face in the first drops of dew. Being practical kitchen witches, Scout and I set out washcloths in a bowl and then use that to wipe our faces. This ensures beauty and youthful appearance! So do my Mary Kay products but every little bit helps, doesn't it?

Weaving May baskets and wearing flower garlands is another way to celebrate. Perhaps you could pin a small corsage to your shirt for the day if you are too shy to wear fresh flowers in your hair. In the past, the children and I have made brightly coloured wreaths out of paper plates and tissue paper. Or you could use a variation of Brighid's Crown (from Imbolc article) and instead of adding candles, add tissue paper blooms! Also try cutting long strips of construction paper and weaving them together to create a basket and then fill it with either live or tissue flowers. Try creating a "goodwill" basket filled with flowers, cookies and teas to give to a grandparent or elderly neighbour.

My favourite activity is dancing around the Maypole! Any sort of pole will work, including lampposts, street signs, trees, tether ball poles. Use your imagination! In the past, we have used a sapling in the front of the house. We used crepe paper streamers found at any drugstore or supermarket. Don't buy the cheapest brand because even the more expensive stuff rips and tears. This year, I've decided to create my own reusable, more durable (and more Earth-friendly) Maypole streamers with old sheets and fabric dye! Simply cut the sheets into strips, sew a seam to prevent tearing and then dye any colours you'd like.

From the Witches Kitchen

Holiday Honey Punch

Makes 13 servings (3/4 cups each)

	2 cups boiling water
	3/4 cup honey
	4 cups cranberry juice
	2 cups orange juice
	1 cup lemon juice
	1 quart ginger ale
	ice cubes

Garnish: sliced lemons, limes oranges or strawberries (optional)

Directions: Combine boiling water and honey, stirring to dissolve. Chill. In large punch bowl combine cranberry, orange and lemon juices. Stir in honey mixture. Just before serving add ginger ale, ice cubes and fruit garnish.

OATMEAL LACE COOKIES

	1 cup sugar
	1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
	1/4 cup all purpose flour
	1 tablespoon vanilla extract
	1/4 teaspoon salt
	1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats (either instant or quick-cooking)

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter until well blended. Beat in flour, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir in oats. Cover and refrigerate cookie dough 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough by tablespoonfuls between palms into balls. Place dough balls on baking sheets, spacing 3 1/2 inches apart (cookies will spread during baking). Using bottom of drinking glass as aid, flatten cookies to 1 1/2-inch rounds. Bake until cookies are golden brown, about 11 minutes.

Easy Oatmeal Bread

	1 packet yeast
	2 TBS honey (or molasses)
	1 cup instant oatmeal
	1TBS butter plus enough to coat pan
	1 tsp salt
	1cup unbleached flour plus enough for kneading
	1 cup whole wheat flour

In a mixing bowl, combine yeast, honey and 1 cup warm water. Let sit until yeast is bubbly (5 minutes). Stir in oats and butter and let sit for 5 minutes.

Add salt and flours, stirring in 1/2 cup at a time. Knead dough into a soft blob, return it to bowl and cover bowl with a damp cloth. let rise until double in bulk (about 30 minutes).

Punch dough down and knead until smooth, adding reserved flour as needed.

Shape into a loaf, place in a buttered loaf pan, cover again and let rise. When loaf has doubled in bulk, place in the oven and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

Book Review

by Wyldwytch

Be A Teen Goddess! By Francesca deGrandis

This is a teen instalment of deGrandis’ several popular books available. I will be honest and upfront with you, Francesca is a friend of mine and I have over the years seen her churn out some delightful reads for the Pagan public. This book was her first attempt at really nailing it to a teen audience, and she did a great job. She put a great deal of effort into this work and trying to tackle hard-hitting issues, while providing resources for teens to get the help and information they need, all while trying to convey the Wiccan philosophy – that’s a tall order to stand up to, lets see how she did.

I think the word philosophy in the above paragraph is key, this book is one on Wiccan philosophy. It does provide you with some common practices, spells, and rituals you can do, but I walked away from it with a less informative more self-assured feeling. What do I mean? Ok, say you wanted to read a book on Wicca, one might look for facts, history, and standardized practices – deGrandis does not offer you those, and that is in accordance with her other works, she teaches you her views on Wicca more as a way of life. A live, then learn – a different method of teaching then most are used to, perhaps why she is so appealing to the general masses, she makes you pick up on it as you live it. This being said it could hinder some teens development, it may not initially answer all of your questions.

