THE TEMPLE BELL Official Newsletter of the Temple of Witchcraft

TEMPLE OF WITCHCRAFT THE TEMPLE BELL Official newsletter of the Temple of Witchcraft

QuarterlySamhain 2011 Temple Bell are proud to offer this Enochian Magic, and The Small-Town Samhain’s issue along the theme of Pagan’s Survival Guide, as well as the From the Women’s Mysteries. In our Founders abundance of ritual and poetic offerings Corner, Adam Sartwell offers a from Shea Morgan, gorgeous Editor... meditation on the polarity principle photography by Andrea Johnston and and the gifts women bring to the Rayna Hamre, and a Nebet-Het rite for Blessings of the Season, friends! Temple community. Also along our use in Shadow work from Emily Jones. theme, Silver Moone addresses the The light is waning and the darkness importance of the womb in women’s It has been my privilege and pleasure to gathers. From where I write this, in the spirituality, Matooka MoonBear- edit The Temple Bell for these six smoky and assuredly wilds of Eastern MacGowan meditates on the mystery issues. As I have recently returned to Tennessee, the sun is just setting, and of the Divine Feminie, and Shea graduate school to pursue a degree in the evening light has set the scarlet and Morgan offers several ritual pieces storytelling, I will be handing the reins copper colored mountain leaves on fire invoking the powerful goddesses over to Raye Snover and Tina Whittle, with glory. Hecate and The Morrigan. In addition who I have no doubt will do a masterful to these offerings, Rayna Hamre gives a job in supervising the future of the Bell. Samhain could be argued to be our I have greatly enjoyed working with most holy of holidays. It is a time of beautiful reflection on her spiritual journey and her relationship to the each and every contributor here in starry revels and shadow work – of these pages and in every issue of the greeting our Beloved Dead from Temple community, and Howling Hill offers some great green tips for Witches Bell, and I look forward to reading beyond the veil and speaking to familiar subsequent issues and in learning about spirits and honored gods at the committed to ecological practices at home. And of course be sure to check the continued movement of the Temple midnight altar. The Wild Hunt rides, and its vibrant community! the jack-lanterns grin, and we mark the out the review section, where Darryl turning of the season and the McGlynn and Raye Snover take a look May your Samhain days be full of the importance of remembrance in our at The Afflicted Girls, The Lost Art of coppery light of an exquisite autumn, ritual work. and your nights awash in the Mystery of the Great Serpent and the thrill of the And we also give honor to the dark Wild Hunt’s dark ride. goddesses, those Fierce Sisters: Hecate, Baba Yaga, The Morrigan, Ceridwen, Blessings. Lilith…the Old Bone Woman at the Ruby Sara back of the room, howling with Editor-in-Chief the winter wind. These ancient and terrifying faces teach us the Samhain, 2011 wisdom of facing our fear in the The Temple Bell is the work of the dark, of embracing the shadowy members of the Temple, and will corners of our soul, the power to continue to grow with your effort and hex and to heal, to bind and to enthusiasm! If you are interested in loosen, to free and to fetch. They writing for The Temple Bell, please are the Witch Mothers, and this is contact the editor-in-chief at their season. [email protected]. Thus, in honor of these dark mothers and sisters, and in keeping with our series of themed issues, we at the

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 1 FOUNDERS CORNER • WOMEN’S MYSTERIES • When we are in circle I like to look around the room yourself into the role of super gay or super straight and you looking for the Goddess. She is always at circle, because She may find that you become blind to the other possibilities resides in the powerful women who come to work with Her. that fall in the middle. We all fall in the middle of this As I look about the room I see that we founders are blessed spectrum somewhere; no one is 100 percent anything. We to be surrounded by so many representations of the exist on this spectrum so that we can be able to label and Goddess in all her glory. The women who come to do the judge what is going on, this is essential to our ability to Great Work embody the Goddess in all that they do. There make choices and find our own identities. are Maidens playing games of hide and go seek while grown- ups clean up, Mothers raising children to embody the This polarity helps us find what we embody in our present aquarian age, Grandmothers who give their advice and identity. It helps us find what our story is. This gives us the service to the temple and a hundred thousand other self knowledge to make informed choices about our lives. archetypes and stories of the Goddess being played out What needs to be changed and what should be the same? As before me. we walk this road we sometimes have to experience closing ourselves off to one energy to really understand the energy We founders are gay men. We have no idea what it is like to we embody. This is why we are sometimes called to work in be a woman in this age. We may have had past lives as closed groups in order to work through these energies. This women and can embody some of the goddesses’ traits is why we have a woman's circle for women to have spiritually, and we can work with our inner aspects of the experiences with the power of womanhood and the feminine, but we can’t speak to what it is like to physically Goddess. This is why we founders go to Between the Worlds be a woman in this lifetime. We live in a special age where gay mens’ gathering. We find out more about ourselves and we are working toward a place of equality and acceptance. come back to our community stronger and more able to Our orders’ hope for the future is based on Aquarian ideas serve in alignment with our great work or our great story. of utopia. We are trying to create the kind of balanced We become mirrors for each other to reflect on how these society where all can be honored for their abilities no matter greater energies of polarity are playing out within ourselves what we are labeled. no matter our sex. In Hermetics they talk about how everything has an equal It is beautiful to see the women who embody the Goddess and opposite in this world. The law of polarity shows us that coming into the circle. We have so many of the Goddess’ there are always two extremes. Light and dark, gay and faces. I give thanks to the Goddess for our powerful women. straight, woman and man, and the examples go on and on. May they continue to offer up their nurturing, creativity, Each of these things is an example of opposing poles of the healing, mediation, teaching, strength, organization, ritual spectrum of existence. To be able to categorize what experiences, protection, stewardship and wisdom. May we something is or isn’t, or to label it in any way there must be be able to offer our support, love and gratitude to them in a two poles that are at extremes. We all fall in the middle meaningful way. May we recognize that though sometimes somewhere of these extremes. Light has many gradations; if we have to travel different roads, all roads lead back to you, we go too close to one extreme, we blind ourselves. Force Goddess. Blessed be.

WOMEN’S MYSTERIES ACCORDING TO THE CRONE by Matooka MoonBear-MacGowan The mysteries of the divine feminine are not tied up in a neat little package like a pill you take before bed. The feminine is messy and unorganized or so it would seem to the cultures of today. These mysteries are deeply carved in the heart, soul and DNA of every woman and so, she moves in rhythm or in chaos with its dance, but move she will to the calling of its sacred song! To some of us the song is sweet and potent with life. To others it is wrought with the uncertain or worse, evil doings. It is blood, guts, deep and primal! To know them, woman must enter herself deeply. What does that mean? She must come to know the stuff that leaks out! Know the ooze that no one wants to acknowledge or see because it is frightening, and untamed. Women cycle with the moon and the seasons. We ebb and flow as the ocean. We are the gateway to life in this world. We hold the magick of creation just as each tiny seed holds potential. We are life, death and rebirth every month! The psyche of each woman is unique unto the archetype of her inner goddess. Her talents must be tapped and brought into life’s dance that she may truly live. She must find her most authentic nature and that, my friends, is only found within the divine feminine mystery.

