If he cheats the cube will break and in 3 days he will be punished.
- Old voodoo spell from New Orleans, by Raven
- by Norhala
Fill me, Bright Lady...in moonlit circle I stand, solitary, empty, drained of energy by constant
endless needs, demands surrounding me. Fill me with light, with love, with compassion, with
inner wisdom, with strength to endure, to serve, to teach, to understand, to nurture peace.
Teach me, Wise One...to feel life pulsing around me, to hear words unspoken, to see beyond the
obvious, to touch with love and compassion those in my world. Teach me to give of myself, to
use wisely Blessed gifts and talents, to look within, without, beyond myself, to love, to cherish
love freely given.
Heal me, Star-eyed Lady...of pain in heart, mind and body, of useless anger, of resentments never
voiced, of wounds unseen, of ancient childhood fears. Heal me with Thy sweet astringent touch,
with the tender toughness of total knowledge, eternal experience, 'til I am whole, and fit to heal,
in turn.
Love me, gentle Mother...with the unconditional love of mother for daughter, with the timeless,
ageless perspective of eternity. Guide me to understand my place in Thy creation, my worth and
value, my purpose in existence. Let the abundance of Thy love fill my heart and overflow to
bless other lives.
I come seeking yearning...let me know Thee, that I may learn!
NIGHT STALKING:
STAR-WATCHING
by Stormy
July, August, September and October are the months of the Summer Triangle. Just
what
exactly is the Summer Triangle? These are the three stars that dominate the southern sky but
aren't really a constellation. The three stars are Deneb (a part of the Cygnus Constellation), Vega
(the brightest of the three is part of the Lyra Constellation) and Altair (a part of the Aquila
Constellation). These three stars make up a star group known as an asterism. Look to the
southern skies and the two brightest stars to appear are Vega followed by Deneb almost side by
side, representing the base of a pyramid or triangle. Now look further back towards the north and
you will see Altair to complete the triangle or pyramid.
Around the beginning of September to October, the Summer Triangle will begin
appearing later and lower in the northwestern sky until it disappears, except for Altair.
If it weren't for the tilted axis of the earth as it travels around the sun we wouldn't have
seasons. The days at the North Pole would never turn to night and we would have exactly 12
hours of daylight and 12 hours of night at the equator! We would see different stars instead of the
ones we see now throughout the year. Also, the North Star would be a completely different star
in a different location.
The next event is the Autumn Equinox, October 23, 1994, when day and night will be of
equal length. A few days before that, just as dusk sets in, you will observe the Autumn
Triangle. It is also not a constellation but an asterism. This one is made up of Antares
pointing
to the south and Arcturus and Altair making up the base of the pyramid or triangle in the north.
The triangle will appear for a while and then appear later at night until it blends in with the other
stars and the constellations its stars are a part of.
Source:
Raymo, Chet. 365 Starry Nights. 1982. Fireside, Simon & Schuster, New
York.
BACH FLOWERS:
HAZEL
by Muirghein uí Dhún Aonghasa (Linda
Kerr)
Hazel is one of the trees for which there is no prepared Bach Flower Remedy. In this
case, one can either make a Hazel remedy from scratch (see Issue #9
for directions) from the
Hazel tree, if it grows in your area, or find the most appropriate substitute from the 38
Remedies.
As Hazel is a moon of wisdom and intuitive knowledge, the Chestnut Bud Remedy seems
to be the best choice for energies of this moon. Its keywords are "failure to learn by experience;
lack of observation in the lessons of life; hence the need of repetition1."
The Chestnut Bud person, in the negative state, tends to repeat the same mistakes, never
learning from them. For example, one may get into bad relationships over and over again, or
may have good relationships that still somehow end the same way every time. One is not able to
assess the situation objectively and use that knowledge in the future.
This tendency may also manifest itself physically, in the form of headaches or ulcers, for
instance, always occurring after the same argument with the same person, or under the same
work-related stresses. Instead of looking at the connection between the situation and the illness,
the Chestnut Bud person simply takes more pills and treats the symptoms, rather than the
underlying cause. "The thought never occurs to ask one's colleagues what their experiences are,
in order to gain new points of view2."
"A person in the negative Chestnut Bud state is like the rider of a show-jumper wearing
blinders, always galloping up to the same fence and again and again failing to clear it, in the
same place. From the outside it looks as if the same film sequence were run again and again.
There is no progress, no development. The film will continue only when the rider gets off his
horse and considers why he keeps failing at this fence, asking himself where he should make a
fundamental change. The moment he has established this, he'll clear the hurdle with ease, and
the story of the film can progress3."