The book does provide many topics which have been left out in other books of the same genre, you find sexuality, abuse, and lessons on life running through the book – all of which are of extreme importance to the developing teen, yet are left out for their off-limits material.

The nitty gritty – the spells! Everyone wants a spell that will solve all their problems, trust me teens you aren’t alone. The book offers a wonderful resource for self improvement spells, how to perform them, and how to practice at them – most importantly it also conveys the necessity of responsible and ethical practice. Most of her spells are great daily affirmations that can be found in self-help books, she really drives it home that you should love yourself, and that’s key with Teens (and everyone for that matter).

Lets wrap it up, would I recommend this book? Yes, in company of another. I enjoyed her writing style (people who have never read her before may think she is trying to talk to “hip” but I assure you, this is her style), I enjoyed the lessons and self-love she encouraged, and I think her ways of daily practice and affirmations are outstanding. So why do I recommend reading this with another book, because I think this title would stand better with another similar one that offers a more fact-base for the reader. A teen new to the religion may have general questions that frankly, need general answers, which you cannot find here. Francesca has provided a great second-step book for Teens interested in Wicca, one that can really let them get their feet wet with a daily practice. My suggestion: read this as book number two.

To buy from Amazon.com: click here

People in Magick: Albertus Magnus

By Magi

Albertus Magnus, born under the name of Albert de Groot, was born in Larvington an der Donau, Swabia (now Germany) between the years of 1193 and 1206, although, this date as well as his date of death (presumably November 15th, 1280 ) is still being debated.

It has been said of Albertus, that he was a "Magnus in Magia, Major in Philosophia, and Maximus in Theologia". Among his many talents he was also a physician, an astrologer, and physicist. He was also a master of the magical arts. Albertus' detractors have accused him of holding communications with Satan and using "The Black Arts" to create a "living automa", on the other side of the coin, it has also been alleged that the Virgin Mary appeared to a young Albertus and bestowed upon him the entire sum of all the knowledge of the Universe past, present and future.

Albertus was self taught in natural science ( of which he became the Patron Saint in 1941 ), and was regarded as an expert in logic, rhetoric, mathematics, ethics,and metaphysics. He was also the only man to be referred to as "Magnus" i.e. "The Great" in his own lifetime and won the title of Bishop of Ratisbon.

It is said Albertus undertook a thirty year task of building an automaton which he named "Android" Using "angels from the neverworld" and from the powers of "The Philosophers Stone" he created the "metals and material unknown to this world" and chose them "according to the stars and planets". The android was instilled with the powers of speech and according to some reports a Soul! Upon completion, his student, St Thomas, destroyed the " diabolic being" and denounced it as "a tool of Satan and a blasphemy to God" Albertus is also the creator of "The Box of Secrets".

The Box is the supposed third holder of the secret of "The Philosophers Stone" the first being Albertus and the second St Thomas Aquinus. The six sides of the box are constructed of two sets of panels, three of lead, representing the alchemists "Triangle of knowledge of the Earth" sublimation, separation and conviction, and three of gold, representing the alchemists "Triangle of Knowledge of the Heavens", philosophy astrology and magic. Encrusted with various symbols of alchemy and the signs of the planets, the box promises wealth and knowledge equalled only by God himself. It is said that when the signs and symbols have been arranged into "the shape of The Masters Plan" shall open portals to the other side".

Albertus' private diary describes the box's' graphic layout and colour scheme

"The box, constructed to protect the secrets of the stone, three sides of the bastard metal Lead and three of the Holy Gold. Each of the six sides when combined form the triangles of knowledge....."

".....A balance of the universe shall employ upon the possessor the knowledge of the heavens and unlock the powers of God. Man alone cannot disturb the march of the planets but, by once again summoning the keepers we part the veil and behold, The distant elements of the planets are harmonized and relationships not previously seen are made visible......"

According to the records of death for the year of 1280 Albertus was laid to rest. He was beatified in 1622 and declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1931, at which time he was acclaimed an official Doctor of the Church. In 1941 Pope Pius XII made him the patron of all who study the natural sciences. His Saint day is November 15.