2The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE News from the Temple Ministries If you are interested in being involved in one as we prepare to enter the dark of the Outer Temple of Witchcraft. Through of the Temple’s ministries, or volunteering year and we had ten ritual participants. rituals, classes and other ministerial for any ministry events, please contact the It has been encouraging to see that work, Valerie and I hope to be able to individual Lead Minister of the ministry you each ritual has attracted more continue to grow the Temple of are interested in. participants. I feel that there is a real Witchcraft in Colorado. interest in Temple of Witchcraft and I COLORADO ACTIVITIES anticipate that our number of ritual AQUARIUS MINISTRY participants will continue to grow. Reported by Emily Jones ✦ Team TempleFest had its kickoff Our next open rituals will be Samhain 2012 meeting. On Sunday, June 21, 2011, the Temple of on Sunday, October 30 and then Yule Witchcraft offered its first open sabbat on Sunday, December 18. Valerie will be SCORPIO MINISTRY ritual in Colorado as we celebrated the lead celebrant for Samhain and I Litha with a ritual led by Valerie will be the lead celebrant for Yule. We ✦ Planning for sacred sexuality Heiderich. To me, the most memorable are holding the Temple of Witchcraft course series. part of the ritual was dancing with the rituals at Full Moon Books, which is a fairies in a room that had beautiful ✦ Planning for an ancestor altar for metaphysical store in Lakewood, the office. fairy artwork by the artist Lisa Steinke Colorado. At this time, we are offering all over the walls. We started out small, open rituals for all of the sabbats, but with only four in attendance, but we may be able to add esbat rituals in the GEMINI MINISTRY were very excited to be able to provide future as the number of Temple ✦ Investigating database and web- this ritual. Then, on June 24, Valerie members in Colorado continues to hosting options for the Temple. Heiderich and I received our grow. In addition to holding open ordinations from Christopher when he sabbat rituals, Valerie and I joined ✦ Updates to website, Facebook was in town for the International New Summit of the Circles as page, etc. for upcoming events and Age Trade Show. Our next official representatives of Temple of news. Working to get new events event was an open Lammas ritual held Witchcraft. Summit of the Circles is a up on Witchvox on a regular basis. on Sunday, July 31. We had nine people Colorado group made up of all the at that ritual, which was again ✦ Providing networking support for different groups in the area who offer TempleFest planning, including a presented by Valerie, with me assisting. open ritual. The intent of the group is The exciting thing about our Lammas new dedicated TempleFest fan page to network and to help support each on Facebook. ritual was that we did the same ritual, other. with some slight modifications, that was done at the Temple of Witchcraft’s While much of our work so far has CANCER MINISTRY focused on presenting ritual, there are New England ritual. We felt that ✦ Women’s Mystery Circle-Air/ several other areas that deserve a offering the same ritual really enhanced Sacred Breath, attended by 5 mention. At Front Range Pagan Pride our connection to the Temple and it women. was great to know that we were all Day this year, Valerie presented an doing the same thing. On the night of introductory workshop about the ✦ Collected 79 lbs of food for New August 13, we had a Feast of Hecate, Temple of Witchcraft structure and Hampshire Food Bank at our which we were able to celebrate on the the opportunities it provides for Temple of Witchcraft Mabon same night as the Temple of education, as well as an explanation of Celebration Witchcraft in New England did. Most the different ministerial branches of ✦ of our rituals have fallen on Sundays the Temple and what they do. Valerie Working with Pisces Ministry to while they are celebrated on Saturdays and I hope to be able to offer the Inner begin organizing community in New England, so we were glad to be Temple of Witchcraft as a weekend service. able to hold the Feast of Hecate on the intensive later this fall. Since January of same night. Our most recent open 2011, I have been teaching a year and a LEO MINISTRY ritual was Mabon on Sunday, day course based on the Inner Temple ✦ Forthcoming Temple Totem Cards. September 25, which I presented. Our of Witchcraft. In January, I plan to Mabon ritual focused on working with start year and a day classes for both the ✦ God & Goddess T-Shirts (Hecate, the goddess Ma’at to find our balance Inner Temple of Witchcraft and the Morrighan, Belenus, etc)

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 3 PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE

✦ Temple Complilation CD of spiritual songs on the Witches UPCOMING TEMPLE A FEELING OF FALL Holidays SABBAT DATES By Shea Morgan Yule Dec 17, 2011 CAPRICORN MINISTRY A clear break Imbolc Feb 4, 2012 ✦ An additional four correspondence A clear morning dawns course application packets for the Ostara March 24, 2012 prison ministry program have been The trees turn their brilliant golden sent out bringing the total of Beltane April 28, 2012 bronze distributed applications to 32. Litha (Templefest) June 22-24, 2012 and the leaves flutter like butterflies ✦ We have a new volunteer working Lammas - July 28, 2012 with the prison ministry. Her name The easy breeze blows is Sunny Fisher and she will assist Mabon - Sept 22, 2012 The evening moon shining high with the prison letters ministry. Samhain - Oct 27 (with afternoon The night quite content psychic fair), 2012 SAGITTARIUS MINISTRY as the past settles down like the leaves Yule - Dec 22, 2012 ✦ Continuing Registration for on the ground Witchcraft I through IV TREASURER’S REPORT And new dreams are contemplated, ✦ Continuing working on new In sparkling and twinkling merrily like the Person and Online class policies September, 2011 stars above. ✦ Successful Environmental Witch at Account Balances: Myths and Maidens: 4 attendees Opening Balance: Sept 1, 2011: $32,709.02 LIGHTENING BITES ✦ Discussions of 2012 Retreat in By Shea Morgan Wales Closing Balance: October 1, 2011: $30,580.18 ✦ Compiling information on Black as the night rain Petty Cash: $0.00 Anthologies: Elders, Plant Spirits, That overtakes in its madness Rites of Passage Paypal Balance: $5,351.11 Crashing sounds above the trees ✦ Working on Glastonbury Certificate of Deposit: $2,500.00 Fundraiser Anthology – Waters and as the claps of thunder Fires of Avalon Events: Flashes chase each other in the sky Income from W 1-5: Gross: $6,896.23, VIRGO MINISTRY Net $2,068.87 Full of clouds foreboding ✦ Healing case study group continues Environmental Witch: Net $21.00 Grass bends and leaves blow through to be successful. still streets Women’s circle: Net $18.00 ✦ Healing list is still going strong. Peaceful rest and violent slumber Mabon (workshop and ritual): Net ✦ We now have a healing altar at the $213.30 Move to push the clouds aside office. If you are requiring healing and didn't get on the list, please feel and lightening bites your fingers free to place a slip of paper with Wait forever, longer. your name (or the one needing healing) into the bowl on the altar.

