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STAFFFaculty Advisors: Moonwriter & Jymi X/0

Editor-In-Chief:Starwynd Panther

Publisher: Jymi X/0Assistant Publishers: Laneth, Calyxa

Copy Editor: silverlocke

GSW Desk Editor: Silver Raven Staff Writers: Sapphire Soleil

NEWS DeskEditor: Belenus Staff Writers: Sapphire Soleil, Silverlocke

WIZARDING DeskSection Editor: Pratus Ater LupusStaff Writers: Jymi X/0, Areeya

SCIENCE DeskEditor: Calyxa Staff Writers: Moonwriter, Silver Raven

ARTS & CULTURE DeskEditor: Artermis Gryphon Snowhawk Staff Writers: SilverLocke, Silver Raven

FOOD DeskSection Editor: MoonwriterStaff Writers: Sercee

OPINIONS DeskEditor: Sapphire Soleil Staff Writers: Areeya, Silthoron

ART DeskLead Artist: Areeya Staff Artists: Jymi X/0

Cover by Areeya

CONTRIBUTORS: Nydia

Whispering Grey MattersLiteral Magic

CONTENTSEditor’s Article: World Shrinking .............................. 3NEWSObama Open to Differences ................................... 4Order of the Jedi ............................................. 5Planetary Symbolism in CS Lewis’ Narnia ................. 6New Maze to Appease Past Crimes ....................... 7Prominent Wiccan Converts to Christianity ............ 8-10WIZARDRYThe Solstice of the Summer ............................ 11Ancient Runes Today: The Balance of Opposites ....... 12Tarot: The World ................................................ 13SCIENCEThe Sun: A Look at Our Favorite Star ..................... 14The Magickal Sun .......................................... 15The Melting Polar Ice .................................. 16Large Hadron Collider ........................................ 17FOODGrowing Your Own Herbal Tea .............................. 18Fruit-Based Summer Beverages ........................... 19A Magical Grimoire of Summer Fruits ................ 20-21Wonderful Wildcrafting ....................................... 22ART & CULTUREReview: Breaking Dawn ..................................... 24Reviews: Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink .......... 25Magick in the Movies ......................................... 26OPINIONAre You Pagan or What? ..................................... 27Silthoron’s Soapbox ............................................ 28Musing at the Midpoint of the Year ........................ 29GSW Children of Gaia -- Alchemy for the Earth ................. 30GSW Lodge Updates ........................................ 32The Lorekeepers’ Guild .................................... 33

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 2 ISSUE 22

Whispering Grey Matters is a quarterly newsletter produced by and for the students and faculty of The Grey School of Wizardry (www.greyschool.com). All contents herein are © 2009 Grey School, except where otherwise noted. Copyrights revert to original authors and artists upon publication.

ISSUE 22: SUMMER SOLSTICE 2009

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Whispering Grey MattersLiteral Magic

This being my first article to the Whispering Grey Matters readers as Editor, I wanted to speak about one of the most basic elements to the magi-zine. What better fascination than the internet itself? Being online, Whispering Grey Matters is able to reach people throughout the world; no easy feat for a small publication. There is incredible power in the internet. It draws the world together such that people who might not have ever encountered each other are able to meet and share ideas. While many rally against the idea of reading online, there are numerous benefits to the internet, not the least of which being the ecological factors. We use no paper, glue, or ink. It’s eas-ily accessed. The magick of writing online has extended beyond the simple email and it’s interesting to note that communication online is universal and ever-growing.

Facebook and Twitter have paved the way for sites like Second Life where one can ac-

tually meet other people in a virtual world. Recently, I was introduced

to a new site that combines the networking abilities of Facebook

with the virtual world of Sec-ond Life. It’s called IMVU and it allows one to have a pro-file, complete with avatar, and visit friends throughout the globe.

The world truly grows ever smaller. And Whispering Grey Matters will be there to bring you all of its won-derful magick.

World-ShrinkingBy Starwynd Panther, Editor-in-Chief

With this issue of Whispering Grey Matters, we turn the reigns over to our new Editor-in-Chief, Starwynd Panther! We also extend our thanks and applause to Laneth Sffarlenn, who served well in that position for the past year. Thanks, Laneth, for your excellent work! (We’ll still be seeing lots of Laneth, around the Newsroom and in the Print Shop, helping the Zombie Horde get the latest edition out.)

Welcome, Starwynd! WGM is in good hands!

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 3 ISSUE 22

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Obama Open to Different Religions and Spiritual Views By Belenus

U.S. President Obama meets regularly with leading �����������������������������������������������������promise of creating more tolerance and healing among feuding factions throughout the USA and the world.

Obama consults with the likes of Deepak Chopra, Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, and many other New Age gurus, as well as leaders of traditional religions such as the Greek spiritual leader, Varfolomei and Imam Hassan Qazwini, who has close ties with the spiritual leader of Hezbollah. Obama is �����������������������������������������������������Dalai Lama in October.

������������������������������������������������separation of church and state, Obama has at once become the object of speculation as to the authenticity of his own religious beliefs while giving hope to those who are members of minority religions that their government is not becoming something of a puppet of the dominate religions of the land, namely, right wing Christian sects.

Right now, President Obama has just given a speech in Cairo, Egypt where he warmly received by a crowd as he talked of Middle East peace and the great contributions of the Islamic religion. He even received a standing ovation as he drew a stark line be-tween the peaceful religion of Islam and the extremist factions such as “al Qaeda as a common enemy to both the U.S. and Muslim nations.” (1) Reaction from Israel has been mixed; some taking the speech as a good step towards peace, and others, like those who are settled on the west bank, saying that Obama wants to through them out of their homes.

In response to President Obama’s request to learn what is happening to our earth and its inhabitants, many New Age spiritual leaders are creating a petition to send to the U.S. President. The group identi-������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������-dia, building global community, and working for integrity in commerce. (2).

Combined, these acts, attitudes, and policies by the new U.S. President are rare, hopeful signs of good things happening and better things to come.

Sources:http://www.topix.com/world/turkey/2009/04/u-s-president-meets-with-spiritual-leader-of-greek-community-in-turkeyhttp://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/05/barack-obama-meets-secretly-with.html http://blog.taragana.com/n/china-says-obama-should-not-meet-with-the-dalai-lama-in-octoberl-34994/

WTOP News

Citations:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124409999530984503.htmlhttp://loveasalifesyle.ning.com/forum/topics/obama-open-to-spiritual

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 4 ISSUE 22

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���������������������������������������������������

Starting a religion and being recognized as such in Canada is not the same as what we are used to in the United States. There are more barriers to entry to get this done. In the United States, pretty �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

The leaders of what is now “The Order of the Jedi Canada, Inc.,” were extremely happy to announce in �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������as a religious body.

According to their website, “in Canada the government must give approval before the Provinces will even consider recognizing you. We now move forward in our goals to complete our recognition within each province.” (1)

Although fractious among many groups, the Jedi movement is world wide and has been growing �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������began in the 1970’s. The groups differ in their approach, some emphasizing the religious aspects of Jedi philosophy, while others take a more hands-on approach, teaching and training in energy work and mysticism.

The order of the Jedi Canada takes the former approach, and while they do not rule out the abilities of some to manipulate mystical forces, they focus on ethical and moral teachings. They are currently working steadily on a body of Jedi scripture based on the writings of George Lucas and the Star Wars franchise.

Most of those who call themselves Jedi or associate with it, are quick to point out that all religions are at the core, based on literature, and Jedi is no different in this respect. I’ve said it myself, that Lucas ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������since the beginning of time. He gave them a name; Jedi and “The Force.”

Citations:

http://www.orderofthejedi.ca/118612/html/page.html

Soon to be found at: www.orderofthejedi.org

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 5 ISSUE 22

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Planetary Symbolism in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Series by silverlocke

C.S. Lewis, in his role as literary critic, was fascinated by the "Kappa ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������or atmospheric quality the reader absorbs unconsciously or transparently as the story being read progresses.

An expert on Lewis, Michael Ward, an Anglican clergyman and the author of "Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis", claims that Lewis embedded a theme three layers deep embodying the properties of the seven known planets of medieval cosmology--a lifelong fascination of his.

����������������������������������������������������������������������books are a mishmash, and analyses based on only these two layers yield inconsistent results. And indeed, Lewis' good friend and fellow fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien castigated him about both layers--the hodgepodge of incompatible literary traditions, and the biblical parallels that are inconsistent across all the Chronicle volumes.

Ward's interpretation of the 3rd layer is that each of the seven planets is represented by each of the seven volumes of the Chronicles, claiming Lewis was intrigued by the heavens and described them as "tingling with anthropomorphic life, dancing, ceremonial, a festival--not a machine". And Norman ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Lewis' Narnia series and perhaps might invite fresh comparison of Lewis' work with, for one example, neo-atheist Philip Pullman and his "Golden Compass" series.

Here is a list of the titles in the Narnia series and their corresponding planetary associations:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe JupiterPrince Caspian MarsThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader SolThe Silver Chair LunaThe Horse and his Boy MercuryThe Magician's Nephew Venus The Last Battle Saturn

Sources"Discovering the Narnia Code". blog.oup.com. 09 April 2009. <http://blog.oup.com/2009/04/narnia-code/>.