Others may feel that the Chestnut Bud person is trying to escape from themselves,
refusing to face their pasts. Forgetting the past is not a bad thing, but until the lessons of the past
mistakes are understood, he has no principles to build on for the future, and nothing to help him
in the present.
The positive aspect of Chestnut Bud is seen in "those persons who are keenly observant
of all happenings, and especially of mistakes which occur. They tend to keep their attention in
the present, and they gain knowledge and wisdom from every experience. They watch and learn
from others4."
Chestnut Bud, or white chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), is prepared by the
boiling method. Gather the buds of early spring, about April or May, before they open out into
flowers. Pick the bud and about 6" of the twig from as many trees as possible, filling the
saucepan 3/4 full5.
Notes:
1 Chancellor, Dr. Philip M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies.
1971. Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, CT, pg. 66.
2 Scheffer, Mechthild. Bach Flower Therapy - Theory and Practice.
1981. Munchen, West Germany, pg. 64.
3 Ibid, pg. 64.
4 Chancellor, pg. 66.
5 Weeks, Nora, and Bullen, Victor. The Bach Flower Remedies -
Illustrations and Preparation. 1964. C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., London, England, pg. 66.
LUNAR ENERGIES &
ESOTERICA: HAZEL
by Imré K. Rainey
Legend claims that many moons ago, in an ancient Celtic land, there stood a well within a
sacred grove of nine Hazel trees. As the fruit of the trees ripened, they would fall into the well
and were eaten by the salmon which lived there. Consequently, the same salmon were prepared
and eaten by the Druids. On one occasion, the young man stirring the pot, in which the salmon
were being cooked, accidently splashed his hand with the boiling stew. By reflex, he put his
hand to his mouth and ingested the essence of the sacred feast. Instantly, he was invested with
the wisdom of the universe.
Hazel, the ninth moon of the Celtic lunar calendar, is the tree of wisdom and inspiration.
In the story above, the energy of the Hazel was consumed by the salmon and, later, accidently by
the apprentice stirring the salmon stew. Yet, the wisdom that was gained through the Hazel nuts
came after the apprentice had burned his hand. What may seem insignificant in the story,
actually symbolizes a greater lesson of the Hazel--the lesson of wisdom through pain and
experience. Sit with a Hazel and allow it to show you that true wisdom comes only after years of
trial and error, after years of gain and loss, after many experiences of joy and pain. It is said the
Hazel tree takes nine years to bear fruit from the time of planting; nine years of experience before
it will imbue its fruit (or offspring) with its essence. To paraphrase a Hindu teaching, 'keep to
yourself what you have been taught until it is yours to share,' for only then can it truly be taught
again. Hazel asks us to learn the values of time, patience, and experience.
We have just passed through the most emotionally trying portion of the year. The
experiences and pain of the last few months have passed us into the restful and contemplative
hands of the Hazel. We can now gather ourselves and seek the lessons behind our trials. Often,
after a harrowing experience, the poet/artist within seems to emerge. The wisdom gained
through the experiences which have led to this period of rest will manifest its essence in the form
of verse, painting, sculpture, music, etc. Because of this, the Hazel is also known as the poet's
moon--the moon of inspiration. It can be said that any work of art is the wisdom of its creator in
a nutshell the shell of a Hazel nut perhaps?
There are many other aspects of the Hazel moon. For further understanding,
meditation on the following may prove to be helpful: the number nine, Fionn, wisdom in a
nutshell, and the crane.
BACH FLOWERS:
VINE
by Muirghein uí Dhún Aonghasa (Linda
Kerr)
Vine is another moon for which there is no easy Bach Flower Remedy. Yes, there is a
Vine Remedy, but the energies of the moon seem better suited to Honeysuckle, which is itself a
vine. I also feel that the negative state of Honeysuckle can follow on the heels of recovery from
the negative state of Chestnut Bud, the last moon's Remedy. Therefore, we'll take a look at both
Remedies, with an emphasis on Honeysuckle.
The Vine Remedy is for those people who are dominating, inflexible, and ambitious.
They are hard, greedy for power, and have no respect for the individuality of others. The Vine
person may have above-average leadership abilities and strong willpower. They are quick
thinkers, and will find a way out of every crisis situation. Their tendency, however, is to use their
great gifts to gain power and to dominate others. Sooner or later the Vine persons will think of
themselves as infallible, and that they are doing others a favor in telling them how to do
things.