4The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 ARTICLE Nebet Het Rite for Shadow Work By Emily Jones abusive relationships. Nephthys Light a black candle as you invoke understands loneliness and desperation Nephthys. Nephthys is a complex and somewhat and need because she has experienced hidden goddess who can offer powerful those things herself. She understands Lady Nephthys, Mistress of the House, assistance in shadow work. In some making difficult choices and behaving Hidden Nephthys, Mistress of ways, she can be seen as the shadow or in ways that others might perceive as Shadows, Great Lady of Mystery, I the mirror of her sister Isis. Isis is the less than honorable because of her invite your sacred presence as I seek to devoted wife and good mother while experiences. The best way to discover know both you and myself better. Nephthys is the deceptive adulterer more about Nephthys is to work with Welcome Nephthys! who abandons her own child. Isis is her directly. Here is a rite to help you celebrated in a multitude of stories and At this time, it would be appropriate to do so. This rite may be more effective if light some kyphi or jasmine incense as prayers while Nephthys is somewhat performed at the threshold moments of shrouded in obscurity, glimpses of her an offering to Nephthys. Once you have sunset or midnight. In addition to your invoked Nephthys and made your peaking through in the stories of other usual altar tools, you will need a scrying gods. Because Nephthys does not have incense offering, state your intentions bowl or scrying mirror to most and speak your heart. If you are more her own stories, she can be somewhat effectively perform this rite. hard to find. She is mentioned primarily comfortable writing rather than in the stories of her more well-known Cast circle in your usual way. You might speaking, write her a letter of petition siblings Isis and Osiris. She is a funerary want to use quarter calls with an and then burn it in your cauldron or Goddess probably most well known for Egyptian theme, such as those some other fireproof container. If you assisting Isis in the revival of Osiris. She following which call on the sons of are burning incense or a petition letter, is also the neglected wife of her brother Horus as elemental guardians. If you you can use the smoke for scrying if you Set, a brutal husband who is more prefer, substitute your own quarter prefer that to the bowl or mirror. Ask interested in conquest than anything calls. to get to know Nephthys better. Tell else. Out of her loneliness, she disguises her how her experiences speak directly herself as her sister in order to trick Ladies and Lords of the North, to you. As you talk with her, position Osiris into loving her. When Anubis is Guardians of Earth, Great Lord Hapi, your scrying mirror or bowl so that you born out of that union, depending on protected by Nephthys, please throw can see into it without seeing your own the story, she either abandons him in open the gates of your firm and earthly reflection. Soften your gaze and let the desert out of fear of retribution realms and come forth to guard and yourself relax. Focus on the candle from her husband and brother Set or witness this rite. Hail and welcome! flame if that helps. If you will count else Set takes her child from her and yourself down to your meditative state, Lords and Ladies of the East, you may have a better scrying leaves him in the desert. Either way, she Guardians of Fire, Great Lord ends up as a mother without her child, experience. You may substitute another Duamutef, protected by Neith, please form of divination, such as tarot or stuck in a loveless and barren marriage throw open the gates of your hot and before rejecting her husband and runes, but scrying tends to be the most fiery realms and come forth to guard effective type of divination in this aligning herself with her sister Isis to and witness this rite. Hail and welcome! restore Osiris and protect Horus. particular rite. Ask Nephthys to reveal Lords and Ladies of the South, herself to you and to send you any Working with Nephthys can be a Guardians of Air, Great Lord messages that you are ready to hear at challenge precisely because it can be so Qebhsennuf, protected by Isis, please this time. Once you sense her presence difficult to find her. Her mythology throw open the gates of your light and and feel like you have established a resides in fragments found in the airy realms and come forth to guard and connection to her, ask if she is willing stories of other gods and goddesses. In witness this rite. Hail and welcome! and able to assist you in doing some this way, she seems very much a goddess shadow work. of women, particularly all of the women Ladies and Lords of the West, throughout patriarchal history that Guardians of Water, Great Lord Imsety, Continue scrying, asking her to help never had their stories told. She is protected by Serket, please throw open you see clearly the darker areas of your defined through her relationships the gates of your cool and watery life where you are afraid to look. Think rather than recognized as her own realms and come forth to guard and about any wounds you have been unique self. She is also a goddess for witness this rite. Hail and welcome! carrying around in your soul. Look at anyone who feels stuck in loveless or the areas where you feel loss, loneliness,

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 5 ARTICLE regret or guilt. Be willing to honestly Lady Nephthys, Mistress of the House, examine and accept your shadow. If this Hidden Nephthys, Mistress of BLACK NIGHT becomes too difficult, be willing to lean Shadows, Great Lady of Mystery, I By Shea Morgan on Nephthys for her assistance. thank you for your presence in this rite Remember that she understands and and in my life. Please help me in the How black is the night? that she is here to help you integrate ongoing work of knowing and loving these shadow areas and move forward myself. Now stay if you will or go if you How deep is the sand? into wholeness. She will not judge or must as I offer my thanks and farewell. One single grain, condemn you and she urges you not to Farewell Nephthys. judge or condemn yourself. Honestly but no acknowledge your shadow side, your Ladies and Lords of the West, It’s all there past painful experiences, your less than Guardians of Water, Great Lord Imsety, please return now to your cool and pleasant emotions and any guilt you But I can't see it have been carrying. Ask her assistance watery realms, taking with you my in determining what you have tried to thanks. Hail and farewell. I can't see it repress and in understanding why you Lords and Ladies of the South, It’s too deep made choices you now regret. Think Guardians of Air, Great Lord about the changes you want to make Qebhsennuf, please return now to your Is it and if you are unsure about how to light and airy realms, taking with you Deep make them, ask Nephthys for her my thanks. Hail and farewell. guidance. Take as long as you need to Yes do this. Lords and Ladies of the East, Guardians of Fire, Great Lord It is blackness. Just as Nephthys aided Isis in restoring Duamutef, please return now to your Osiris, she will assist you in restoring hot and fiery realms, taking with you you to yourself. Feel her love, my thanks. Hail and farewell. understanding and acceptance. Know that you are not alone in your darkness. Ladies and Lords of the North, Feel her wings descend around you in Guardians of Earth, Great Lord Hapi, her loving, healing embrace. Feel please return now to your firm and yourself becoming joyful and whole in earthly realms, taking with you my your heart as you are held in the wings thanks. Hail and farewell. of Nephthys. Allow the powerful Open circle, remembering that you can magick of this goddess to course repeat this rite any time you feel the through you, transmuting the poisons need to connect with Nephthys or of your pains and regrets into emotional continue your shadow work. After energy that better serves you. Let those completing this rite, be sure to take parts of yourself that you fear are care of yourself. Go out with friends, unlovable and destined to be alone soak treat yourself to your favorite dinner, up all of the love and acceptance buy yourself flowers, take a hot bubble offered to you by Nephthys. Know that bath or pamper yourself in some other you are never truly alone, no matter way that will make you feel special. Do how lonely you might feel. Hold the something to show that you know, love knowledge in your mind and your heart and accept yourself. Remember to be that you have had the courage to look gentle and compassionate with yourself into the darkest places of yourself in and with others. If doing this shadow order to understand and transform work has caused too much emotional them. When you feel that your shadow upheaval, consider seeking out a work is complete for now, count counselor or therapist. And most yourself up from your meditative state. importantly, remember that you have Take some time to journal about your established a powerful connection with experience and the work you did with Nephthys and you can return to her at Nephthys. When you are ready, prepare any time for help dealing with the to say your farewell to Nephthys. shadow areas of your life.

6The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 ARTICLE Living in the Mystery