"Narnia Code" guardian.co.uk. 02 December 2009. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/dec/02/cslewis-booksforchildrenandteenagers>.

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 6 ISSUE 22

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New Maze to appease Past CrimesBy Sapphire Soleil

A 17th Century wrong is being acknowledged by the modern day Scottish Lord. Some 400 years after the execution of eleven people accused of practicing witchcraft and being in league with the devil, Lord Moncrieff of Tullibole Castle near Kinross, Scotland is doing his part to encourage a new world of “secularism and rational thought” by creating a maze of over 2000 beech trees on his family homestead.

Moncrieff started planting the maze in 2003 and while its trees are still small, it already is attract-ing visitors to its serenity and sense of justice. It is his way of trying to make people think in a rational manner. Moncrieff feels that belief in the supernatural caused the hysteria that led the villagers to turn against eleven of their own. Regardless of visitor’s personal beliefs, the maze is a tribute to the people who died as a result of misdirected fears and superstitions.

���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������they were all found guilty, as all people put to trial for this offense were. Those who survived the torture of the trial were considered witches and taken out, strangled, and then burned. Many never made it that far as they succumbed to the torture itself.

�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������of the maze. On those stones will be carved words and it is these words that are most telling for his purpose. The words for the “good” stones are all words which amazingly didn’t actually exist in the Scottish language in 1662! Such as “Truth, knowledge, fact, love, loyalty, integrity, human-ity, wisdom, reasoning, tolerance, logic and honesty.”

He has a much longer list of “bad” words, such as “Fear, malevolence, envy, resentment, perjure, and prejudice” all of which did exist at that time.

Visitors are asked to help choose the words that will be inscribed on the ten stones.

For pictures of the maze, a list of those honored, and a full list of the words as well as his docu-mentation of their Scottish origins, see Lord Moncrieff’s website at http://www.tulbol.demon.co.uk/witches_maze.html.

Plan of the 3ft Pentagon pillarA memorial to remind people to think rationally

Persons who think they have supernatural powers may be upset by the Maze when it is completed, due to the fact it infers they are Falsarii.

Fact: Believers in supernatural powers were responsible for witchcraft trials.

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WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 7 ISSUE 22

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It begins like many American stories. A group of peo-ple, seeking freedom to worship, come together and create a church. At the head is a charismatic minister with a vision. The church is established and thrives, its parishioners accepted—even welcomed—as mem-bers of the local community.

But this story is a little differ-ent. The church was the First Church of Wicca in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The parish-ioners were Wiccans. Their leader? The “Reverend Doc-tor” Kendra Vaughan Hovey, a degreed minister and ordained Wiccan priestess.

Along with her husband, Tim, Hovey founded the FCOW as a place for Wiccans to wor-ship publicly with others who believed as they did. The Hov-eys wanted a place in which they could raise their children according to Wiccan ways, and starting their own church seemed the best solution.

As a child herself, Hovey was born into a Jewish home. She was introduced to Wicca as a girl, and while earning a Bachelors degree in ho-tel management at Johnson and Wales University (Rhode Island), was initiated as a Wiccan Priestess in 1989. She next earned a Doctorate in pastoral coun-seling from the University of Sedona (2005). Shortly after opening the FCOW, Hovey completed a second Doctorate in holistic ministry from the American In-stitute of Holistic Theology (2008). (Neither of these Doctoral institutions or degrees is recognized nor ac-credited by the United States Department of Educa-tion.)

Hovey’s FCOW quickly attracted members, both in person and via the Internet. Wicca has been recog-nized as an official religion in the United States since 1986, when the IRS began allowing contributions to Wiccan organizations to be tax-deductible. Member-ship estimates in FCOW quickly reached some 200 formal members, with e-members as far away as Australia and Africa.

In February 2007, the Hovey family—including the children, ages 8 and 11—was featured in the TLC se-

ries, “My Unique Family.” The episode, “The Witches Next Door,” focused on the FCOW and its relation-ships with Duxbury townspeople. Originally skepti-cal, the town gradually accepted the Wiccans in their midst, while Hovey’s parishioners dived into the Dux-bury community and became a visible part of town

activities.

As revealed by TLC, one of the most interesting aspects of Hovey’s work was her public persona. She insisted on be-ing called “Reverend Doctor” in recognition of her degrees. She wore the black garb and cleri-cal collar of a Christian cleric, along with a penkhaduce neck-lace designed by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, blending the pen-tagram, caduceus, and ankh. In an email to this writer, Hov-ey said, “[The penkhaduce] is perfect for me because it is a statement of my beliefs and a symbol of my credentials. I was blessed to find it! I’ve worn it daily with my collar for over 3 years now.”

The TLC program made visible not only the positive features

of running a church, but also certain controversial aspects of her work, including the sheer number of hours she devoted to running the church, answer-ing emails, counseling, and teaching. The program suggested that this time came at the expense of her family, and showed interviews of her young son and daughter saying, wistfully, that they wished their mother spent more time with them.

In December 2007, Hovey published a book, “Hand-fasting: A Pagan Guide to Commitment Rituals.” A story in the Quincy, MA, Patriot Ledger quoted Hov-ey as saying, “There’s a lot of information out there about Paganism or Wicca that people don’t under-stand, and I took writing this book as an opportunity to promote religious tolerance. It will help people understand our religious practices and how and why they’re important to us.”

But even as the TLC show aired, stresses were build-ing within FCOW. Church newsletters from spring and fall 2007 hint at parishioners being ordered to dress in formalized ritual garb, take expensive classes

Wiccan Priestess Featured on Television Special Recants Wicca and Turns to ChristianityBy Prof. Moonwriter

Kendra Hovey, wearing the GSW Penkhaduce in TLC’s “My Unique Family.” © The Learning Channel.

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 8 ISSUE 22

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leading to tiered levels of church membership, pay for individual “recommended” counseling sessions, and tithe substantial funds to the church.

Members were also required to subscribe to the “New Wiccan of the Law,” a collection of 88 behavioral te-nets. These included not talking about FCOW mat-ters outside of its walls, the building of mandated altars, the nature of relationships among adult co-veners, and obedience to the authority of the female Priestess. Church rules required members to sever ties with all spiritual groups and institutions besides FCOW.

On April 25, 2007, two months after the TLC special, Hovey took a sudden, unexplained two-week sabbat-ical. In an email to FCOW members, she announced the 2-week absence and canceled all church activi-ties during that time. No reasons were given for the departure.

In July 2007, parishioner and church secretary Deb-bie White suddenly left the FCOW, citing “personal reasons.” Hovey responded with an all-points email. “ [Debbie] has lost her way,” Hovey said. “I am ask-ing each one of you to please take a moment out of your busy day to pray on her and her family’s behalf so she may be reconnected to the God and Goddess and return to a life of inner peace.” (This statement would later represent the height of irony.)

Signs of internal stress continued, and may have sig-naled what was to come. In the fall of 2007, a church newsletter detailed changes in upper level manage-ment, designed to lighten Hovey’s load. Henceforth, she would devote herself fully to “spiritual matters” while her husband managed all church affairs. Still, Hovey took a second two-week sabbatical at the out-set of January 2008. Over the next several months, church classes and events were sporadically can-celled, and parishioners mentioned seeing less of Hovey.

In January 2009, with no warning, Hovey abrupt-ly closed the FCOW. In a letter to members, Hovey stated, “I have come to see the serious failings of the Wiccan faith. A major problem with the faith is that there is no unity among [its] followers which makes it challenging to define exactly what Wiccans do and do not believe in.” She continued, “Wiccans have a very open “do what you will” or “live and let live” perspective in life which very easily can cause harm to oneself and others without one actually knowing it until it is much too late. Additionally, there is no unified moral code of ethics. . . . Wicca teaches about how we can change the world and have all that we want. Spells, magick, etc. all prove to cause us to think selfishly instead of putting others before ourselves and more impor-

tantly instead of putting God before anyone else, in-cluding ourselves.”

The full text of Hovey’s letter is easy to find on the In-ternet, for those who wish to read it. Hovey said that while earning her second doctoral degree, she was exposed to Christianity and over a two-year period—while simultaneously leading FCOW—was counseled by Christian minister and friend, David Woods.

According to the site of Hovey’s new church, the Liv-ing Waters Community of Hope, “In the summer of 2008, Hovey had an undeniable experience with Je-sus Christ and . . . asked Woods to baptize her as a Christian, which he did on her 41st birthday on August 31, 2008. While still trying to minister to the Wiccan community, Hovey’s internal struggle and conflict as a Christian forced her to close down the First Church of Wicca.”

Hovey was quickly ordained by Woods and opened her new church on May 10, 2009, only four months after closing the first one. Her new church was opened on the same grounds and in the same buildings as the FCOW. The form of the LWCH website mirrors the exact format of the previous FCOW site, suggesting one was simply replaced by the other.

Hovey’s move shocked her parishioners, who in the space of a single day found their church closed, the website locked (and soon dismantled), and the social structure and support system they’d come to rely on vanished into the ether.

The new LCWH church billed itself as “a holistic Chris-tian ministry devoted to helping people heal from their experiences of inequity from past religions and religious institutions, by using both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as our foundation in faith and moral conduct.”