Bilé

(from: Encyclopaedia Mythica - http://www.pantheon.org/)

The Celtic god of light and healing, "Bel" means "shining one," or in Irish Gaelic, the name "bile" translates to "sacred tree." It is thought that the waters of Danu, the Irish All-Mother goddess, fed the oak and produced their son, The Dagda. As the Welsh Beli, he is the father of Arianrhod by Don.

Patron of sheep and cattle, Bel's festival is Beltane, one of two main Celtic fire festivals. Beltane celebrates the return of life and fertility to the world -- marking the beginning of Summer and the growing season. Taking place on April 30, Beltane also is sometimes referred to as "Cetsamhain" which means "opposite Samhain." The word "Beltaine" literally means "bright" or "brilliant fire," and refers to the bonfire lit by a presiding Druid in honour of Bile.

"Some believe this deity is the equivalent of Belatucadros, the consort of Belisama, another patroness of light, fire, the forge and crafts. Belatucadros, whose name means "fair shining one" or possibly "the fair slayer," is the god of destruction and war and transports the dead to Danu's "divine waters." Celtic deities often reign over seemingly contradictory themes. In the case of Belatucadros, death was simply a pathway to rebirth in the Otherworld, thus linking the two themes together. However, according to Ross's Pagan Celtic Britain, historically the worship of Belatucadros among the Celts was confined only the northwestern region of Britain and has never been associated with the festival of Beltane, healing or with a consort (pg. 235).

It has been suggested that the mythological king, Beli Mawr, in the story of Lludd and Llefelys in The Mabinogion, is a folk memory of this god. In Irish mythology, the great undertakings of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians -- the original supernatural inhabitants of Eiru and their human conquerors, respectively -- began at Beltane. The Milesians were led by Amairgen, son of Mil, in folklore reputed to be the first Druid.

16 Must-Have Herbs for the Kitchen Witch

by Garnet WindDancer

I was going to make a list of the Top Ten herbs but as I started going looking through my notes, I just felt I couldn’t leave any of the others off the list and so it grew to sixteen. The number isn’t significant for any other reason than I couldn’t eliminate any of the herbs I’ve mentioned! There are still many others that I want to grow for myself but I’ve limited the list to herbs that I have personal experience with growing and harvesting. I would be very interested in hearing from you on this matter. If you have experiences with any of the herbs I discuss or feel that there are herbs I haven’t mentioned that I should have, then please, e-mail me at garnet@winddancer.me.uk

Basil – Basil is one herb that does very well indoors or out. I keep a large plant in the kitchen window all year round. It gets plenty of morning light in the warmer months and growth speeds up. In the winter months, with less light, it holds its own but doesn’t really grow very much. Plant basil outdoors in full sun and pinch off growing tips (the tiny, new leaves at the tip of each stalk) to encourage a bushy shape otherwise it will get leggy (speaking from experience here!). Harvest leaves often to encourage growth. While its culinary uses are pretty much legendary, little may be known of its magical properties. Basil is a staple in love magic. Keep a potted basil plant in your bedroom to increase intimacy or make sachets to slip under your mattress or pillows. If you want to open yourself up to receive love, then carry a sachet of basil in your pocket or purse. Basil also has a place in money spells. If you have difficult co-workers or a volatile workplace, then keep a pot of basil on your desk for its protective energies. Just rubbing the leaves to release the aroma will make you feel better and you can always harvest leaves and put them in a baggie to bring home for the dinner pot.

Bay – This is my first season with bay. I have always used the dried leaves in Italian cooking, stews and soups but have never grown it before so this is a trial period for me. It’s a tradition in our family that whoever finds the bay leaf that I’ve forgotten to strain out will have good luck. It is an excellent plant for container gardening. It needs full sun or just partial shade in order to thrive and must be brought inside during the winter months as cold temperatures and strong winds will damage or kill the plant. The Bay Laurel is a most noble plant, as the twigs and leaves were fashioned into wreaths to crown the heads of ancient heroes. It is said that the nymph, Daphne, transformed into the first laurel to escape the passion of Apollo who then adopted it as his sacred tree. The bay also has powers of healing, psychic powers, purification and the ability to confer strength. Bruise a few bay leaves and add them to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for a few minutes and then drink the broth to aid in divination. Often, people keep two potted bays on either side of the entrance to their home. Most people think of it as an aesthetic choice but in fact, bay offers protective properties and will guard the entrance of your home.