By Rayna Hamre sensitive, studying the shamanic about talking about women’s bodies in traditions with the TOW has been a front of them. At 5’ 10”, today I have I write this article at an ending and at a true homecoming. Over the past year plenty of company as a tall girl, but it beginning my sensitivity, that always seemed a was very unusual when I was younger. I Many years ago I asked, in spiritual liability, actually became an asset in the couldn’t hide even though I wanted to. journey work I am now exploring. agony, that at least some of the answers The public vote for my occupation, to the Mystery be revealed to me, if Shamanic training has allowed me to develop and guide that ability see vocalized continually in my adolescence they existed. I had a dream soon after by complete strangers, was that I play that sent an answer. I was climbing up a beyond, to be empathic, and to still be discerning, moving me into the stream basketball. Somehow I could never get steep rock valley, and a revelation about really revved up about getting a ball in a the Mystery was about to be given to of mysticism and shamanism that came for generations before me. It links me basket, at least enough to break a sweat me at the top of this arduous, painful, over. I did fulfill my mother’s life dream grueling climb. I was yearning for it with our ancestors who used these techniques to serve the community. for me and attended modeling school at with all my heart. But I received a 19. After a painful and miserable strong message as I almost reached the I took my first searching steps early on adolescence, it was fun to have guys top of the climb; I wasn’t yet ready for in life. Like many Pagans, a childhood doing double-takes, but the constant the answer. The message came through report on an exotic land fired my attention to hair, fingernails, make-up loud and clear, no ambiguity. imagination. It was my seventh grade and clothes was too much for a free Over the last couple of years I received report on Egypt that got me. I don’ t spirit. One modeling job and I retired the answer and have been directed to remember if my report reflected the from that career. I started working part my path. Thirty years after that dream, awe that I felt I as looked at the visual time in bookstores and libraries. Yes, I am finishing up my year-and-a-day images of that far away people and we had a match! The search for answers course in shamanism at the Temple of time, but I have strong memories of to the Greater Mysteries and the Witchcraft (TOW). While there is still pouring over the pictures and artwork Divine Feminine was much better plenty of mystery out in the universe, from ancient Egypt. That people could served with books than with hairspray some of if it is now up close for me. It dress so differently, live so differently, and nail polish. Although knowing one’s has manifested in ways that I could with different animals, and hey, see- way around an eye-liner brush didn’t never have imagined. through clothes even! just blew my hurt, in memory of those kohl- mind. A place that was so different darkened Egyptian eyes. Peter Kingsley in his book The Dark from where I lived and displayed people Places of Wisdom conjectures that the so foreign to what I knew completely As one who was raised Mormon, shamanic tradition in the West was lost mystified me. It was a universe away became a born-again Christian for a with Parmenides and consciously from suburban California in the 1960’s. brief stint at fourteen, and then replaced with a pedantic philosophical Girls were not even allowed to wear launched into experiential explorations style by Plato and the Neo-Platonists. pants to school until I was a sophomore of eastern religions and thought, pre- He believes that our shamanic roots in high school, let alone line their eyes internet, I was not only a late recipient were severed by an overly intellectual with black kohl, wear super sheer of hippy cultrue, but I can see now that philosophical tradition, while in the topless linen clothes, mega-jewelry and I was very much a child of the Pacific East our common shamanic heritage mingle with alligators. Rim. In those prehistoric pre-internet from Siberia was refined and flourished, days, we had to actually go to places to resulting in modern day Hindu and My keen interest in feminism, which study the mysteries. In my late teen age Buddhist meditative traditions. I found ultimately led me to the Goddess, came years, I visited Eckankar groups, gurus, much from my personal life journey out of my high school years. The Nichiren-Shoshu Bhuddhists, and a that resonated for me in this rogue injustice of the inequalities in society variety of spiritual centers. jumped out at me. As a girl who was scholar’s view of the western mystical As I visited these various spiritual and intellectual tradition. always “too tall,” I heard comments made about my body my entire groups I read, read, read. By my late As someone who has always been “too” adolescence. In my early teen age years, teens and in my early twenties I focused for even southern California culture, working my first part-tine jobs, men in on Neo-Platonic mysticism and Zen too intense, too outspoken and too the workplace had no compunctions Buddhism. I studied at the Zen Center Los Angeles, and that basic Zen

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 7 ARTICLE meditation style has been an anchor for But I wrestled mightily with the that was always searching, knowing me through the ups and downs of my assignment to find a new-to- me there was something ahead that would life. Unfortunately, the sexism of those tradition to explore for the year. My provide answers. She has turned into systems and leaders came along with first article for the Temple Bell was someone with the means and training the studies in those days. When I saw about my struggles to establish a to walk on the other side and who can through that piece, I tried to retain my shamanic practice, and my rejection of provide some comfort and healing not own integrity and my enthusiasm for faux-Indian ritual. Their practices are only to herself but to others. I had the spiritual life, but I backed away from completely contextual for each tribe, privilege to share healing with those in any type of formal mystical study and and I feel after that work that any kind need this year as part of my TOW became completely self-directed in my of appropriation is inappropriate. studies, and I had some very profound explorations. I joined the Unitarian experiences with that partnering. Universalists when my children were I decided, with a shrug and sigh, to small, I wanted them to have a strong explore my own heritage, the Norse. I made a blood promise to serve the ethical base in their life, yet be able to Time was moving forward in my class Goddess when I took my first degree discover their own theological leanings. and I was supposed to be studying some years ago. I feel called, as I finish my tradition out of my comfort zone and shamanic initiation this October, to I became a Pagan about 15 years ago knowledge base. I had some resistance make pledge to the deepest Mystery, and earned my first degree. I had heard to studying my own heritage, which I that which goes beyond gender. about shamanic journeying over that was beginning to recognize as a sign Paradoxically, my own love and time and about two years ago knew that that there was something there that I appreciation for the tension and the this was something I needed to explore. needed to examine much, much more duality inherent in life’s dualities, which I journeyed with one reluctant teacher, closely. contain female and male, continues to and started seriously searching for a grow. I will always love the Goddess, I more enthusiastic guide and teacher. A That study of Norse mythology, rune am her daughter, but the Hermetic friend told me about Christopher work and World Tree meditation has Principles also allow us to embrace the Penczak and the TOW, so I read one opened up a path to my ancestors and, great mystery of paradox. My main book and then I ordered the entire ultimately, back to my own heart. Since contact in the spirit realm, even before Temple of Witchcraft series. I knew most of my studies and focus in the I began shamanic work, has been Kawn that Christopher Penczak’s open and past had been on countries in the Yin, the Boddhisattva of compassion. eclectic style would provide the training Mediterranean and focused on the This year, my life in the spirit realm has I needed. Classical period, working in my own expanded to include many relationships trad turned into a joyous homecoming, on that side. And ten years ago, the I understand the calling to women-only in spite of my kicking and screaming all person that I was, would have laughed ritual worship, but I have always needed the way into it. The depth and at anyone who told her she would ever the balance of feminine and masculine complexity of the Norse tradition was a think or talk in this way and relay these in my own spiritual life. Because my revelation. I began rune study, and my stories, but here I am. early search and study of the Mystery husband and I were able to travel to was driven by my feminism and my Norway and Southern England over the As I transition into the Temple of studies, and a belief that true summer. At the Volksmuseum in Oslo, I Witchcraft Level IV I feel a deep intellectual understanding, deep gnosis, was able to stand in farm and country gratitude for the TOW which allowed is an honored and important part of the houses built 1,000 years ago, and just me to do my work this year, for my Mystery, I have done both academic feel the people and years held within teachers, and for those I had the and personal research on the Goddess the dark wooden walls. We traveled the privilege to mentor. I am truly grateful and eastern and western mystery ords and I could speak with the spirits for my brothers and sisters who walked traditions. While I participated in some of the rocky shores, the sky, the ice and this path with me this year. We shared, Dianic rites and worship with friends, the mists. loved, disagreed and supported each that balance of feminine and masculine, other all year. That is magic! yin and yang keeps me in balance with It is true that when one journey ends, the universe. another begins. This year of shamanic I truly feel a coming home into the study has brought me home into the Mystery; the Mystery as it manifests in As I launched into my TOW III deeper Mystery. I know where I am its glorious singularity, its dualities and shamanic studies, this call to balance supposed to be, what my shamanic self multiple forms. The path continues on was born out in my shamanic journeys, needs to travel on and forward. But I ahead with its twists, turns, shadows and I felt very comfortable with the am also saying goodbye to some of that and double-backs. I now walk my path dualities and polarities I encountered. seeking and yearning, to that person in the three worlds of the shaman.