Previously known to her Wiccan parishioners as “Rev. Dr. Kendra,” Hovey switched to “Pastor Kendra” and took off the clerical collar. She said, “As Pagan clergy [the collar] was an important badge of service. It was important to me that as a Pagan minister people knew that I was available to help them and to pray with them, even though I was Pagan. As a Christian minister, there is no need for the collar because ev-eryone knows what the role of Christian clergy is.”

Hovey’s move from Wicca to Christianity left those who had trusted her guidance about Wicca as a spiri-tual choice feeling abandoned, even hoodwinked. As the magickal world got wind of Hovey’s actions, the words began to fly. What had happened? What had gone wrong?

Today’s blogosphere is full of messages from ex-FCOW parishioners who talk openly about their ex-

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periences in Hovey’s Church. They speak of being continually asked for money, bullied, and spiritually abused. The word “megalomaniac” has been used to describe Hovey’s attitude.

Many comment on the oddness of Hovey model-ing FCOW as a traditional congregation, wearing a cleric’s collar and preaching sermons during church meetings on Sundays to parishioners who sat lined up in pews. These issues may have demonstrated Hovey’s spiritual confusion early on.

Another oft-repeated thread states that Hovey ex-pected large tithes and other sums of money from FCOW members. The writer of this article studied the FCOW web site right after the TLC show aired, and found that church members were typically ex-pected to spend several hundred dollars or more each month for church membership and mandatory classes in Wicca.

Ex-parishioner Linda says, “The “Church” decided that all true members were to send monthly pay-ment for services rendered . . I was also told that if it hurt me to give, then I was truly giving, but if it didn’t hurt then my spiritually was in question. . . . Because I was one of the first to verbally express my dissatisfaction I was one of the first to be “rejected” among the other members. . . . The TLC film inflated [Hovey’s] ego and things began to quickly disinte-grate.”

There were ethical problems as well. According to Linda, confidential matters brought to Hovey in pri-vate counseling sessions often became topics for the following week’s public sermon. Yet, there was an absolute lock on information going in the other direc-tion, with parishioners being admonished to not blog about or discuss events that happened “in church.”

An anonymous poster said, “As a former FCOW member, I would caution anyone who chooses to get involved in Kendra’s new “flavor of the month.” Her “help” cost me my love relationship and divided my family. She is not qualified to counsel, as she offers no life advice, holds nothing in confidence, and uses information to break up relationships. . . . She made Wicca the very stereotype we would like to avoid.”

What’s the latest? The LWCH web site appears ac-tive and states that Hovey is writing a book about her personal testimony, “as she feels it is important for everyone to understand exactly how and why she has fully embraced Jesus Christ.” Hovey’s husband works with her in LWCH. Her children are both active in the church; one has “accepted Jesus” and been baptized.

Hovey was once working on a second book, “Out of the Broom Closet,” a collection of stories about Wic-

cans and Pagans. That project has apparently been abandoned.

In the FAQs of LWCH’s web site, Hovey says, “As a Wiccan, I was lost and could not find my way and I am deeply remorseful for those that I hurt or let down in the process of finding myself.” She offers her wish that she can continue to have a relationship with the Wiccan community, while teaching them about the benefits of Christianity.

Resources

Fonda, Bill. “Hovey Gets a New Start.” 23 April 2009. http://www.wickedlocal.com/duxbury/archive/x297236252/Hovey-gets-a-new-start

Galadriel, Lady and Kendra Vaughan Hovey. “A New Wiccan Book of the Law.” Atlanta: Moonstone Pub-lishing, 1992. New England Witches Alliance. 12 Sept 2005. http://www.newenglandwitchesalliance.org/pages.asp?ID=27

Hovey, Kendra Vaughan. Personal Communication with Susan Pesznecker (email). 22 Feb 2007.

Hovey, Kendra Vaughan. Personal Communication with Susan Pesznecker (email). 10 July 2007.

Linda. Blog post. “Every Little Thing She Does is Magick.” 23 Jan 2009. http://witchofridgewood.blogspot.com/2009/01/rebirth-without-rebellion.html

Living Waters Community of Hope (Church). 2009. http://www.livingwatersch.org/

Walsh, Kristin. “Head of Duxbury Church of Wicca Writes a Book.” 15 Nov 2007. http://www.patriot-ledger.com/archive/x1479272228

“The Wild Hunt – Rev. Kendra Vaughan Hovey.” http://wildhunt.org/blog/tag/rev-kendra-vaughan-hovey

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 10 ISSUE 22

The Solstice of the Summer

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The mid summer is called by many names: Litha, midsummer, summer solstice, Sankt Hans, Ivanje, Jaanipaev, all couples day, feast of Epona, Vestalia, and many more. It is also still celebrated in many different European countries from Britain to Portugal. It predates Christian-ity. A post Christian name would be the feast of St John.

I will just call it summer solstice from here on out. The solstice is the longest day of the year. Solstice comes from the Latin words “sol” and “sistere” meaning “sun” and “stand.” A large bonfire was used in most of the celebrations.

Ancient Celts celebrate Alban Heruin, celebrat-ing the Oak king being crowned and then falling to the Holly King. Celebrating the masculine as-pect, this is at its highest on this day. There were feasts, fresh summer flowers, and harvesting of the summer vegetables and herbs.

The ancient Chinese celebrated the feminine aspects: the earth and the yin. The Gauls cel-ebrated with the Feast of Epona, celebrating the goddess of fertility and equine beasts. She is usually seen in symbols as a woman on a horse or donkey. The Hopi dressed up as the spirit of fertility and dancing rain named Kachinas.

After some European countries were converted to christianity they started celebrating the feast of St John (celebrated supposedly a few days after his birth) which is the only Catholic saint celebrated in this way--other saints are cel-ebrated on the anniversary of their deaths. It was placed a few days after the summer solstice to replace it.

The Essenes were a Jewish group that flourished between 2 BCE to 1 CE, they were believed to share a feast in a temple that was erected as a “sun temple”. They were one of a few groups that used astrology for their calendars.

I usually build a bonfire and have a few friends over. We all create a feast and a ritual out of the correspondences. Usually since the sun is the strongest and it corresponds with birthing the gestation, we do this on an energy/physical level. We write what we want for the earth and for ourselves on a piece of paper, or visualize them into an herbal mix and burn it releasing the energy into the universe transmuting it with the fire.

Neopagans celebrate this day in many similar ways mixing and matching the different ritu-als altogether. I think that this should get you started, have fun inspecting and creating your own rituals!

References:Robinson, B.A. “Religious Tolerance”. May 8 2008. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/sum-mer_solstice.htm. >

Zell, Oberon and Morning Glory. “Creating Cir-cles & Ceremonies”. Career Press Inc. Franklin Lakes, NJ.

“Midsummer.” Wikipedia. May 30, 2009.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer.>

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 11 ISSUE 22

By Pratus Ater Lupus

The Solstice of the Summer

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With the Solstice (Mid-Summer or Mid-Winter) right around the corner, my thoughts stray continuous-ly towards balance. That balance between polarities: light and dark, feminine and masculine, As above

and So below. Though this train of thought may seem better suited to the equinox, it being the time of equal distance between night and day, for myself, in everyday Wizardry, I am continu-ously seeking balance throughout the year.

I find the Solstice a perfect time to get out my Runes to meditate on the polar opposite of the season, because it is a time of union. Whether the sacred marriage of masculine and feminine, or the sacred union of ones spirit amidst silent transformation. I feel much more in tune with my environment and its current season. When I take time to honor its opposite.

If it is Mid-winter, that frozen state that encourages ges-tation of spirit, so we might strive for growth once again, perhaps I would meditate on the Sun. The Rune Sowelu represents the wholeness of the Sun, that beautiful femi-nine aspect (most northern

peoples associated the sun with the divine femi-nine) that nurtures and encourages growth.

Amidst Mid-Summer, I would meditate on the Rune Isa. Isa being the solid state of ice and stagnation, where deep work in ones spirit can herald transformation to come.

I like to balance my state of being by keeping the whole game board in my minds eye. When I am focused on any given thing, I automatically try to recognize and acknowledge its opposite at the same time.

This can be a useful tech-nique to balance your emo-tions as well. Whether you wish to adjust anger, joy, shortsightedness, etc... Runes can help adjust to countless situations. They can assist you to seek the whole being, not the just the face of a subject. And as the Rune Gebo teaches us: all gifts require a gift in return. Only through balance giving and receiving is the gift of partnership possible. The gift of a balanced mind, body, and spirit comes from the balance of opposites.

So go ahead, meditate with your Ancient Runes Today, and find that balance within.

Ancient Runes Today:

The Balance of Opposites by Areeya

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 12 ISSUE 22

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A young lady dances in the center of a wreath, surrounded by a Lion, a Bull, an Eagle, and a Man... a new David Lynch film? No! It’s Trump 21, The World!

Aleister Crowley prefers to call this card “The Universe,” and that is a more apt title -- this card represents the pinnacle of achievement, the sum total of everything in existence; the edge of one iteration within the Prime Fractal, prepared to generate yet another infinite series of realities.

The Fool’s path has wound through every level of experience and finally ends here. The Uni-verse is the reward for growth and enlighten-ment gleaned on the journey of life (or lives). The Fool becomes the Creator -- having carried the seed for a new creation inside him or herself all along, that seed is now ready to take root and sprout as a whole new reality.