Vine people can be tyrants and dictators, such as parents who rule their home with a strict
discipline. When they are ill, they tend to instruct the doctor and their caregivers. They rarely
argue, because they are so sure they are right. They don't care about converting others to their
way of thinking; they simply demand unquestioning obedience.
A person in the negative Vine state loses all feeling for other people, so is without any
compassion. However, the Vine type rules himself as strongly as he rules others. "People in
need of Vine include a surprisingly high proportion of artists who are highly sensitive and
extremely ambitious, forcing themselves to train every day, with iron discipline, always worried
at the back of their minds about their condition, the first-night date and anxiety as to their
careers1 ."
The positive side of the Vine type "is seen in the wise, loving and understanding ruler,
leader or teacher. Anyone who possesses these qualities, and uses them to guide others, has no
need to dominate; he is the one who helps people to know themselves and to find their path in
life. He is the leader who can inspire those around him by his unshakable confidence and
certainty2 ."
Vine, or grape vine (Vitis vinifera), is prepared by the sun method. Gather the
flowering clusters in the spring, usually in May3 .
Honeysuckle is a very different remedy. Its keywords are "dwelling upon thoughts of the
past; nostalgia; homesickness4 ." The Honeysuckle person has a lack of inner
mobility, and is mentally lingering in the wrong place at the wrong time. He lives mostly in the
past, and refuses to change.
The classic example of this state is Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt for
looking back rather than concentrating on the present. The widow who keeps her dead husband's
office so that it looks as if he's just now left is in the negative Honeysuckle state. Another
example is the couple who has moved to another town, and misses their old area so much they
can't settle down and make new friends.
Honeysuckle types unconsciously refuse to see and accept new developments. They
often start their sentences with 'I use to...' and 'When I was still...'. They "are still clinging to
the past, not yet having properly digested it. They are unable to make a live connection between
the past and their present situation, because they cannot or will not consider the past from all
angles. They fix their mind on just one aspect, usually a pleasant one. The result is that their bad
experiences cannot be integrated and no profit can be drawn from them for the further
development of the personality5 ."
The Honeysuckle state in the elderly is understandable and normal, in a way, when they
are in the process of 'settling their inner accounts.' This state encompasses regret for missed
opportunities and chances, and unfulfilled hopes. Honeysuckle also helps the dying to 'let go'
more easily.
Bach wrote about Honeysuckle: "This is the remedy to remove from the mind the regrets
and sorrows of the past, to counteract all influences, all wishes and desires of the past and to
bring us back to the present6 ." In the positive state, one will have a connection to
one's past, learning from it, but not clinging to it unnecessarily; one is able to work with one's
past.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium), is prepared by the boiling method. Pick the
flowering clusters with about 6" of the stalk and leaves. It flowers in the
summer7 .
Notes:
1 Scheffer, Methchild. Bach Flower Therapy - Theory and Practice .
1981. Munchen, West Germany, pg. 171.
2 Chancellor, Dr. Philip M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies .
1971. Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, CT, pg. 197.
3 Weeks, Nora, and Bullen, Victor. The Bach Flower Remedies -
Illustrations and Preparation . 1964. C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd., London, England, pg. 50.
4 Chancellor, pg. 111.
5 Scheffer, pg. 104.
6 Ibid, pg. 104.
7 Weeks and Bullen, pg. 88.
LUNAR ENERGIES &
ESOTERICA: VINE
by Brighid MoonFire
The glyph for Muin, the tenth moon of the Lunar Calendar, is "I am a Hill of Poetry." A
hill of poetry, artistry, inspiration and imagination all overflowing upon the very fabric of our
being. This is the moon that is known to be a healing moon. A time to heal ourselves from the
thorns that we took in Holly, and from the exhaustion that overtook us in Hazel. It is a time of
the simplicity of joy, the heights of exhilaration, and the dregs of wrath all at once. The creativity
in us all now abounds with images and inspirations that have been brought to the surface with the
trials of the passing moons. Now they crash down upon us as a dam breaking and flood our
psyche. They must be released and in this release is our healing. The poet furiously writes, and
the artist is covering everything she owns in this time of expression. For others of us, we may
begin to express this time of inspiration and imagination and not even realize it. Some of us may
decide to redo a room, rearrange our furniture, become excited with the thunderous ideas that we
now have for the perfect holiday presents for everyone we know. Others may be inspired to land
a new account or excel in their area of business, by trying a new tactic or rearranging their office,
or inventing new ways to bring in customers. The list can go on and on.