8The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 RITUAL

ANCESTORS & WITCHES NEW YEAR RITUAL FOR RAVENOAK COVEN By Shea Morgan South And the Masculine Seed of Chokmah We are at the center of the Universe QUARTER CALLS Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of One with the creative cosmic Force of the South North All Power of Air, Element of the Wise We cast this circle twice Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of Hail Archangel Michael! Protector With the Silver light of the Moon the North and guiding force And the Feminine Womb of Binah Power of Earth, Element of the Wise Eurus, The East Wind, bringing warmth Hail Archangel Uriel! Grounding force and rain We are in balance with the Universe of wisdom Currents lifting the wings of the Hawk One with the creative cosmic Force of All Boreas, The North Wind, cold breeze Falcon, majesty in flight, keeper of the blowing vision We cast this circle thrice Fleet Horse hearkening to the winter Lend us your ability to see and know all With the Violet light of the One soon to come We ask you to attend our circle and The Masculine and Feminine without Black dog who guides us through the guard the gate. and before form darkness Hail, Honor and Welcome! We are in the three worlds as one – Lend us your powers of protection and as above, so below companionship West One with the creative cosmic Force of We ask you to attend our circle and All guard the gate. Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of the West Hail, Honor and Welcome! ALIGNMENT WITH Power of Water, Element of the Wise SAMHAIN East Hail Archangel Gabriel! Gently washing Samhain. The last night of the Witches' away what no longer serves Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of Year. Darkness bringing us closest to the East Zephyrus, The West Wind, gentle the other worlds before the birth of the bringer of the winds light. The veil between the worlds is at Hail Archangel Raphael, Healing and its thinnest. We are Witches, walkers Gentle waves where dolphins dance cleansing power of life between the worlds. Tonight we seek to Power of Fire, Element of the Wise Dolphin, blue one sailing through and walk in the between - within the veil clearing the waters itself, solidly standing in this world Notus, The South Wind, bringing while clearly perceiving the next. autumn storms Lend us your powers of true sight, Tonight is the third and final harvest. Creating purifying smoke with the Guiding us safely to the messages we seek We receive our blessings of this burning fire of the dragon abundant harvest, and know that the Phoenix, fire and transformation We ask you to attend our circle and same great and positive abundance will incarnate guard the gate. continue into the next year and the years to come. Winter is before us, Lend us your powers of transmutation Hail, Honor and Welcome! approaching like death stalks its own. and rebirth On this night, we reach out to honor We ask you to attend our circle and CASTING CIRCLE our ancestors. We seek to know the guard the gate. We cast this circle thrice around messages of those dear to us who have gone before. We honor our dead and Hail, Honor and Welcome! We cast this circle once death itself, as we know death is not an with the Golden light of the Sun, ending but in fact a beginning. We are Center of the Tree of Life at Samhain on the Wheel of the Year.

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 9 RITUAL We honor those witches of like mind Let us each go around and honor one of HONORING OUR who have gone before. We honor those our beloved dead, who no longer is with ANCESTORS from whence we came, biologically and us, but who is yet close to us at this otherwise. We honor our spiritual time of the thinning veil. You may Tonight is indeed about our ancestors, ancestors and those souls who we have choose more than one. You may also the Hidden Company and the Mighty travelled with and are now travelling choose a beloved pet. After all, this is Dead. For without these, we would be with on our path through the ages. your journey, and yours alone. but a thought on the wind, a spark in Those souls from whom we have the fire, a drop in the ocean or a grain learned our life's lessons and who have We honor these spirits and thank them of sand on the ocean floor. We are learned from us. for the blessings and lessons they have thought and idea manifest by spirit brought to our journey. Blessed be. within and without, and by the Great Drumming, rattling, be ringing, dancing, Spirit, the God and Goddess as one. etc. (two or three minutes)

INVOCATION OF THE MORRIGHAN RITUAL: DARK OF THE MOON By Shea Morgan Macha, Gatherer of Warriors, Hail and welcome! Champion of Women, holder of the key CALL TO HECATE to the Mysteries CALL TO THE DAGHDA Hail, Hecate, Goddess of Sky, Earth, & You are the Earth Goddess connecting Hail Daghda! The Good God! Tribal the Underworld! us to the land, God! Protector! Torchbearer, guiding and protecting us You are the Horse Goddess guiding us You are the All Father, provider to all on our path on our journeys through life and the with your cauldron of life Otherworld And protecting all Witches before us Food, sustenance, yet also inspiration, and yet to come You are the Goddess of Death and ever turning Rebirth, Attend our circle tonight, gather round We ask you for the gift of your wisdom, your daughters leading us through the fire of the inner to bring us balance mysteries We call on your guidance and ask for Lend your club and shield your protection. We honor you, and we call on you to walk with us Protect and defend us during these rites Add your power and strength to the and in life circle we have cast. Guide and protect our circle tonight on this dark moon. We call on you to attend our circle and Hail and welcome! walk with us. Do not fear her, as she is Goddess of the Witches and we are all her Hail and Welcome! CALL TO THE daughters; MORRIGHAN Hail and Welcome! ALIGNMENT WITH THE Hail to The Morrighan! Phantom DARK OF THE MOON Queen! Goddess of Fate! Bestower of CALL TO HADES Tonight we embrace the darkness. It Sovereignty! Hail, Hades, God of the Underworld! holds the thought of all to be – all that Goddess with many faces, many guises is within the blackness. It wraps us like – yet all one Watcher and guide, protecting us on a warm cloak of memory and whispers our path of the future. We journey tonight A drumbeat, a heartbeat, a thread knowing that we are safe. That the through the ages Leading us safely to the Underworld Dark Mother holds us close to her and Callieach, Earth Goddess, Great Attend our circle tonight, gather round the Dark God protects us with his Mother and Crone your hounds shield. We are safe to enter the mystery Epona, Divine Horse Goddess We call on your guidance and ask for and to learn what the Dark Goddess your protection. has to teach us, to experience what the Rhiannon, Divine Queen, white horse Dark God has to show us. We welcome Add your power and strength to the swift of foot, Mystic Goddess of Death their presence in our circle and in our circle we have cast. and Rebirth lives and know that each will lead us

10The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 ARTICLE gently to what we are ready to be shown. We honor the Dark God and the Dark Goddess tonight at the Dark Green Tips with Howling Hill of the Moon. Baking soda has many great uses! ✦ Baking soda and peroxide also work great as a shampoo and conditioner. ✦ For that blocked drain, use baking NVOCATION ALL My hair is bone straight and pretty I C soda, hydrogen peroxide, and silky. It never holds a curl much to Oh Mighty Morrighan! boiling water. First place the baking my chagrin in the 80s. I don't know soda into the drain. Use about a 1/2 Great Mother! Protector! Guide! how this will work on people who a box. Pour in a small amount of have other textured hair so if you Patroness of Priestesses and Witches! peroxide, using something to gently try this let me know the results. Come on your Chariot or Swift of mix the bubbling cauldron in your Horse! drain. Slowly pour more peroxide ✦ Use one 2oz canning jar full of until the baking soda has been used baking soda with just enough water I call thee forth! up. Follow by pouring a kettlefull of to make a paste. Rub onto your We quake in your presence hot water into the drain. Keep scalp, making sure to give your head tweezers handy so you won't have a good massage. Rinse thoroughly. Yet feel your nearness in silent ecstasy to touch the soapy, hairy goo that Then, use 4 oz of peroxide mixed Come closer still, closer still and closer comes out the drain. with 4 oz of warm water. Put some pretty smelling oils in if you wish. again ✦ For more stubborn blocks, use a Brush the peroxide through your Magick Incarnate! Shapeshifter! whole box of baking soda and a hair and rinse. Prophetess! whole bottle of peroxide. Pour in the drain, soda first, and leave ✦ It's been years since I've used I seek to join with you overnight. In the morning use the conventional shampoos and To give myself to you tonight, in this boiling water. conditioners. I get compliments on circle how healthy and beautiful my hair ✦ Want a great way to eliminate is a lot. To learn from you and your wisdom chemical deodorant but still want to smell good? Baking soda, ✦ Conventional shampoos and To gain empowerment, intuition and cornstarch, and tea tree oil. I use a 2 conditioners, by the way, are full of understanding oz tea tin which I filled half with petrol-chemicals. That is, every To drink more deeply of your mysteries baking soda, half with cornstarch, single component of shampoo and To hear the messages you have to and a few drops of tea tree oil. I conditioner -- from the ingredients, impart now have enough for my lifetime. to the bottles, to the ink on the Use a blush brush to put onto your bottles -- comes from petroleum. I seek to be a worthy vessel for your pits. There will still be some It's cheaper to go to the gas station presence wetness but not the wet pit stains and buy a gallon gas to put onto To feel your breath against my neck on your shirt you're thinking of. your head than to continuously buy The wetness is how your body bottles of shampoo and To feel your caress upon my heart eliminates the toxins. By using conditioner. And the "gentle ones" To feel your heart beating with mine antiperspirants you are trapping for babies? Not any better. Still those toxins in your body. They only made from petroleum. The skin is To feel your touch beside my soul place they have to go is your lymph the biggest organ of the body. It Be with me, join me, be one with me nodes and a build up of all those expands and contracts so by taking toxins can spell many different a hot shower then pouring I call thee thrice illnesses. The tea tree oil eliminates petroleum onto your head you are Morrighan, Morrighan, Morrighan bacteria under your arms which is increasing your risk of all kinds of what causes the stink. diseases from exposure and Come unto me, I invoke thee! absorption of petroleum into your So Mote it Be. body through your scalp, which happens to be one of the most porous parts of your body!