The four creatures are those mentioned in Book of Revelations 4:7, from the Christian Bible: “And the first beast was like a lion, and the sec-ond beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.” These creatures are associated with the four cardinal signs of the Zodiac, and represent the four elements: The Lion is Leo, Fire; the Bull is Taurus, Earth; the Man is Aquar-ius, Air; and the Eagle, Scorpio*. The dancing maiden in the center represents Spirit, com-pleting the five elements needed to generate a world.

So what the heck do you tell someone when this card comes up? Most people aren’t ready to transcend earthly existence and create their own realities. On a more day-to-day level, The World can often indicate a “passing of the torch,” as in a teacher-student relationship. This card usually refers to a job well done -- one phase or period of a project or experience has been completed, and the querant should use that as a foundation to move on to something bigger and better. It’s time to once again become The Fool and set out on a new adventure!

WORKS CITED

Crowley, Aleister. “The Book of Thoth.” US Games Systems, Inc. Stamford: 1996.

Guiley, Rosemary Ellen & Place, Robert M. “The Alchemical Tarot.” Thorsson. Hammersmith: 1995.

Pena, Anthony L. “The Eagle and Scorpio.” The Zodiac Master. Accessed 30 May, 2009. <http://thezodiac.com/eagle2.htm>

*Scorpio, though usually associated with the Scorpion, also claims the Eagle as its patron animal. It is association that is depicted on the Trump.

TAROT:

THE WORLDby Jymi X/0

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 13 ISSUE 22

“The World” From the Waite Deck, illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith.

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By Prof. Moonwriter

Although the Sun dominates our sky, it’s actually an unassuming, medium-sized yellow star about 92,960,000 miles from Earth.

Holding anchor at the center of our Solar System, our Sun is one of about 100 billion stars in our Milky Way and one of trillions of stars in the known universe. The Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy in the same way that Earth orbits the Sun. It takes about 266 million years for the sun to complete one galactic orbit traveling at about 150 miles (250 km) per second. Wow!

As with all stars, the Sun is fueled by thermonuclear reactions in its core. Neutrinos stream out from the Sun in a continuous flow, interacting only weakly with other matter; they carry energy, have no electrical charge, and have almost no mass. Formed by the burning of hydrogen, the presence of neutrinos proves that nuclear fusion occurs in the Sun’s core. However, the number of neutrinos predicted by scientific models is only one-third of the actual number detected. This “neutrino puzzle” may be answered by yet-unknown areas of quantum physics.

The surface, interior, and atmosphere of the Sun are made of hot, glowing plasma, the fourth state of known matter. Ninety-eight percent of the Sun’s mass is composed of hydrogen and helium, with the remainder formed by trace elements. The approximate temperature of the Sun’s visible surface, the photosphere, is 5800 K (Kelvin)—roughly 9980 deg F. What we see as sunlight is produced by the photosphere, which is actually very thin: if the Sun was an onion, the photosphere would be the thin layer of onionskin surrounding it.

Since the Sun is a ball of gas, it doesn’t have defined boundaries like a rocky planet. But its interior is well organized and includes a core and zones of radiation and convection, where plasma and hot gases move toward the surface and then sink back toward the core.

Sunspots are dark regions on the Sun’s photosphere. The irregularly shaped, dark areas are cooler (a “frigid” 4000K) than the surrounding photosphere, highly magnetic, and last for hours to months in Earth’s time. Sunspots are produced by changes in the Sun’s magnetic field, which is altered by the movement of gases inside the Sun. The sunspot cycle is actually 22 years long, with the polarity of the solar maximums which occur approximately every 11 years being reversed.

Solar flares are explosive events within the photosphere. They create intense brightening

over several minutes, then quickly fade. A single flare may release an amount of energy equivalent to 100 million hydrogen (fusion) bombs.

The chromosphere is the atmospheric region just above the photosphere. It’s much fainter than the photosphere and only visible during solar eclipses via the corona, the super-hot atmospheric gas and plasma that we envision as the Sun’s “rays.” The solar wind is a continuous plasma stream, moving from the corona and out into space.

All life on Earth depends on the Sun. Why? Plants use photosynthesis to convert solar energy (light) into chemical energy. This is the first step in the food chain for all living things; without sunlight, photosynthesis would cease and life on Earth would come to an end. Sunlight and solar magnetic activity also affect the Earth’s climate, atmosphere, and ocean currents, as well as providing a cheap source of power.

The Sun is our nearest star and its study provides the only direct measurements ever made of a star. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was launched on an Atlas II rocket from Cape Canaveral on Dec. 2, 1995. The SOHO craft orbits the Sun and gathers data exploring the Sun’s nature and functions, particularly the corona and solar wind.

Resources

Freedman RA and Kaufmann WJ III. Universe (6th ed). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 2002.

Recer, P. “Radio Astronomers Measure Sun’s Orbit Around the Milky Way.” The Houston Chronicle (on-line). <http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/space/astronomy/ news/1999/ds/990602.html>. 1 June 1999

“SOHO- About.” <http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/about/about.html>. 23 March 2007

Behold, the Sun!A Look at our Favorite Star

The Magickal Sunby Pratus

The sun is a very powerful figure. There have been whole civilizations that built their world around worship of the sun. It is where life comes from. The solar rays bearing down warming us and giving plants the photosynthetic energies that plant life and all organisms need for sustenance just as much as the counterparts of water and earth.

The sun symbolizes ourselves radiating out rays of energy that we work, manipulating will and auras to grow the seeds that we plant. It symbolized the power of life from the ant in the ground to the blue whale in the ocean.

We see the sun as masculine because the Earth is like the child-bearing Goddess. It takes the sun enriching the Earth with its rays of life for the Earth to give birth to the sunflowers, the roses, the grass, and other plant life so that in turn it can give life to the cattle, the goat, the sheep, and other herbivores and on up the food chain. So it isn’t very hard to see how the sun became

a god or goddess to many early human beings.

It is also seen as a symbol of strength. Makes sense when you think of how the sun provides vitamin D. Vitamin D is what helps regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and helping us regenerate skin, making us feel stronger.

With all this information it is no wonder the sun also corresponds with courage, happiness, playfulness, and wealth. During the summer when the sun is at its peak most animals, including humans, are more playful and happy, which gives us courage and of course that is where wealth comes in because we are more likely to take chances which can lead to wealth, of many types.

References

1. “Wikipedia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D, May 21, 2009.

2. “Tween the shadows.com” , http://www.tween-the-shadows.com/magick/symbols_magick/sun_solar.php. Lionrod, 1997-2003.

3. “Wikipedia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun, May, 2009.

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 14 ISSUE 22

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The Magickal Sunby Pratus

The sun is a very powerful figure. There have been whole civilizations that built their world around worship of the sun. It is where life comes from. The solar rays bearing down warming us and giving plants the photosynthetic energies that plant life and all organisms need for sustenance just as much as the counterparts of water and earth.

The sun symbolizes ourselves radiating out rays of energy that we work, manipulating will and auras to grow the seeds that we plant. It symbolized the power of life from the ant in the ground to the blue whale in the ocean.

We see the sun as masculine because the Earth is like the child-bearing Goddess. It takes the sun enriching the Earth with its rays of life for the Earth to give birth to the sunflowers, the roses, the grass, and other plant life so that in turn it can give life to the cattle, the goat, the sheep, and other herbivores and on up the food chain. So it isn’t very hard to see how the sun became

a god or goddess to many early human beings.

It is also seen as a symbol of strength. Makes sense when you think of how the sun provides vitamin D. Vitamin D is what helps regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and helping us regenerate skin, making us feel stronger.

With all this information it is no wonder the sun also corresponds with courage, happiness, playfulness, and wealth. During the summer when the sun is at its peak most animals, including humans, are more playful and happy, which gives us courage and of course that is where wealth comes in because we are more likely to take chances which can lead to wealth, of many types.

References

1. “Wikipedia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D, May 21, 2009.

2. “Tween the shadows.com” , http://www.tween-the-shadows.com/magick/symbols_magick/sun_solar.php. Lionrod, 1997-2003.

3. “Wikipedia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun, May, 2009.

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 15 ISSUE 22

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the melting of the ice sheets, both in the Arctic and the Antarctic. Polar bears in particular are at risk of the vanishing habitat. Their main diet consists of seals which they hunt on the ice. As the sea ice vanishes, the hunting grounds of the polar bear do as well. The sea ice normally cycles as the seasons change, melting back each summer and advancing again in the winters, but the cycles have had a trend over the years of melting further back and not regaining nearly as much in the winter. The waters of the North Pole may be completely free of ice as early as 2013, which would be catastrophic for the polar bear population.

Although the warnings of melting ice and sea level rise could indicate trouble not only for the polar bears, but for humans as well, sea level information from the fossil record suggests that the sea level is currently as high as it has ever been.

Resources:

Gray, Louise. “Arctic ice is thinner than ever according to new evidence from explorers.” Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/5172098/Arctic-ice-is-thinner-than-ever-according-to-new-evidence-from-explorers.html. 26 April 2009.