Catnip – A member of the mint family, catnip is really easy to grow. A word of warning, though! As are all mint varieties, it is incredibly invasive and will takeover a garden very easily so prune mercilessly or keep it in containers or raised beds. Expect the plants to regularly be attacked by any or all neighbourhood felines. It isn’t only cats who love it because last year, I blamed the cat for eating all the new growth when it was really the dog! I finally caught him at it one night. It didn’t seem to have the same effect on him, though. Catnip grows well anywhere in the garden or window sill but prefers full sun. The leaves makes a pleasant, light green, minty tea which can be used to aid in beauty and love spells. Considering the effect it has on cats, it’s no wonder that it also has the magical quality of promoting happiness. I’ve used the tea before to relax the symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramping.

Chamomile – People have been singing the praises of chamomile tea as a sleep aid for years now. It’s also used in love and money spells and for purification. When herb gardening is mentioned, chamomile is nearly always included. It grows from seed very well anywhere in the garden. The dried flowers, not the leaves, are the potent part of the plant and, along with lavender, are a staple in dream pillow recipes.

Coriander (Cilantro) – I love this herb! I grew up calling it cilantro but it is known as coriander in the U.K. Having made my own salsa from fresh ingredients, I will never again eat the stuff from a jar. And the pungent taste of the fresh chopped cilantro leaves is the main reason. It’s also delicious in a number of sauces and Chinese dishes. The seeds are a staple in most herb cabinets although I’ve never really cooked with them. To be honest, this is not an easy plant to grow. Or maybe I just have bad luck with them. All the books say keep the plants in full sun in well-drained soil. I mention it because it is one of my favourite culinary herbs. Good luck if you decide to try it and please, if you get on well, let me know! The seeds or the leaves can be used in healing spells.

Dill – Yummy! Another favourite. Dill is a pretty, delicate plant. It needs to be planted in full sun but should be protected from heavy rain or strong winds. It’s an annual so when you are harvesting, allow some plants to remain and self-seed and you should always have new growth the following Spring. The feathery leaves are delicious sprinkled on top of cucumber sandwiches, potato salads, tuna salad and egg dishes. Two magical uses of dill are in love sachets and protection spells.

Lavender – Who hasn’t experienced this beautiful little plant? The scent of lavender has long been associated with feelings of tranquillity and peacefulness. It is the staple ingredient, along with chamomile, in dream pillows. I have an eye mask with lavender sewn into it which I wear when I have migraines or just need a good night’s sleep. The leaves and flowers dry beautifully and retain their odour well so they make attractive wreaths and dried flower arrangements. Lavender grows best in full sun and can be grown from seeds. However, cuttings are the best way to propagate the plant. In the Autumn, clip the plant lightly with garden shears to promote new growth in the Spring. Lavender is used often in love spells. Carry a snippet with you or toss a sachet of lavender into your clothing drawer or hang in your closet to attract love into your life. You can also scent your stationary with a sprig of lavender.

Lemon Balm – I make no secret that lemon balm is my absolute favourite herb (well, it’s tied with rosemary as number one). I fell in love with this plant several years ago and since then, have always grown it. I love to walk by it and rub the leaves because of the delicious, lemony scent. It’s an instant mood enhancer when you’re feeling a bit out of sorts. It grows fast and well from seed, sprouting within a week, and does well in containers. It is an incredibly hardy perennial and almost impossible to kill so it would be a great starter plant for beginners. Last year, I planted a lemon balm seedling in a container but didn’t do much gardening due to the birth of my daughter. I thought it had died off from lack of regular watering but lo and behold, this Spring, after I had trimmed away all the dead branches, there was new growth, all bright green and fragrant, popping up from the roots. It’s been about a month since I’ve rescued it and it has already quadrupled in size. It’s a good idea to divide the root ball into two plants when it comes time to re-pot it. Lemon balm tea is great for soothing indigestion and stomach upsets and can also be used as a rinse for laundry. Infuse your bath water with it to help relieve a headache or just as a general pick-me-up (just toss a handful of fresh leaves into a luke-warm bath or make it into a tea and pour it into the water). You can also rub the leaves on an insect bite for relief of itching and stinging. Magically, lemon balm is used in love spells and aphrodisiacs.