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 11 ARTICLE

FROM THE BLOOD, TO THE WOMB... AND BACK AGAIN... By Silver Moone darkness and bathe ourselves in the brought us, or, for some, reclaiming shimmery light of truth, and wonder. that power if we felt it was repressed Through the womb, we are born. To the and dishonored over the years. womb we return again, to the sacred Our ancestors celebrated the blood passageway and pilgrimage to the mysteries: blood in childbirth, blood in I am calling to womyn, to generations Gateway of Death, where we rest and ritual, and blood poured onto the fertile of systers around the globe, to begin heal, and emerge once more, anew, to lands for the crops to be blessed and this healing process, to connect deeply be reborn again... grow. Our blood had power... it had with belly of the Mother, which in turn magick that connected to the womyn of is connecting to the belly of ourselves. In Matriarchal past the womyn's womb our past, and to the womyn who would was honored as being sacred. We bleed in our future. Our blood didn't I am Goddess... You are Goddess... we created life, and we nurtured the gifts know boundaries, for it was considered share the collective womb together. Let from within, connecting deeply to the sovereign. us share it in healing, and let us birth Mysteries of the Mother, womb to power, and rebirth ourselves. womb. The sacred belly became One, Then patriarchy began its ruler-ship of and magick began to stir... what was power-over... pushing aside and As womyn, our Power Source is inside began to grow, and our transition demeaning the aspects of the Great everywhere... it flows through our veins, from the Maiden aspect of the Triple Mother. Matriarchal society was no it spirals within the womb, it sensually Goddess began to shift as our roots longer a holy nation, but treated like a pierces our breasts, and its eroticism stretched deep to unite with the body vile entity that had to be eradicated. awakens our yoni. Our blood releases of the Earth... womb to womb, heart to what is repressed, toxins that bring dis- heart, the journey of womyn began... The magickal yoni became disgusting, ease to our body, and it heals as it glides filled with stories of shame and away from our core, making space for Our bellies grew. Round and large, filled equating womyn to whores. Our our power to be restored and renewed. with the miracle of life, our moonblood became a vicious reminder wombynhood began to shift. The power that we were less-than man, and our If we are disgusted and shamed by what of our moonblood paused as it was blood began to weaken us, instead of our bodies produce, by how they are shared to become the Blood of Life. strengthen. Blood became familiar in formed, how they move, and how it Our Mysteries delved deeper as the images of war, of murder, and of rape. expresses pleasure, we are giving belly continued to stretch. Our breasts We no longer poured our generous flow permission to others to continue to became lusciously filled with the to the fertile crops, but instead kept it repress our collective feminine power Mother's milk, and our bodies were hidden away, hiding ourselves away. and beauty that our ancestors so honored and worshiped as beautiful, worshiped and honored. and divine. The sacred belly became a shameful flab. The womb's ability to nourish, love We are the Healer, healing ourselves... The journey of the womb expands and empower was now dishonored. The We are the Lover, loving ourselves... beyond childbirth. The womb grows as Mother no longer stood in the center of We are the Maiden, renewing we create; the womb grows as we our world, and as a result, generations ourselves... empower the Self; and the womb grows of womyn became fractured, and, much when we embrace the beauty of our like the Mysteries of the Great We are the Mother, birthing ourselves... divinity. To understand the beauty of Goddess, so did the Mysteries of our We are the Crone, unveiling ourselves... the womb, we must first understand the great Wombynhood begin to disappear. We are the Warrior, protecting beauty of our blood... Why is this important to know? It's our ourselves... Our moonblood charges us with herstory. It's our future. Generations of We are the Goddess, RECLAIMING inspiration. We become attuned to the hidden blood and repressed wombs ourselves! cycles of the Moon, to the bewitching depend on our reclaiming of our Truth. hours of shadow and the dream-scape, R.E.C.L.A.I.M... Remember... and as our blood flows, so does the What does that look like? Honoring Embrace... Create... Love... Awaken... expansion of our intuitive minds flow. the cycles of our blood. Whether you Integrate... (the) Mother. are bleeding for the first time, have Fertile blood that dances with the *Author's Note: The words “womyn” and “wombyn” are used seasons, we reach to the center of the been bleeding for years, or your blood interchangeably, both singularly and pluralized, to denote has transitioned. It's about celebration. female empowerment as recognition of Self without patriarchal influence. It is in no way to degrade man, but focus Celebrating the power our blood on reclaiming the feminine Self in all Her glory.

12The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 REVIEW magic. The author appendix “C” he includes writings on THE LOST ART OF goes through how Jesus and the Angels in which he goes ENOCHIAN many books on this through various statements made by subject have received the angels about Jesus. MAGICK the “calls” from Meric DeSalvo describes the Enochian by John DeSalvo Casaubon’s meditation in three steps. These are Destiny Books, 2010 publication while he preparation and preliminaries, the $16.95 derived his information from Enochian meditation itself and ending One day I was at the local studying the original the meditation. The first part consists bookstore and as usual went manuscripts of Dr. of relaxing and prayers, where he straight to the new age John Dee which are includes a modified version of John section. I was not intending found in the British Dee’s prayer. Then he explains how to to purchase anything in library. These “calls” perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of particular but a maroon act like mantras for the Pentagram or LBRP. In the second colored book, with funny little writing opening the portals to the higher part he includes the full Enochian call across the top of it, caught my realms. The author believes that from of the thirty aethyrs and describes how attention. After reading the tittle, I this research he has properly produced to meditate with the governors found realized this writing was in Enochian. the correct pronunciations of the “calls” within them. Each of the thirty aethyrs The title was written in big bold yellow to the aethyrs. This is also known as a has three governors except the lettering, The Lost Art of Enochian form of angelic magic. thirtieth, which has four. Finally the Magic, with a sub title, Angels, third part has the license to depart and Invocations and the Secrets Revealed to Throughout the book there are many final prayers, including performing the Dr. John Dee. So I picked up the book quotes from the Christian Bible LBRP once again. If you are like me, and noticed the author, John DeSalvo. concerning God’s desire for mankind to the pronunciation is what holds you He holds a Ph.D. in biophysics and for use magic as a way to know him back most of the time. Then you are in more than 20 years has studied the personally. John DeSalvo is a Christian luck, because the book includes an Shroud of Turin. He is currently the and does speak about many types of audio CD. The CD has John DeSalvo director of the Great Pyramid of Giza magic, which he feels is “good”, himself speaking the visualizations, the Research Association. I had never including divination and prophecy. He LBRP, the whole Enochian call with the heard of him before but found out that does specify that this magic was left in names of each of the governors. So even he is also the author of five other the hands of the priests, as they were if you are not sure about the books, including The Seeress of thought to be the closest to God. He pronunciations, you can listen to this Prevorst and Decoding the Pyramids. I also points out types of magic that were audio. I personally found this audio noticed that it had a forward by Lon condemned by the Bible, including spell very helpful. Milo DuQuette and I knew this name. casting, the summoning of spirits and In ending, John DeSalvo states many I went ahead and read the first couple necromancy. He refers to “good” magic times that he does not want to “push” of pages. There was one particular as white and “bad” magic as black. his own beliefs on others. He simply sentence in the forward that caught my Despite the author’s bias, this book has wants others to be able to use this attention; it was “it’s the step-by-step a great deal to offer the practicing magic so they too can find God on their exploration of these thirty aethyrs or witch. own. I found this book opened my eyes heavens of human/divine consciousness The teachings are well thought out and to the world of Enochian magic in a that’s the fascinating subject of Dr. include infamous magicians like Henry new way. DeSalvo moved through DeSalvo’s bold visionary experiences.” Cornelius Agrippa. The author states history explaining the use of magic The book is based on the meditations that Agrippa’s work on the Three from the Bible and in ancient through the thirty aethyrs as taught to Books of Occult Philosophy was civilizations, to the lives of renaissance Dr. John Dee by the angels. These significant for the revival of magic. magicians. He also includes why he aethyrs are a system of opening portals DeSalvo also writes about Aleister questioned the “Enochian tables” that to the heavenly realms. Crowley, describing Crowley as one of were transmitted to Dr. John Dee. This The book is 186 pages, including the the most gifted and talented magicians is a great read for those who are appendices and is a relatively easy read. of all time. He Acknowledges that interested in working with the angels John DeSalvo keeps things simple. Crowley may have come closer than any and I feel it is a must have for those There are no complex descriptions or other person to understanding the real who want a complete library on magic. heavy rituals, just the basics of enochian significance of Enochian magic. In Blessed Be.