“Measuring Sea Level.” Available at: http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/measuring-sea-level.html. 1 June 2009.

“Verification of IPCC Sea Level Rise Forecasts 1990, 1995, 2001 Archives.” Available at: http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/archives/climate_change/001323verification_of_ipcc.html. 1 June 2009.

The Melting Polar Iceby Calyxa

The sphere that is our Earth consists of many interacting spheres. Some of these spheres you have probably heard of: atmosphere (air), biosphere (life), hydrosphere (water), and lithosphere (stone). There is another similar sphere, this one of ice, known as the cryosphere. This is not meant to imply that a complete spherical shell of ice exists on the planet, however it does mean that all of the ice on the Earth can be thought of as its own ecosystem in the same way that the other spheres play vital roles in the functioning of Planet Earth.

There are several types of ice in the cryosphere. Sea ice and the polar ice sheets account for most of it, but they are only a part. Also counted as part of the cryosphere are ice crystals in high clouds, and ice crystals trapped in the soil which make up the frozen tundra lands. The ice on lakes, rivers, and in glaciers is also counted as part of the cryosphere. All of this ice is as risk with climate change, but it is the polar ice sheets which are of the greatest concern when it comes to rising sea levels.

Sea ice is ice which does not have solid land underneath it. Icebergs are one type of sea ice. A common piece of information about icebergs is that only 10% of the iceberg shows above the water’s surface with the other 90% hiding below the water. However, if the entire iceberg melts, the water level does not rise. This is because water expands when it freezes and the 10% of the iceberg above the water level is equal to that expansion. Ice shelves are attached to land and have less than 90% of their mass supported by water, and are suspended over the water by the structure of the ice itself. Certain ice sheets in the Antarctic are being closely watched. By breaking, much of the ice mass will fall into the ocean all at once and may cause a sudden sea level rise of several feet. Polar ice sheets are fully supported out of the ocean by virtue of resting fully on a land mass. It is this ice which if it melts poses the greatest potential for raising the sea level, simply because there is so much of it.

Estimates made in the 1990s for how climate change and melting polar ice would affect sea level were dire, but even at the rates predicted then, the sea level was predicted to rise only by a few meters by the end of the 21st century. Later predictions have been less severe. Observed sea level changes are measured in millimeters, using tide gauges and satellite data. Comparing the observed data to the predictions, sea level is rising slower than the 1990 predictions, but faster than the 2001 predictions.

Sea level changes are only one negative effect of the melting of the polar ice. A much more immediate effect is the loss of habitat for several polar animals. Polar bears, seals, and penguins are all affected by

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 16 ISSUE 22

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by Calyxa

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a giant machine built on the border between Switzerland and France. It will use the smallest particles of matter known to help answer the largest questions of the universe. The organization responsible for the LHC is called CERN, a name which originally was an acronym of the French language version of “European Council for Nuclear Research.” The name of the organization has changed, but they kept the CERN acronym as the primary name.

The first question many people have upon hearing about the LHC is, “What is a hadron?” The easiest way to define a hadron is by example. Protons and neutrons are hadrons. They are sub-atomic particles consisting of a “bound state of quarks.” Protons and neutrons are both in a class of hadrons known as baryons, or particles with mass. Another class of hadron is the meson, a particle whose existence was predicted in 1935 by Hideki Yukawa. The pion, or pi meson, was first observed in 1947. These first mesons were not produced in particle accelerators, but were detected through the actions of cosmic rays on photographic emulsions in observation stations at high altitudes.

The first particle accelerators were not made until a few years later in the mid 1950s. Colloquially known as “atom smashers,” these machines use magnetic fields to move charged particles faster and faster until finally colliding them with either a stationary target in linear models, or into a beam of oppositely charged particles traveling the other direction in circular models. The first cyclotron, or circular particle accelerator, was a small device not much

larger than the palm of a man’s hand. The reason particle accelerators have gotten larger and larger over the years is due to energy. It takes a great deal of energy to break apart matter into the more esoteric sub-atomic particles. With the circular type of accelerator, the potential energy is doubled with the two beams colliding head-on in opposite directions. The larger the radius of the ring, the more distance available to apply accelerating forces to the particles.

Sub-atomic particles are predicted through complex mathematical models. These models are only hypothetical and it is not until the predicted particles are observed that the mathematics are then viewed as a more accurate interpretation of how the universe works. The current mathematical model is called the Standard Model. It predicts many particles which have been observed, and many more which have not yet been observed. Most of these particles are in a class known as bosons, which are a type of meson.

The concrete-lined circular tunnel used for the LHC was built back in the 1980s, when it originally housed the Large Electron-Positron Collider. The LEP, as it was known, was active from 1989 through 2000. It was then decommissioned to make room for the LHC. The LEP was responsible for discovering the Z-boson and W-boson. Inconclusive results indicated that they may have created the Higgs Boson, one of the final particles which will validate the Standard Model. It is the search for the Higgs Boson which the LHC has as its primary experimental goal.

One fear tied to the LHC is that it will create a miniature black hole, and that this black hole will fall into the center of the Earth, eventually consuming the entire planet. To compress small amounts of matter into a black hole takes an unimaginable amount of energy. Even with the huge amounts of energies needed to break ordinary matter apart into these esoteric particles, that energy is barely comparable to cosmic rays. For this reason, the fears about the LHC accidentally creating a miniature black hole are quite unfounded.

Resources:

Colby, P. C. Personal Interview. 26 March 2009.

“Large Hadron Collider.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider. 30 May 2009.

Overbye, Dennis. “Large Hadron Collider - Risk of a Black Hole.” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15risk.html. 15 April 2009.

Large Hadron ColliderWHISPERING GREY MATTERS 17 ISSUE 22

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Teas—also called infusions—are created by steeping fresh or dried plant materials in water. Infusions lend themselves to all sorts of magickal uses, and they’re easy to prepare.

For best results, work with an herbal guide and fol-low instructions exactly. The following are general instructions to help you get started with simple hot infusions.

1. Always start with fresh cold water—ideally filtered or from a natural spring.2. Bring the water to a boil in a non-reactive pan—i.e., no aluminum or iron. Purists don’t use micro-waves, either.3. Add fresh or dried herbs to the water, cover, re-move from heat, and steep for 5 minutes. A good basic ratio is 1 tsp. dried herb (or 2 tsp. fresh) per cup of water.4. Strain and drink.

Medicinal Teas

Teas can relax you, settle your stomach, or even sooth a fevered brow. Here are a couple of medicinal blends that are safe for all ages.

Moonwriter’s Snoozytime Tea

Boil 1 C. fresh cold water. Remove from heat and stir in:1 tsp. dried blended mint (I like spearmint and pep-permint)1/2 tsp. dried chamomile flowers1/4 tsp. dried licorice root (or 1/8 tsp. crushed anise seed, if no licorice root is on hand)

Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain into a warm mug and sweeten with honey as desired. Sip until gone. Sleep tight!

Moonwriter’s Cough and Cold Infusion

Boil 1 C. fresh cold water. Remove from heat and stir in:1 tsp. dried mint (any variety)1/2 tsp. dried sage 1 tsp. dried hyssop flowers1/2 tsp. dried chamomile flowersPinch tsp. crushed anise seedTiny pinch dried stevia

Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain into a heat-ed mug and drink while as hot as possible, breathing the steam while drinking.

Tasty Teas

It’s always a pleasure to sip a delicious cup of tea—

especially if you’ve grown your own. Many of the plants in your own garden are perfect for infusions.

Bee balm is a classic, purple, red, or pink Victorian garden flower and a great favorite of hummingbirds and bees. Steep the leaves and flowers in freshly boiled water for about 10 minutes. Bee balm makes a delicious “citrusy” tea that also soothes the stom-ach. It’s what lends the distinctive flavor to “Earl Grey” tea.

Thyme is another common plant in many gardens. Its leaves are only 3/8 inch long, and the plant attains a height of no more than several inches. The flowers, which are clustered at the tip of each branch, can be any color from white to purple. Thyme is from the mint family, and a thyme tea is fresh and aromatic. It’s also useful for coughs and colds.

Lemon balm is another favorite. The golden-yellow leaves smell like lemon when crushed, and make a delicious iced tea blend.

Magical Teas

Herbal brews can further your magickal works, too. For instance, sip peppermint tea for inspiration or rosemary for mental acuity. Ease into a meditation with a relaxing chamomile brew, or drink a dandelion infusion to boost your divinatory powers.

Have fun experimenting with your own herbal teas. Flavor with citrus peel, cinnamon, or fresh nutmeg, and sweeten with honey, sugar, or a tiny bit of herbal stevia. Magick is delicious!

Growing Your Own Herbal Teas

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By Prof. Moonwriter

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 18 ISSUE 22

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On a hot summer day, what tastes better than a tall, icy drink? Here are some delicious (and magickal) options to add to your repertoire.

The Shrub

No, I’m not talking about plants. A shrub is like a fruit cordial, but without the alcohol. Shrubs add vin-egar to a fruit syrup base, creating a tart, refreshing summer beverage.

To make a berry shrub, crush ripe berries (raspber-ries, strawberries, blackberries, etc.) and add 1 part cider vinegar to 6 parts fruit. Mix well, cover, and set aside, undisturbed, for 4-5 days. Skim off any sur-face foam and strain the mixture through a sieve or cheesecloth. (Put the used berry mixture into your compost bin!)