Marjoram (Oregano) – This can get confusing as there are several varieties of marjoram and one of them is, in fact, oregano. Sweet marjoram is a tender perennial that needs to be wintered out of frost. Wild marjoram is more commonly known as oregano and is a hardy perennial that is a staple of Italian cooking. Marjoram is carried or placed about the home in sachets for its protective abilities and is also used in money spells.

Mint – The joy and the bane of every gardener, mint grows fast, well and can always be counted on to flourish where you plant it. The problem is, it will also flourish where you don’t want it! It is incredibly invasive and will take over any garden, given a free reign. Basic garden mint is not an overly attractive plant but it smells so nice that it’s hard to leave it out. My very favourite of the many mint varieties is chocolate peppermint. Not only does it smell like a slice of heaven, it’s also a pretty little plant. Spearmint is also really nice. In the kitchen, mint can be used for any number of sauces and jellies. It can also be chopped, fresh, and added to soups and salads. I love to pick a handful of leaves, gently bruise them and then freeze them in water in ice cube containers. Just pop one of the cubes into your iced tea or better yet, lemon aid, and you have a wonderful summer treat. You can also use this method to preserve mint by emptying the cubes into a freezer bag instead of the traditional drying method. Mint is commonly used in money spells. According to Scott Cunningham, you can keep a few leaves in your wallet to attract money and prosperity. It’s also used in healing magic.

Mugwort – This is the one herb on this list that I haven’t grown yet. I’m waiting for my seeds in the mail. It just seems right to include it. It’s a variety of Artemisia and so related to wormwood and southernwood. Wormwood is an ingredient in absinthe so I’m assuming mugwort, as a close relative, has similar properties. I would not suggest ingesting mugwort at all but you can use a sprig of it under your pillow to induce prophetic dreams. And because of its highly protective properties, keeping some of it in a sachet on your person or in your vehicle will help keep you safe. Just make sure it is not left anywhere that a child or animal could get hold of it. And never handle mugwort in any way if you are pregnant.

Parsley – I think parsley is the most underrated herb in the garden. I’d gotten so used to seeing it as a garnish on a dinner plate that I forgot just how delicious it really is, in the kitchen. According to lore, parsley became known as a garnish for meals because of its protective properties and the belief that it would ward off contamination! Parsley can be tough to grow from seed because it needs to be very moist and very warm as it germinates. Try soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours before sewing into well-watered soil. I’ve never tried it but the roots of Hamburg Parsley are supposed to be parsnip-like and edible.

Pennyroyal – Pennyroyal is another member of the mint family. It has a really strong, peppermint-y smell that may not be agreeable to everyone. It certainly isn’t agreeable to insects and is often planted near entrances to homes to keep out ants and other pests that will try to invade your home. Try planting it around your rosebushes to keep pests away. You can also cut some of the stalks and bind them together with twine and leave them in your cupboards to discourage bugs of all sort. I’ve known people who have made pet collars treated with pennyroyal to discourage fleas but do not use on or around your pets if any of them (or you!) are pregnant. Like lemon balm, it can also be used on insect bites and stings. Magically, pennyroyal is used in peace and harmony spells.

Rosemary – Along with lemon balm, rosemary is my favourite herb. They are firmly tied for first place in my affections. I’ve always started with seedlings so I’m not sure how easy it is to germinate the seeds. It’s supposed to be fairly easy to propagate by cuttings of the plant, as well. I have two plants at the moment, and they both wintered well out of doors, in their containers. It’s fair to say that I harvest off of them much more often any other of my herbs. In a climate where they may not winter well, try bringing them indoors. I’m always snipping bits off to use in recipes. Wrap the branches in cheesecloth before adding to pork or beef dishes so that the meal is flavoured by but not overwhelmed with the herb. For potato dishes, strip the leaves from the branch and chop very finely. Keep in mind, when cooking with rosemary that a little goes a long way! This herb is especially relevant at Samhain because it is the traditional herb of remembrance; cook with it, place it on your ancestor altar or wear a sprig of it pinned to your lapel to celebrate the Sabbat. As for its magical properties, rosemary is used as a purification incense. You can dry a bunch of the stalks, bound together with twine (much like a sage smudge) and burn it to purify your space or a sick room. Wash your hands in a rosemary infusion before doing any healing or spellwork. Keep a bunch of dried rosemary hanging about the house for its protective properties.