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 13 REVIEW flock. Ann Putnam the grieving mother THE AFFLICTED GIRLS who has lost all her male children, by Suzy Witten accuses a midwife of witchcraft and Dreamwand Books, 454 Pages killing her babies, even though in an $18.95 odd plot twist the author shows that Putnam knows all along the midwife Suzy Witten’s overlong tome, The wasn’t responsible the her children’s Afflicted Girls, could benefit from some deaths. Simply, there are many aspects serious editing. Witten a filmmaker and of this book that don’t gel. screenwriter has written a “novel of Salem,” that at a steep 454 pages slogs What The Afflicted Girls does do on interminably with surprisingly little successfully is to present the dark side of the book dealing with the Salem of humanity. When the girls of Salem Witch Trials. become afflicted with their odd behavior it was blamed on witchcraft The Afflicted Girls tells the story of because it was an easy answer to the Mercy Lewis and Abigail Williams, unexplained. (According to Witten they orphans who travel to Salem to live now believe the girls were poisoned with Williams’ Uncle the Reverend with Jimson weed). But as with human Samuel Parris in Salem Village. As one nature the mob mentality took over. It follows these two young women, and seems as anyone with a grievance the events leading up to the trials the accused their enemy of witchcraft, author depicts the many of the people gratuitous, jarring sex scenes that appear throughout. joining in the hysteria for their own of Salem as money-grubbing immoral gain whether for revenge or monetary folk, with little if any redeeming In the seething underbelly of Salem reason. This is a moral tale about how qualities. Keeping in mind that this is a Village the author elicits little if any envy, greed and pernicious accusations work of fiction, one isn’t bothered so sympathy for her characters. Mercy ruin lives and in the case of the Salem much by historical inaccuracies, such as Lewis is sexually assaulted so often it Witch Trials, actually took lives. Mercy Lewis being arrested for appears unbelievable, while Abigail witchcraft (she was an accuser in the Williams is manipulative, and mean. Although this work breaks no new actual trials), as by the confusing back The arrogant Reverend Parris is too ground the author still has a viable stories of the Salem residents and the concerned with his tithes and political story to tell if only the extraneous is intrigue as to really administer to his pared down.

metropolitan area to a small town with THE SMALL TOWN her husband and daughter, Forbes, PAGAN’S SURVIVAL author of Make Merry in Step and Song: A Seasonal Treasury of Music, GUIDE Mummer’s Plays & Celebrations in the How to Thrive in Any Community English Folk Tradition, was inspired to create a “how to” manual to help Pagans by Bronwen Forbes successfully negotiate rural life. Llwellyn Publications, 239 Pages $18.95 Using her own experience in addition to survey results from a group of fifty “I was not prepared for a place where (with twenty-three quoted in the book), the nearest Pagan festival was three Forbes divides Pagans into two hours away and the local community sections--the big city Pagans only got together once a month for transitioning to small town society discussion and pizza…Oh, and the referred to as “emigrants” and the ones nearest Pagan shop was also about already living the small town existence, three hours’ drive away. I thought I had “hometowners.” She offers both groups died and moved to hell,” writes the late practical advice to help ease the Bronwen Forbes in her posthumously isolation of possibly being the only non- published The Small-Town Pagan’s Christian in town. Survival Guide. Moving from a large

14The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 REVIEW

Favoring the subtle approach for Pagan groups. Don’t point out the not to be entered into without careful “coming out of the broom closet” rather differences between your former and consideration. than the “in your face” variety, Forbes new group, you don’t want to distance advocates being true to oneself but be potential Pagan connections. The Small-Town Pagan’s Survival cautious as to who you tell and how. Guide addresses the majority of the This can be done without alienating the Lacking a local Pagan association, new-Pagan-in-town concerns-- from local population. Don’t announce you’re Forbes advices connecting with “others something as simple as finding a witch in the middle of the room; there of like mind,” by traveling on occasion affordable ritual supplies in The can be real repercussions, losing jobs, to attend rituals and festivals (there’s a Discount Superstore Altar chapter to ostracism—Forbes’ first husband left section on Pagan etiquette,) or making something as difficult as raising Pagan her because she was a witch. Let people contact via the Internet. Forbes offers a children. With her sensitivity and get to know you first, become involved list of web sites to visit to help link humor Bronwen Forbes’ tackles these in the local community. Volunteer, and Pagans together to gather news and issues with on-target counsel that participate in town and school activities information as she discusses the pros transcends area and population count. that interest you. The better you are and cons of online communities. If all else fails the author recommends Raye Snover is a HPs in the Cabot Tradition regarded, the easier it is for you and whose work has appeared in The New York your faith to be accepted. This sage starting your own group, though this can be difficult like “herding cats,” and Times, The Daily News and Excalibur. She advice also goes for fitting into the local lives in Manhattan.