Measure the strained liquid, and add 1 part sugar to 2 parts juice. Boil gently until the liquid becomes syrupy. Pour into clean jars. At this point the shrub base can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a year or frozen for even longer. You can also “can” it in a water bath canner for longer storage.

To serve, fill a tall glass with chopped ice. Add two or three tablespoonfuls of shrub base; fill the glass with ice water and enjoy. If you prefer a sparkling shrub, add soda water.

Cordials “Down Under”

In the United States and Europe, a cordial combines fruit syrup with an alcohol base. But in Australia, a cordial is fruit syrup that’s mixed with sparkling wa-ter or soda before drinking.

To make an Aussie cordial, make a simple syrup by boiling 1 part water and 1 part sugar until the sugar dissolves. Allow it to cool; store in the refrigerator. Combine 1 part fruit juice with 1 part syrup; sea-son with lemon juice or finely grated peel if desired. You can bottle the mixture in clean Mason jars and refrigerate for up to one week (or freeze for longer storage).

To use, mix 1 part cordial “base” with 10 parts spar-kling water or soda and serve over ice.

Saft

Sweden’s “saft” is much like the Australian cordial in that it involves an alcohol-free mixture of sugar and fruit juice. But unlike the Aussie version, saft is cooked.

To make a saft base, crush cups fresh berries and/or stone fruits (peaches, plums, cherries.). Combine the crushed fruit with a 1” piece of peeled, sliced fresh ginger and 2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until fruit is soft, about 10 min-utes. Strain the liquid into a second saucepan, press-ing gently. (Put the used berry mixture into your compost bin!) Add 1½ cups sugar to the fruit liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid reduces to a light syrup, about 15 minutes. Cool the syrup and pour into clean jars; refrigerate for 3 months or freeze for longer periods.

To serve, pour ¼ cup saft base into a tall glass, add ice, and fill with cold ginger ale.

By Prof. Moonwriter

Next time you plan a family barbecue or a get-together with magickal friends, try one of these wonderful summer beverages. You can experiment with your own con-coctions, too: stir a tablespoon of saft base unto a tumbler of iced tea, or add some shrub base to your favorite lemonade. Yum!

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ApricotScientific name: Prunus armenniacaOther names: Apple’s partner, cottersElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusPatron alignment: Ochun, Oko, Shango, VenusUse in magick: Use apricot for all kinds of love magicks. The pits are especially powerful for love talismans; however, the pits contain small amounts of arsenic and must not be eaten. Apricot is also a powerful harvest symbol.Use in healing: The oil and pit are used in skin prod-ucts.Notes: Do you pronounce this fruit as APP-rih-cot or APE-rih-cot? Both are dictionary correct, but vary regionally. Another variant, APP-er-cot, is a regional dialect but a dictionary pronunciation.

Blackberry Scientific name: Rubus villosus, R. fructiosusOther names: Bly, bramble, bramble-kite, bumble, bumble-kite, cloudberry, dewberry, goutberry, thim-bleberry, thornberryElemental alignment: Water; thorns also give it some Fire alliancesGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusPatron alignment: Brigid and Lugh; it’s traditional to bake blackberry pies on Lughnasadh in their honor.Use in magick: Wealth and prosperity spells; strength. The vines offer protection when grown on one’s grounds. Blackberry is a harvest symbol.Use in healing: Astringent and tonic; leaf infusion and fruit treat diarrhea.Notes: When gathering berries, thank the vines for their bounteous gift and pick slowly; this will mini-mize thorn punctures. However, the “thornings” should be valued as your sacrifice to the plant.

Blueberry Scientific name: Vaccinum speciesOther names: BilberryElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusUse in magick: Eat blueberries to protect against psychic attack and to boost memory.Use in healing: Aids mental clarity.Notes: Huckleberry and wild blueberries are wild ver-sions of the domestic blueberry.

Cherry Scientific name: Prunus aviumOther names: black cherry, sour cherry, sweet cher-ry, Virginia pruneElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusUse in magick: A powerful addition to love spells and charms; cherry juice may be used as a substitute for blood or dove’s blood in spellwork.Use in healing: Astringent and tonic. Syrup relieves mild coughs. Leaf infusion and juice soften the stool.

Peach Scientific name: Prunus persicaOther names: Fuzzy fruitElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusUse in magick: Supports love spells; protects against dark magicks; supports fertility and longevity; boosts psychic work. Peach pits, drilled and suspended from a cord, make a strong protective talisman.Use in healing: Diuretic, expectorant, sedative.Notes: The pits contain small amounts of arsenic and must not be eaten.

A Magickal Grimoire of By Prof. Moonwriter

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 20 ISSUE 22

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A Magickal Grimoire of By Prof. Moonwriter

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Pear Scientific name: Pyrus communisElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusUse in magick: Prosperity; a very potent component of love spells; set whole on an altar, pear is a powerful Goddess symbol.Use in healing: Diuretic effects; may prevent gout.Notes: The pits contain small amounts of arsenic and must not be eaten.

Plum Scientific name: Prunus domesticus (domestic plum); P. americana (wild plum)Other names: Mother peachElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusUse in magick: Both plums protection against evil and dark magick. P. domesticus inspires long-lasting love. Use in healing: P. Americana is a powerful addition to healing spells.Notes: the pits contain small amounts of arsenic and must not be eaten.

Raspberry Scientific name: Rubus idaeus, R. strigosusOther names: bramble of Mount Idea, European rasp-berry, hindberry, hindbur, raspis, red raspberryElemental alignment: Water; thorns also give it Fire al-lianceGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusAstrological: Libra, TaurusUse in magick: Love (especially when mixed with hon-ey); protection; strengthUse in healing: Eases menstrual pain and PMS. Should not be used by pregnant women or those trying to con-ceive. The leaf infusion is antiseptic.Notes: Same gathering comments as for ‘blackberry.’

Strawberry Scientific name: Fragaria vescaOther names: heartberry, jordboerElemental alignment: WaterGender: FemininePlanetary alignment: VenusPatron alignment: FreyaUse in magick: The heart shape inspires love; also brings luck.

Works Cited

Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclope-dia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn, 1985.

Drew, A.J. A Wiccan Formulary and Herbal. New Page, 2005.

Grieve, Maud. “A Modern Herbal.” Botanical.com. 1995-2007. <http://www.botanical.com/index.html>.

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Wildcrafting is the collection of plants from their natural environment. In our case, the plants would be collected for magickal, medicinal, or other related issues.

Why Wildcraft?

Given the ease with which herbs can be pur-chased online, or plants bought at the local nursery, why wildcraft? First, it’s the best way to know that one is getting herbs and plants that are truly fresh. Second, being out in a nat-ural setting shoulder-to-shoulder with plants is a great way to get to know them and to appre-ciate their relationship to the surrounding eco-system.

The Dos and Don’ts

Select your wildcrafting destination with care. If you’re on private property, get permission. If on public property, you may need a permit for gathering. (If you need one, get one! Wizards are ethical stewards of the environment, and that includes compliance with protective regula-tions.)

Be safe! If you’re going off-path, be sure you know where you are, so you don’t get lost. Have a cell phone along, and dress appropriately for the terrain and weather.

Never wildcraft within 100 feet of a road, indus-trial area, or train track. Plants in those areas are likely contaminated with pollutants or heavy metals. Likewise, don’t pick any plants unless you are certain that they have not been sprayed with herbicide or chemical fertilizers.

Do your research before heading out. Find out what plants are common in your area, and carry a field guide for identification. Better yet, learn your wildcrafting through mentorship with an experienced collector. If you have any ques-tion as to identification, don’t harvest! Some of our most familiar plants are almost identical to those that are the most dangerous—for exam-

ple, certain wild onions are easily confused with the lethal death camas.

Be familiar with protected or endangered plants in your area, and don’t disturb them. You should also avoid collecting in fragile environments, e.g., alpine meadows, even if the plants are not listed as protected. Scars in these areas may take decades to recover.

Resist the urge to harvest plants from the first patch you stumble upon—spend time looking around first. Only harvest a few plants from each area, and only from robust areas. A good rule is, “cut one, leave twenty.”

Most plants are best harvested early in the morning, after the morning dew dries but be-fore the sun warms the plant. Research your plant before harvest, so you know what parts to take and in what season. As a rule, don’t collect herbs during rainy weather, as damp weather leads to rot and mold.

Tools and Techniques

You’ll need little more than gloves, a small shov-el, and a local field guide to get started. Wrap your specimens in newspaper and layer in plas-tic bags. Get the harvested plants home for pro-cessing immediately. Rinse off any dirt or visible materials, trim as needed, and put the plants to soak in a sink full of water to which you’ve added a tablespoon or two of salt; this will help dirt and parasites drop off.

After the half hour, rinse the plants and allow to dry on open racks. If you’ll use them for cook-ing or eating, wrap in damp toweling, place in plastic bags, and chill.