Sage – I love sage. Along with rosemary, it’s one of the first herbs that I grew. I wanted to make my own smudge sticks but quickly learned that sage has many other wonderful uses, as well. Obviously, it’s a well known kitchen herb, working well with poultry, pork and stuffings but did you know that an infusion of sage tea is an effective cough expectorant? Doesn’t necessarily taste that great but it does work! Sage is a hardy perennial but doesn’t always winter well. It will survive as long as the winter isn’t too long or harsh but will look really raggedy throughout the Spring. It will start perking up again in early Summer, though. Prune it well, leaving as much stem as you can and then bind the bunch together with twine and allow to dry to create smudge sticks. Light it and use the smoke to purify your home of negative energies. Sage also promotes wisdom and clear thoughts. Either burn some sage or eat some of it in a meal or a tea when you have a difficult decision to make, exams to take or are wondering which step to take next.

Thyme – Thyme grows well indoors or out. It’s a pretty, low-growing plant that looks really nice on the kitchen window sill or in containers in the garden. It’s delicious when used with meats or potatoes. As with rosemary, I usually bunch the fresh thyme in cheesecloth to toss in a stew or a roast and will finely chop it for use with roasted potatoes. There are many different varieties of thyme but the one most commonly used in the kitchen is called English or garden thyme. I also really love orange-scented thyme, as well. Because it’s bushy and low-growing, you could try a variety of thymes in a strawberry pot for an attractive arrangement. If you have the space, consider growing a patch of thyme in lieu of grass on a less travelled path of your garden. The smell is heavenly when it’s mowed over or stepped on. Magically, thyme is used to promote good health and is, consequently, a main ingredient in healing spells. According to Scott Cunningham, a cleansing bath of marjoram and thyme in the Springtime will “ensure that all sorrows and ills of the past are removed from the person”. It can also be used to purify sacred space before magical workings.

Gardening Tips from the Weavings forum

From Garnet: True leaves...okay, when they first sprout, all baby leaves sort of look the same. They're rounded and tiny. But as the seedlings grow, then their true leaves will pop up. You'll recognize them because they look different than the first leaves to appear. My lemon balm seedlings have just sprouted their first pair of true leaves!! Wait until there are 2 SETS of true leaves before transplanting.

Anyway, for those who do not know, to find the growing tip, look at the very end of the plant stalk. They are the uppermost, smaller leaves that are just staring to sprout. Pinch those off to encourage growth farther down the plant instead of it getting all long and leggy, like mine did.

From Blackbird: Its always been recommended to me that you buy sprouted cuttings of Rosmary and Lavender since their a bit of a pain to start from seed and grow slowly even if they sprout

Mint is very easy to grow and that's the big problem, keeping it under control the best solution is to plant it in a pot then plant the pot in the ground with part of the pot above the soil

From Kayco: When you plant green pepper seeds, drop a match in the hole before the seeds. Green peppers like the sulphur from the match head. They also do not like to be fed plant food like miracle grow, just keep the soil moist and let them grow.

You can "plant" an amethyst in your garden to make if flourish. Plant it in the middle of whatever you are growing, and your plants will do very well ( with the right care of course)

From Cuilean: Also remember you'll have herbs that spread. Sage is one and chamomile is another. You will find bits of them all over the place so make sure you pull any unwanted starters. Lemon balm, sage, lavender and chamomile are my basic starter herbs. All are hardy and impossible to go wrong with. Tomatoes and peppers in the veggie garden are great starters. Cucumbers, too.

I use those little cardboard looking pots that you can plant whole into the ground. They are biodegradable. Also you should keep your seedlings warm and moist. I have a little plastic hothouse I put on top on my dining room table in the sun, so they get a fuzzy sunlight and are kept warm. I have put them on top of my dryer so they get the heat from it too and keep them very moist.

I also just read of a spray to make with wormwood to act as an insecticide. Boil it for 30 minutes. Use as a spray to help keep insects from your carrots etc..