TEMPLE BELL CONTRIBUTORS Rayna Hamre is an eclectic Witch and an active member Narada Immortality Study through the Human and Universal of the Orange County, California Pagan community. She Energy Research Institute. holds a Master's Degree in history and is a student of western and eastern religious traditions. She joined the Shea Morgan is a Witchcraft III student with a 20 year Witchcraft III class this year in order to deepen her energy career in government/public affairs (lobbyist). She is a work and to explore shamanic journeying. Rayna writes for vociferous reader and student of all things spiritual and has the Southern California Bureau of the Pagan Newswire been on the path of a Witch since 2001. She lives in St. Collective. She and her husband enjoy traveling to sacred Louis, MO with her cats and an ever-expanding collection of sites in Europe. antiques. She enjoys gardening, and hanging out with coven, friends and family. Howling Hill lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Wolf, and their two cats. She writes about her adventures on SilverMoone is a Shamanic Buddhist Witch, Clinical her blog, HowlingHi.wordpress.com, on how to green up your Hypnotherapist, Cancer Ministry Deputy Minister, teacher, life on TheGreenists.com, and a combination of the two on healer, writer, seeker, wife, and mother. She can be reached at Nature.PaganNewsWireCoective.com. You can friend her on silver@templeofwitchcra.org. Facebook and like her Authoress page, and get her tweets Adam Sartwell is a Temple co-founder and Virgo Lead @howlinghi. Minister, a natural psychic, Tarot reader, and Reiki Master. Andrea Johnston grew up in the wilds of the Berkshires in When not working with special needs students in his day western Massachusetts and migrated east to pursue her job, Adam crafts incenses, oils, candles, and other goods for degree in Interior Design. She enjoys playing Irish fiddle, the Temple, oversees the Temple Store and Healing Ministry, foreign films, good food and travelling the world. She and hosts the Voices of the Temple podcast. currently lives in Salem, MA with several cold blooded Raye Snover is a HPS in the Cabot Tradition whose work familiars. has appeared in The New York Times, The Daily News and Darryl McGlynn has been a student of the occult since the Excalibur. She lives in Manhattan. early 90’s. He resides in Schomberg, Ontario, Canada where If you are interested in writing for The Temple Bell, please he owns thoroughbred racehorses. He has received the contact the editors at templebe@templeofwitchcra.org! Munay Ki initiations as well as been trained in the Dasira

The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 15 ABOUT THE TEMPLE The Temple and its Ministries are always in need of volunteers willing to contribute their time, energy, and WRITING & ART expertise to our Great Work. Specific volunteer The Gemini Ministry needs writers and artists to work on opportunities include the following: The Temple Be newsletter. We’re looking for articles, poetry, art, photos, and reviews. Contact editor-in-chief Ruby Sara DRUMMERS at templebe@templeofwitchcra.org for complete submission guidelines. The Leo Ministry wants more drummers for larger rituals, such as Samhain, and wants to establish a core drum group The Leo Ministry is looking for artists interested in creating for Temple events and to develop new music and beats. new pagan-oriented works for the Temple and its members. Email sagittarius@templeofwitchcra.org for more information. Contact the Lead Minister at leo@templeofwitchcra.org for more information. ENVIRONMENTALISM You can also volunteer for work with particular ministries of The Taurus Ministry is looking for volunteers who would like the Temple by contacting the appropriate lead minister. See to aid the Lead Minister in a variety of environmental the Ministries page of the Temple website and Contacting projects and education. Please contact Us below for details. taurus@templeofwitchcra.org for more information. CONTACTING US GRAPHIC DESIGN ✦ For general question and inquiries e-mail The Gemini Ministry is on the lookout for Temple members info@templeofwitchcra.org. with graphic design experience and resources, particularly ✦ For website or technical issues, e-mail Mac OS X based, and skill with page-layout and desktop admin@templeofwitchcra.org. publishing (iWork or Adobe CS). Email gemini@templeofwitchcra.org for more information or to ✦ For questions or inquiries related to a specific ministry, volunteer. see the Ministries page or e-mail that minister at (ministry name) @ templeofwitchcraft (dot) org, such as HEALING gemini@templeofwitchcra.org. The Virgo Ministry needs a volunteer to coordinate its Send surface mail to: healing work, including, but not limited to, organizing Reiki shares and other healing events and management of the Temple of Witchcraft Temple’s online healing list. Experience in different healing PO Box 2252 modalities is preferred, but not required. Email Salem, NH 03079 virgo@templeofwitchcra.org for more information or to volunteer. NETWORKING The Temple maintains an email notification list through MENTORING Constant Contact, giving subscribers all the up to date The Sagittarius Ministry is looking for previous graduates of information on our rituals, classes, and other events. To sign Witchcraft III, IV, and V interested in serving as mentors in up, visit our website at www.templeofwitchcra.org and go to the online education program. Mentorship includes giving the “Contact Us” page, where you’ll find a “Sign Up for Our feedback on homework, answering questions and Newsletter” box. Just enter your email address to sign up. encouraging students in the Mystery School and Seminary. If you are a Temple member at any level, you can also join Interested applications should email the Temple Web, our interactive Yahoo! group email list for sagittarius@templeofwitchcra.org. members to stay in touch and network. Registration requires membership verification, so please include your full name RAFFLE ITEMS along with your request. You can find the mailing list’s home The Temple runs a regular raffle at our Sabbats, and we’re page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/templeweb always looking for new and unique items to be donated for You can also find and friend us on Facebook and MySpace the raffle to help raise funds. Email for updates and to help spread the word about the Temple! raffle@templeofwitchcra.org for more information or to donate items.

16The Temple Bell • Samhain 2011 ABOUT THE TEMPLE Donating to the Temple The Temple of Witchcraft is a not-for-profit organization, funded by the generous donations of its members to bring you services such as our website, mailing lists, and this newsletter.

If you are interested in making a secure lasting endowments and trusts. Please online donation via PayPal (including LEVELS OF DONATION contract us directly if you are interested credit card donations), just go to the The Temple welcomes donations in in doing so. “Donations” page of our website and whatever denomination contributors We regularly thank members who click on the “Donate” button and fill can offer. We recognize five levels of donate to the Temple by offering out the necessary information. Be donation: aware that, until we have received our special Wheel of the Year meditations federal nonprofit status, donations are ✦ Quicksilver • $5 – $25 as audio file downloads. See the Donations page of our website for the not yet tax-deductible for federal ✦ Iron • $26 – $50 income tax. current thank-you offer and watch our ✦ Copper • $51 – $100 website and social networks (like We can also accept checks and money Facebook) for announcements orders (made out to “Temple of ✦ Silver • $101 – $250 concerning new thank-you meditations Witchcraft”) via surface mail at: and special offers to our generous ✦ Gold • $251+ patrons. Temple of Witchcraft A special “Diamond” level is reserved PO Box 2252 for patrons of the Temple who establish Salem, NH 03079

The Temple of Witchcraft is a not-for-profit religious organization based in the State of New Hampshire. Co-founded by Christopher Penczak, the Board of Directors Temple started in 1998 as a system of magickal training and personal Christopher Penczak • President, Founder development, and eventually developed into a formal tradition of Witchcraft. Steve Kenson • Vice President, Founder Now, as an outgrowth of the work of students, initiates and graduates of the Jocelyn VanBokelyn • Treasurer programs, the Temple of Witchcraft has evolved into an organization based on Alix Wright • Secretary traditions of modern magick, Witchcraft, and Neopaganism. The work of the Adam Sartwell • Board Advisor, Founder Temple is both otherworldy and terrestrial, seeking to strengthen the Mary Hurley • Board Advisor connections between spirit and matter through inner transformation and public service. Public Relations The Temple of Witchcraft’s goal on an individual level is to awaken the potential of the human soul to its natural gifts of psychic awareness, For general questions regarding the Temple, or communion with nature and the spirits, and magick. Each individual seeks to to contact the Board of Directors, please email live a magickal life. Through these awakenings, we seek an expansion of info@templeofiwtchcra.org. For technical or consciousness through the alignment of our souls with Love, Will, and website related questions, please email Wisdom to complete the Great Work. admin@templeofwitchcra.org. On a greater scale, we seek the restoration, maintenance, and evolution of Contact gemini@templeofwitchcra.org for access humanity to the Garden of the Gods, the cooperative consciousness where all to promotional materials, fliers, and other things are in harmony and community. Our myths define this awareness as the media. First Garden, known as Avalon, Hesperides, Zep Tepi, Shamballa, Lemuria and even Eden. We manifest this vision through both our inner workings and Temple of Witchcraft service to the greater community. By these actions, we plant the seeds and PO BOX 2252 tend the garden of Witchcraft culture, tradition and community. Salem, NH 03079

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