Are you interested in learning more? Check out the GSW’s “Herbcrafting” classes (Levels 2, 4, and 6) or the Level 4 class, “Principles of Wild-crafting.”

wonderful wildcrafting

By Prof. Moonwriter

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“Lily Palettes” Photo by Jymi X/0

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Twilight is a romance series with vampires and were-wolves and a zero-to-negligible amount of bodice rip-ping or heaving bosoms -- at least in the three pre-vious volumes. And even the aforesaid vampires and the werewolves were becoming passé -- Edward’s and Jacob’s threats against each other becoming more like trash talk than true rancor.

That having been said, those thinking there are no more real surprises in store have a treat in this fourth volume. Those waiting for the series to turn freaky have only to reach page 239 where freaky lies bleed-ing in the dust and credulousness comes full circle and bites its own tail (tale).

At some point in any magick user’s life I’m sure they eventually have to ask themselves what a monster -- a werewolf for example -- would find gross and this book answers that question to a nicety. Jacob -- the normal-ly unflappable and courageous werewolf -- calls it “... monstrous and repulsive.” And when Leah the female werewolf hears of it she more informally labels it “... the freakin’ grossest thing i’ve ever heard in my life”.

In an early flashback scene, Bella and Edward show up to tell Bella’s father, Charlie (the town police chief), that they are getting married. As they wait in the living room and he approaches the front door, Edward tries to calm her, “Stop fidgeting Bella. Please try to remember that you’re not confessing to a murder here.” This does not soothe Bella’s nerves, “Wait ‘till he hangs his gun up!” she hisses back to him under her breath. But, considering that marriage is the condition for Edward to allow his love’s conversion to vampirism, is Bella truly confessing to a murder? Her own, that is?

Their subsequent wedding has one major formula change -- fittingly and pragmatically enough: from “... till death do us part”, to, “... as long as we both shall live”. As Meyer fittingly points out in a quote from Henry Van Dyke: “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” Alas, the perfect wedding leaves one guest distraught as Jacob howls out his sadness and rage at the “I dos”.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie MeyerLB&C First Edition: August 2008. Review by silverlocke

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Do you want to be a better writer? If you answered yes, then do I have a book for you! Sue “Moonwrit-er” Pesznecker’s book, Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink is a must-read for anyone. Whether you’re a beginner who needs to find a starting place, or you are a practiced hand at the skill, you will find very valuable information within this book.

In this book you will learn the fundamentals of good writing. I know what you’re thinking, “Yeah, right.” But let me take you through the book. Each page is very easy to read and understand. There are little time-outs, as I like to call them, that tell some interesting facts. The end of each chapter is like a little workbook to help you use some of the skills outlined within that chapter.

The Resources section of the book is full of books to refer to and links to sites of interest. At the time of this writing, Professor Moonwriter’s book is not available at the Grey School’s Magick Alley. How-ever, I’m betting that will soon change. If one were to get a copy, it might be possible to persuade the professor to sign it for you if ever the chance pres-ents itself.

Two Tales of One Bookby Silver Raven

There is an old adage: “Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach.” The book Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink by Susan Pesznecker does both with wit and sim-plicity. Seeing this book title, your thought may be “not another book on writing well!” Then you begin reading. Yes, this is a book by Grey School’s very own Professor Moonwriter herself!

This book grabs you from page one. It is an interesting read, whether you are a professional writer looking for a book to pass the time, hone your skills, or target that one problem area; to a true beginner. Taking the reader from ground zero--no writing experience--to the well-crafted piece of art in approximately 240 pages, the reader engages writing and does so in a very interest-ing way. Whether or not you want to write for magickal intent, this book is for you. It is full of blurbs, such as ‘Magickal Mentions,’ or ‘Writer’s Grimoire.’ Then there is the Scribbulus at the end of each chapter. Practice does make perfect, and these Scribbulus opportuni-ties walk the reader through the chapter lessons with deftness.

There are lessons to be learned and great information to be gained. Tips on improving memory, obtaining comfort to write without the backache or carpal tunnel syndrome setting in (called ergonomics in the book), and how to put everything together so you can submit your final work proudly.

So, draft that memo, write that note to your friend, compose a paragraph for school, begin that novel you’ve only dreamt of writing, or make that magick happen . Whatever your intent, this book will make you that magickal writer you wish to be. Truly, this book does teach because the writer can, indeed, does, and does well!

This book will be everyone’s desk reference, and a good read if just needing a refreshing break!

Crafting Magick with Pen and InkReviewed by Artemis Gryphon SnowHawk

Crafting Magic with Pen and Ink

the new book by Susan Pesznecker (that’s Professor Moonwriter, to us!)

Two Reviews

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Twinkle your nose and something appears. Grab a broom and hop on, you’ll soar high above the ground. Magick in the movies makes every-one wish for those powers; especially with the next Harry Potter movie coming out soon. Everyone knows about Harry Potter and this had me considering other movies that made people think about magick. Let’s face it, every once in a while you watch a movie and realize that it’s magickal. Or it has a prophetic message. How many can you name? Of course, there are many. Wizard of Oz. Obvious choice. The afore-mentioned Harry Potter series. The Bridge of Terabithia. Of course, movies are magickal no matter what you are watching. They take you away to another time and another place. They have the visual impact that makes you go “Wow!”

For this article, we’ll use the meaning of magick in movies as actual magic. There are those movies that are obviously magickal. These movies include Bewitched (2005); The Harry Potter series; Hocus Po-cus (1993); Practical Magic (1998); Time Bandits; The Golden Com-pass (2007); and Bell, Book and Candle (1958).

Then there are the movies that are obviously prophetic. Prophetic movies would be those wherein a message comes “from beyond” or the future is forecast. These would include Knowing (2009), and The Gathering (2002).

Some movies are hard to define, but definitely are not mundane. Which category would hold The Bridge of Terabithia, The Wizard of Oz or Night at the Museum? How about The Stand (originally a minise-ries), The Secret Garden, Left Behind or The Sixth Sense? Where, oh where, does Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) fit?

With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince coming soon, accompa-nied by others with a magickal focus, makes me wonder: which movie are you eager to see?

Magick in the Movies

by Artemis Gryphon SnowHawk

WHISPERING GREY MATTERS 26 ISSUE 22

Topmost illustration by Jymi X/0

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In this day and age, walking the path of the seeker, though more accepted in some places, inevitably still comes with the question “What are you”? What I find interesting, and yet extremely frustrating, is that folks feel the need to fit all people into a nice neat category.

A couple of decades ago, this perplexed me to no end. When one is young, there can be a lot of pressure from parents, family, and peers to fit into what their idea of one should be. I felt very uncomfortable in responding to queries of my be-liefs, traditions, practices, etc. If one seeks knowledge that is hidden, one studies various paths, which in turn, continu-ously opens up many more paths. Each individual, whether a part of a group, or not, is an ever shifting entity. So, my question is, “To integrate with the general population, does one have to conform to societies labels?” And I mean any society, the mundane and the magickal.

For example, I hear in the mundane world that if you study wizardry you must be Wiccan or Pagan when, in fact, wiz-ardry is nondenominational. People that walk the path of the wizard come from many different belief systems. In the magickal world there is also a great deal of pressure to specify your tradition or practice and anything out of the norm causes confusion. I’ve seen an Inde-pendent Catholic priest, dedicate to the Seasons of the Wheel, that caused some in the magickal com-munity to raise an eyebrow.

I find many folks seem to confuse a path of learning with a religion. Nowadays, I do not take it too seriously, and just go with the flow because only you can decide your path. You do not have to

explain yourself to anyone. Though sometimes, standing up for your right not to disclose what you believe, can be more difficult.

So do not feel obligated to answer the age old, “Are you Pagan or what?” question. Live healthy and happy in the journey of learning. Be confident

that who and what you are, and how you express your being is beauti-ful and sometimes, indescribable.

But that’s just this writers opinion, what’s yours?

Are you Pagan or what?By Areeya

© Luc Viatour GFDL/CC http://www.lucnix.be

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Many of us have taken a class at Grey School titled Western Astrology 101. In one assignment, we were instructed to read an online article about the pros and cons of Astrology and write a paper ex-pressing our take on the validity of Astrology. As instructed, I read the article and it got me think-ing… and reacting. Then my knee jerked; I admit it freely! So I pulled out my favorite soapbox (it’s the pretty blue one that I use to rail against intol-erance) and sat to share these thoughts.

“What a load of dung!”

I am weary to the bone of this or that skeptic try-ing to disprove this or that belief structure. The scientists are constantly attacking the spiritual-ists and the religious. The religious are attacking the scientists and the spiritualists. And the spiri-tualists are bad-mouthing the scientists and the religious. They even bicker incessantly amongst themselves.

GODS!!! Can’t they all just shut up and be about their own beliefs?

Okay, now that I have that off my chest, here’s my take on the article we read in class. IT DOESN’T MATTER!!!!

I am consistently amazed at the amount of energy people divert from their own growth and apply it toward attempting to thwart the growth of others. Do the skeptics believe there is validity to astrol-ogy? NO! Do believers feel there is validity? YES! Are they likely to change anyone’s mind? A wholehearted NO!!!

Do I feel there is validity to astrology? The an-swer is, like most people, I am somewhere in the middle. There is some value to the insights gained by evaluating a birth chart and much to be gained from the self examination that accompanies such an evaluation. I do not, however, believe there is empirical evidence to support astrology as a sci-ence.