From Dreamer: Herbs: If you've never gardened before, I'd suggest that you rummage around in your local nurseries/Wal-Marts, etc., and find seedlings. This way you can get a feel for how herbs grow (most like well-drained soil to average soil, plenty of sunlight - although not scorching, and just enough water to keep them happy - depends upon your location. More plants (with a few exceptions) are killed with over watering than anything else, I think).

Garden Themes

Here are some links to various garden themes you might want to try out:

	Zodiac Garden http://www.oloughlintradeshows.com/cgi-bin/features.cgi?fid=128&other=
	Faery Garden http://www.fairylandtrust.org/fairygarden.html
	Moon Garden http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_other/article/0,1785,HGTV_3609_1390819,00.html
	Butterfly Garden http://www.butterflyhouse.org/gardening.html
	Bird Garden http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/wildlife/handbooks/birds/3.html

In The News

Decoded at last: the 'classical holy grail' that may rewrite the history of the world

For more than a century, it has caused excitement and frustration in equal measure - a collection of Greek and Roman writings so vast it could redraw the map of classical civilisation. If only it was legible.

Now, in a breakthrough described as the classical equivalent of finding the holy grail, Oxford University scientists have employed infra-red technology to open up the hoard, known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, and with it the prospect that hundreds of lost Greek comedies, tragedies and epic poems will soon be revealed.

In the past four days alone, Oxford's classicists have used it to make a series of astonishing discoveries, including writing by Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod and other literary giants of the ancient world, lost for millennia. They even believe they are likely to find lost Christian gospels, the originals of which were written around the time of the earliest books of the New Testament.

The original papyrus documents, discovered in an ancient rubbish dump in central Egypt, are often meaningless to the naked eye - decayed, worm-eaten and blackened by the passage of time. But scientists using the new photographic technique, developed from satellite imaging, are bringing the original writing back into view. Academics have hailed it as a development which could lead to a 20 per cent increase in the number of great Greek and Roman works in existence. Some are even predicting a "second Renaissance".

Christopher Pelling, Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Oxford, described the new works as "central texts which scholars have been speculating about for centuries".

Professor Richard Janko, a leading British scholar, formerly of University College London, now head of classics at the University of Michigan, said: "Normally we are lucky to get one such find per decade." One discovery in particular, a 30-line passage from the poet Archilocos, of whom only 500 lines survive in total, is described as "invaluable" by Dr Peter Jones, author and co-founder of the Friends of Classics campaign.

The papyrus fragments were discovered in historic dumps outside the Graeco-Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchus ("city of the sharp-nosed fish") in central Egypt at the end of the 19th century. Running to 400,000 fragments, stored in 800 boxes at Oxford's Sackler Library, it is the biggest hoard of classical manuscripts in the world.

The previously unknown texts, read for the first time last week, include parts of a long-lost tragedy - the Epigonoi ("Progeny") by the 5th-century BC Greek playwright Sophocles; part of a lost novel by the 2nd-century Greek writer Lucian; unknown material by Euripides; mythological poetry by the 1st-century BC Greek poet Parthenios; work by the 7th-century BC poet Hesiod; and an epic poem by Archilochos, a 7th-century successor of Homer, describing events leading up to the Trojan War. Additional material from Hesiod, Euripides and Sophocles almost certainly await discovery.

Oxford academics have been working alongside infra-red specialists from Brigham Young University, Utah. Their operation is likely to increase the number of great literary works fully or partially surviving from the ancient Greek world by up to a fifth. It could easily double the surviving body of lesser work - the pulp fiction and sitcoms of the day.

"The Oxyrhynchus collection is of unparalleled importance - especially now that it can be read fully and relatively quickly," said the Oxford academic directing the research, Dr Dirk Obbink. "The material will shed light on virtually every aspect of life in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt, and, by extension, in the classical world as a whole."

The breakthrough has also caught the imagination of cultural commentators. Melvyn Bragg, author and presenter, said: "It's the most fantastic news. There are two things here. The first is how enormously influential the Greeks were in science and the arts. The second is how little of their writing we have. The prospect of having more to look at is wonderful."

