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All about Erin - who has written 713 posts on Erin's Journal.
An author, a Wiccan, a Druid, a Priestess, a member of the ULC, Owner of Erin's Journal, mystic, magickian, DragonKin, Guardian and Transsexual. All these and more describe Erin.
- AIM: davenmor3
- Yahoo! Messenger: seaxmorstar
- Google Talk / Jabber: davensjournal
Posts by Erin:
Exploring the Pagan Path
By Many Authors
New Page Books, 2005 $15.99 US
ISBN 1-56414-788-6
Review by Daven
Rating: 
Well, as I have stated in another review, I generally don’t think that books written by committee will sell. This book, however, is the exception that proves the rule.
While it looks to me as though the articles were not subject to editorial approval of the other authors, this book does have multiple contributors. Each brings their own unique perspectives to this work, and each has their own “voice”. Each can also be considered to be an “elder” of the path.
There are Big Name Pagans like Raven Grimassi, Starhawk, M. Macha Nightmare and also relative “unknowns” like Tehom, Gus diZerega and Oz, but reading what they have to say will be an eye opening experience for many.
Orphalese Tarot
Rating:
This is the first time I’ve reviewed a program, much less one about Tarot. When I joined the American Tarot Association, I decided to really try to get my tarot certification and to start an online and phone based reading business. For that I needed something that would be really easy to use, easy to interpret and easy to install.
I think I got all that in this program.
Don’t fool yourself; it will take some time to get used to the interface and the controls. So plan on spending at least two days (like I did) learning how to do everything before using it for clients. But once you are past that initial learning stage, the program is really easy.
A Year of Ritual
by Sandra Kynes
Llewellyn, 2004 $14.95 US
ISBN 0-7387-0583-7
Review by Daven
Rating:
Every once in a while you come across a book that stands out as a shining example of what all good books are and could be.
This is not that book.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not on the level of, say, 21 Lessons of Merlyn, but it’s not stellar either. It’s average. That’s the best I can say about it.
I can’t even say that it’s good to use as a Wicca 101 text, since it has many factual errors in it in addition to totally de-emphasizing the God in favor of Vaginamancy. Examples of factual errors include the “myth” of Persephone and Demeter. According to this author, Persephone willingly went into Hades to comfort the souls there. This was news to me since the way *I* learned the myth was that Hades kidnapped and raped Persephone and Demeter basically shut down the world until she returned. The author even states that this is the original myth and says, “Happily, this gentler version is gaining popularity.” (p 29)
Child's Book of Wicca, Chapter 1
It’s done! Chapter one is finished.
The first five people who email me at davensjournal @ davensjournal.com get a copy for free. After that, it’s $2.
Be aware that this is 3.5 MB, so it’s huge. It will take some time to download.
Originally posted 2005-05-13 16:02:01.
What Makes a Fluffbunny?
More and more recently, there has come a term that is making more of the serious-minded Pagan sit up an take notice: Fluff Bunnies.
There are other names, Playgan, Wicabes, Wiclets, witchypooh, **New Term** Wictim (defined as a Wiccan Victim, or one of those who thinks the Inquisition is still going on) and so on, all of which do the same basic thing; All these names reveal a deep-seated dislike for those who take the religion of Wicca and Paganism less than seriously.
What are the symptoms of this dread condition, you may ask?
1) Aversion to research.
This is probably the most serious symptom. When this symptom manifests itself, the afflicted person tends to read something in a popular book, email list, newsgroup or website and take it as the literal truth, without checking facts. It’s worse when combined with blind trust of the so-called “elders” who have silly names like “High Lady Stuffandnonsense” or “Lady MoonroseHaven”. Their names literally sound like they came out of a Pagan Name Generator and are begging for ridicule.
About “bunnyhunting” trends
I know I’ve spoken at length about going out and finding the idiots in Paganism and Wicca, and exposing them for the idiots they are. But now I want to talk about the other side of that for a while.
While I have been out of the hunting business for a while now, there are those I’m friends with who are still out there in the communities, looking and reporting on trends in the groups of the new seekers, and the responses that the older and more experienced generations are having toward them.
This is where the downside of the hunting comes in. There is a HUGE temptation to slather ALL new people with the same “bunny brush”. To label the sincere and genuine seeker with the “fluffbunny” title, which makes it impossible for them to thereafter find real help in their spiritual journey.
The Creation Dance, The Spiral Dance
I was having a dream.
In this dream, the Goddess came to me. She spoke to me about the mysteries and about the whole of creation.
She showed me a dance. The Great Spirial Dance, the one with the connections to Creation, all the steps, where stomping created a lake, and a pirouette made a mountain and a shout brought clouds to be. She showed me the greater dance and helped me to understand that there was dances throughout the multiverse, each dancer working on his or her own place in the universe, all of them treading measures connecting to each other through the dance. Bringing to fruition the complete creation of the universe, making planets and suns.
Erecting the Temple
[There should be drink in the Goblet. The Priest lights the Altar Candle and Incense. Priestess takes the Altar Candle and moves clockwise (deosil) around the circle lighting the Circle candles from the Altar Candle. She then replaces the Altar Candle on the Altar.]
Priest or Thegn: The temple is about to be erected. Let all within this Temple be here of their own free will and accord, in Peace and Love.
[Priestess takes her Seax (athame) and holds it with its point in the Salt.]
Priestess: Salt is Life. Let this salt be pure and let it purify our lives, as we use it in these Rites, dedicated to Herne and Rhiannon.
[Priestess uses her Seax to lift three portions of Salt and drop it into the Water. She stirs the Salted Water with the Seax.]
Yule
by Dorothy Morrison
Llewellyn Publications, 2000
ISBN 1-56718-496-0
Review by Daven
Rating:
This is another in the “Sabbats” offerings from Llewellyn, and it lives up to the same high standards as the previous titles in this series.
Dorothy Morrison is a wonderful author with several innovative ideas that I found truly refreshing. Considering that this particular season and holiday is probably THE most written about holiday in the Western World, that’s saying a lot.
I can’t really say it better
This is a video that Ellen made up in response to the recent rash of gay/bullying suicides.
Not to detract from the whole story she just told, but I was victim of it too. I suffer from PTSD in regards to one incident where my sexuality and bullying was combined. I nearly killed myself that time. I was the butt of “jokes” from others who thought it would be funny to make a date with me and then stand me up.
This is not acceptable on any level.
Those of you who think it is, need to go to the psychologist worse than the victims of your “jokes” do. This scars for life. There is NO fixing it.
To my shame, I passed on the abuse to others. I can’t make up for it, but when I found out that I had done so, I tried to make it right. There is no fixing it, but the cycle can be stopped.