That said, however, there are few (even among

astrologers) that claim modern western astrology is a science. I will continue to identify astrology as an art. It is a tool rather than a theory. I don’t need to know the full theory behind a screw to know it will hold two pieces of wood together. I also don’t need a lot of theory to see the benefit of astrology in the spiritual realm.

From where I sit, the skeptics of all flavors will al-ways use the mantra, “correlation does not equal causation” and the believers will always be saying “science cannot explain everything.”

The beauty is that both are correct – and both are wrong. And we will remain at an impasse for the foreseeable future. Science cannot disprove the gods and the religious cannot prove the gods. The same is true in so many cases, including this one.

Before I step down from my pretty blue soapbox; I will close by sharing my advice to the skeptics and the believers – all the people that try to prove or disprove anything…. STOP!!!

Focus on your own growth and leave others alone. You are, in effect, barking at the wind and you will not accomplish anything except to stroke your own egos. And neither side is supposed to be about egos.

Many Blessings,Silthoron

Silthoron’s Soapboxby Silthoron

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Summer Solstice? Didn’t I just put the snow shovel away? For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the dark of the year is rapidly approaching and I, for one, am reeling with this information. The year is half done and where has it gotten me? I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but this year I did make a list of sorts, if only in my head. I made a few goals. Well, the year is half over, how’s my list looking?

I worked on the scrapbooks, but haven’t finished them by any stretch of the imagination. I did clean out the cookbooks in the pantry! I started a Yoga class, but it is too early to see any benefit on that one. I take my dog for a walk every day! My Grey School lessons are progressing nicely and I think I’m on target there!

I have not, however, stuck to magickal workings at least once a week which I had hoped to do. I haven’t created my fairy garden yet or even developed a plan; but I have kept my magickal journal dutifully, which is a major accomplishment for me! And I hope to finish that short story (or perhaps long story) in time for Yule. (I’d better get cracking on that one.)

So what? Why should I care if some arbitrary list I made is progressing or not? No one is going to get mad at me if I don’t. Because, dear reader, the most important promises to keep are the ones we make to ourselves. Summer is upon us. Get out enjoy, do a few of those things from your own list. The year isn’t half over, it is half full!

Musing at the midpoint of the yearSapphire Soleil

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Step One - Calcination – Issues Calcination is all about getting your ducks in a row. Gather together everything you are working with and get ready to begin. Make those first steps. Get rid of the excess and bring everything down to the basics.Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tablet, “Its father is the Sun.” Element: Fire. Color: Magen-ta; Purple-Red. Planet: Saturn

Assignment – Make a list of everything you person-ally are doing that is harmful to the Earth and to yourself.

Step Two - DissolutionUnderstanding why you make the unhealthy choices you currently make. Dissolving the issues through emotions – making the emotional connections within yourself and removing the emotional blockages, al-lowing the intellect to function, resolving to make the necessary changes.Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tablet, “Its Mother is the Moon.” Element: Water. Color: Light Blue. Planet: Jupiter. Metal: Tin

Assignment #1 – For each item on your list, think about why you make the choice to do that harmful thing, what are the reasons and the underlying emo-tions behind the reasons. Write it down next to that item.

Assignment #2 – For each item on your list, think of ways that you can stop making that choice. What is it going to take to make you choose to do something healthier? Do research if you need to in order to fig-ure out ways to make healthier choices.

Step Three - Separation Separation from the problems and the issues. The physical act – carrying through with the plans. Sac-rificing the lead to be transformed into gold.Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tablet, “The Wind carries it in its belly.” Element: Air. Color: Orange-Red. Planet: Mars. Metal: Iron

Assignment – Make your plan and begin to carry it through. Start with a small ritual of re-dedication to your personal Deities and resolve to live a better life in harmony with the Earth. From that moment

on, do so. Sacrifice the lead, which is the way you were living for the gold which is the better life you can have.

Step Four - ConjunctionJoining together with others towards the common goal of saving the Earth and forming connections and bonds. Working together towards your common goals.Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tab-let, “The Earth is its nurse.” Element: Earth. Color: Green. Planet: Venus. Metal: Copper

Assignment – Look for others around you with simi-lar goals who can help you to attain yours. It is a proven fact that we are more likely to succeed if we have a support system in place.

Step Five - Fermentation –Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tablet, during Fermentation, we raise consciousness from the darkness of the animal body through personal meditation and planetary evolution. “Separate the Earth from Fire,” it tells us, “the subtle from the gross, gently and with great Ingenuity.” Substance: Sulfur. Color: Turquoise. Planet: Venus. Metal: Mer-cury

Assignment – Check your progress regularly. Make lists of what isn’t working and change it until it does work. As you progress you will find your goals will change slightly. Keep refining them as you go along, keeping the main goal ever in the front of your mind. Keep researching anything you don’t quite under-stand.

Step Six - DistillationGaining insights and understandings. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Removing the last of the unneeded baggage in your lives and lifestyles.

Correspondences: According to the Emerald Tablet, during the Distillation process, “It rises from Earth to Heaven and descends again to Earth, thereby com-bining within Itself the powers of both the Above and the Below.” Substance: Mercury. Color: Deep Blue. Planet: Mercury. Metal: Silver.

Assignment – Continue to gain further insights into

Children of Gaia (a project from the 2009 Earth Day Challenge)By Nydia

Everything is interconnected; everything is alive. This step by step exploration is a method for shrinking our ecological footprint, and might benefit us on a personal level. After all, as the Headmaster points out in his Gaia Theory, we are all parts of a living organism and the more we do to help heal Her, the more we help ourselves. The following steps will enlighten those who wish to develop an greener life. Even the Tablet is Emerald.

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yourself and your goals. Meditate daily on your prog-ress and continue to gain insights on what is going on within you and around you. Begin to understand how the world works and your place in it. Find your higher love, your life force.

Step Seven - Coagulation Realizing the goal of healing the Earth by changing the way we live our lives, one person at a time. According to the Emerald Tablet, “Thus will you ob-tain the Glory of the Whole Universe. All Obscurity will be clear to you. This is the greatest Force of all powers, because it overcomes every Subtle thing and penetrates every Solid thing.” Substance: Salt. Color: Violet; Purple. Planet: Sun. Metal: Gold

Assignment – Realize your goals, become the Gold and attain true happiness.

Sources:

McBride, Jeff. “Vegas Vortex” <“http://vegasvortex.com>

“The Emerald Formula” <http://www.spiritofra.com/Alchemy_2.htm>

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Lodge Update from the Waters Lodge

When the inactive students were taken out of the system at the beginning of this term, the Waters Lodge became the smallest lodge in terms of numbers. We still have that distinction, but we ����������������������������������������������������������������up our classes and are currently the lodge leaders in average score. Go Waters!!

We also chose a new name for the lodge on the forums. It used to be just plain “waters” but after a �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������motto is “Instant Family, just add water.” We are also having a lot of fun in the lodge, getting to know each other better and celebrating graduation time together (graduation from mundy school, not Grey School ).

Lodge Update from the Flames Lodge

Man! What a quarter this has been! The Flames Lodge saw a good number of our lodgemates fall by the wayside when the new tuition ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������up our ranks.

The Flames have been quite busy with their studies, which has been great to see, as well as the regular discussions that happen in our “Toasted Marshmellow” thread.

Right down to the line our Prefect Laneth completed his Leadership 101 class and earned his ‘wings’. Part of his leadership class was to devise a couple of activities that would engage the lodge in some light interactive fun that’s designed to get the Lodgemembers invovled.

��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������listing when new Flames were looking for our lodge. There were numerous entries that spanned from ��������������������������������������������������������������������������

The second activity was to ‘create a lodge legend’. Basically I set it up so that each person could take one turn in writing a part in the story and then �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������The story is still unfolding, so we’ll see if it winds up anytime soon and if we can compile it into a story for WGM.

GSW Lodge Updates

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Grey SchoolNews

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The Lorekeepers Guild

The Lorekeepers Guild seeks to explore in detail the factual and mythological Lore and History of Earth, incorporating the Archaeological/Anthropological study of its cultures and their beliefs. Coupled with the Lore and History of Earth, we are to examine Fantasy/Fiction works, past and present, and debate what ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������-rems on Lore and Arcane Mystery.

As of present, this club has just recently elected its Club President. The lucky individual who received this honor is Thunderstar Jaguar. Congratulations Thunderstar.

Club Name: The Fellowship of Magickal Arts and Wizardly Crafts Club Advisor: Godfrey Eagleheart Current President: Hawkes: March ’09 – September ’09 Previous President: Stargazer: September ’08 – March ’09

There is a special power in objects that are crafted by ones own hand that cannot be found in some-thing mass manufactured and bought. In this club we exchange information on the creation of our magickal tools and regalia, altar decorations and much more, for the purpose of educating and inspiring others to craft magick into all aspects of their lives.

New Project

A discussion has begun on creating a new club project. The plan is to have all within the club take part if they wish and create something that can be donated to our Magick Alley in support of the school.

Right now we have a poll going with the following possible projects –

A quilting project Personal ProjectsRitual set Hawkes – working on his staveRune set Roan – working on a chest to house his magickal toolsSet of Wands Quiet Bear – working on chain maille jewelery. Starting to workBook of Shadows on a walking stick.

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