Bettany Hughes, historian and broadcaster, who has presented TV series including Mysteries of the Ancients and The Spartans, said: "Egyptian rubbish dumps were gold mines. The classical corpus is like a jigsaw puzzle picked up at a jumble sale - many more pieces missing than are there. Scholars have always mourned the loss of works of genius - plays by Sophocles, Sappho's other poems, epics. These discoveries promise to change the textual map of the golden ages of Greece and Rome."

When it has all been read - mainly in Greek, but sometimes in Latin, Hebrew, Coptic, Syriac, Aramaic, Arabic, Nubian and early Persian - the new material will probably add up to around five million words. Texts deciphered over the past few days will be published next month by the London-based Egypt Exploration Society, which financed the discovery and owns the collection.

Since it was unearthed more than a century ago, the hoard of documents known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri has fascinated classical scholars. There are 400,000 fragments, many containing text from the great writers of antiquity. But only a small proportion have been read so far. Many were illegible.

Now scientists are using multi-spectral imaging techniques developed from satellite technology to read the papyri at Oxford University's Sackler Library. The fragments, preserved between sheets of glass, respond to the infra-red spectrum - ink invisible to the naked eye can be seen and photographed.

The fragments form part of a giant "jigsaw puzzle" to be reassembled. Missing "pieces" can be supplied from quotations by later authors, and grammatical analysis.

Key words from the master of Greek tragedy

Speaker A: . . . gobbling the whole, sharpening the flashing iron.

Speaker B: And the helmets are shaking their purple-dyed crests, and for the wearers of breast-plates the weavers are striking up the wise shuttle's songs, that wakes up those who are asleep.

Speaker A: And he is gluing together the chariot's rail.

These words were written by the Greek dramatist Sophocles, and are the only known fragment we have of his lost play Epigonoi (literally "The Progeny"), the story of the siege of Thebes. Until last week's hi-tech analysis of ancient scripts at Oxford University, no one knew of their existence, and this is the first time they have been published.

Sophocles (495-405 BC), was a giant of the golden age of Greek civilisation, a dramatist who work alongside and competed with Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes.

His best-known work is Oedipus Rex, the play that later gave its name to the Freudian theory, in which the hero kills his father and marries his mother - in a doomed attempt to escape the curse he brings upon himself. His other masterpieces include Antigone and Electra.

Sophocles was the cultured son of a wealthy Greek merchant, living at the height of the Greek empire. An accomplished actor, he performed in many of his own plays. He also served as a priest and sat on the committee that administered Athens. A great dramatic innovator, he wrote more than 120 plays, but only seven survive in full.

Last week's remarkable finds also include work by Euripides, Hesiod and Lucian, plus a large and particularly significant paragraph of text from the Elegies, by Archilochos, a Greek poet of the 7th century BC.

Join the Global Call to Action Against Poverty

The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a world-wide alliance committed to forcing world leaders to live up to their promises, and to make a breakthrough on poverty in 2005.

You can be part of this global movement by wearing the white band in 2005. Whether you are a member of an organisation, or an individual who wants to act against poverty, find out more about how you can take action now. Start by finding out about the Global Week of Action on Trade and the Global Week of Action on Education.

For more information on the issues that we are working on to make a difference in 2005 visit: http://www.whiteband.org or if you are in the UK also visit http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/

Throughout 2005, groups and individuals will be planning their own local, national and international activities.

To find out about the plans in your countries visit the national campaigns page, and also take a look at their latest news.

2005 is our chance to ask politicians and leaders what they are going to do to overcome poverty, and to demand that they act on it now. This is an opportunity for all of us, together, to demand that world leaders act against poverty. This is an alliance of all people who believe in ending poverty; existing coalitions, community groups, Trade Unions, individuals, Religious and Faith groups, campaigners and more.

Weavings' Cauldrons & Broomsticks: a magical newsletter is an online email newsletter for the Pagan population at large. We cover topics ranging from Wicca, Witchcraft, and Druids, to Ceremonial Magic, Kabala, and herb lore. Each Sabbat (Eight a year) you’ll receive this wonderful newsletter in your email box…free! If you have a question or comment, please send them to CandB (at) Wyldwytch (dot) Com. Disclaimer: We wish to make it clear that we are nothing to do with "Cauldrons and Broomsticks eZine"

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Last update: 20 June 2006 .