What is the same and what needs to be remembered about this time is the energy that you
feel inside. It seems as there are now a hundred different ideas that you want to do and to think
about all at once, and to get them somewhat organized so that you can accomplish some of them
can be like taming a wild horse, or stopping a flood with a hand-ful of pebbles. For we are now
as the Vine is; eager, light, limber, growing at an amazing rate, yet solid and very diversified.
Think of the honeysuckle that grows in your yard, of the old, thick, grapevines that you use as
swings, of the beans and the peas that give us food, and also of the grapes that give us our
wine.
The Vine's fruits are shared by many, from the lowly to the gods. This is a time to
remember Dionysus, Osiris, and Bacchus. It is also a time to recall the Goddess Demeter, for the
harvest is now upon us, and soon the nights will begin to reclaim more of our days as we prepare
ourselves for the winter ahead.
- by Epona
I give no promise of reward
To live within circles,
For rewards are gained on straight lines.
But you will flow as a river
Meandering back to meet yourself.
Flooding over to reconnect
As yet you will go on to meet your destiny,
Responding to the rhythms about you.
Mirroring your channels, you will yet change them.
Destroying and yet giving life.
Changing, to live again;
Rising, you move to the clouds.
HARVEST
SYMBLOGY
by Brighid MoonFire
Now is the time of the year when the harvest is approaching. It is a time of hot weather and
a time to accomplish much for the onset of the winter months. But it is also a time of the
Lammas celebration--the time on the Wheel of the Year in which we celebrate our harvest and
give thanks to the Goddesses and Gods which have brought it to us.
In this celebration there are many things that are accepted, even taken for granted, yet
their symbology may not be truly understood by everyone, especially those who may be new to
the Craft. This is a look at some of the symbols and their meaning at this time of the year.
Grain is one of the main symbols of this time. After all, grain is generally the harvest. It
doesn't matter if it's wheat, rye, oats, barley, or millet; generally they all fall into the category of
corn according to the European definitions1. Thus, it was not uncommon to hear
of the CornMother and be in a harvest of barley.
Our forefathers and foremothers regarded grain with respect and with awe. For they saw
it as a holy mystery: both as a seed and edible fruit at the same time. Therefore it was thought to
contain all three aspects of the Goddess--Virgin (child of the earth or the fruit), Mother
(life-giving, fertile food spirit), and Crone (withered plant, gone to seed, ready for retirement to
the underworld and later resurrection)2. Many of the CornMothers were seen as
these aspects; Demeter, Ceres, Hera, and Ops, just to name a few.
The Goddess was not the only one who was seen in the grain. The son of this Mother was
typically the dying-and- resurrected god who personified the grain. He died by the reaping of the
grain, and thus brought life to humankind. He descended into the underworld by being planted,
and he rose again from the dead only to be harvested and sacrificed again and again each
season3.
Corn Dollys abound at this time of the year, and you may remember seeing them at
Imbolc. Imbolc and Lammas are across from each other on the Wheel of the Year. The Corn
Dolly is used to represent two aspects of the Goddess. At Imbolc she is the Corn Maiden, ready
with the seeds of the new growth4. At Lammas, she is the Crone, her days of
growth and fertility over, and her grain harvested. The Corn Mother, or Dolly, was traditionally
made from a bundle of grain, usually the last one cut. It was believed that the spirit of the grain
retreated as it was cut until it was all contained in the last sheaf. The harvesters would then take
turns throwing their sickles at it until it was cut, because no one wanted to be the one to cut that
last sheaf5.
The bundle would then be gathered up and tied until it resembled the image of a woman.
It was dressed up in women's clothing and ceremoniously carried back to the village. She would
then be mounted above the threshing floor while the grain harvest was being threshed, and then
kept in the farmhouse until the following spring. Later the next spring, the sacred seeds of grain
contained in the Corn Dolly would be treated with much respect and ritual to ensure another
successful harvest6.
The pomegranate is another symbol of this time. The most popular knowledge of the
seeds of the pomegranate is in the story of Demeter and the kidnapping of her daughter
Persephone. Persephone was bound to the underworld after Hades slipped some pomegranate
seeds into her mouth, which made their marriage tie eternal, since pomegranate seeds are known
as the seeds of death7.
Yet pomegranates are also known as a symbol of uterine fertility, with their red juice and
many seeds. They were supposedly eaten by the souls in the underworld to bring about
rebirth8. Thus by Persephone's eating of the pomegranate seeds she may have
been bound to the underworld, yet she returned to the Earth, and continually repeats this cycle
giving us the seasons.
Seeds of all kinds may be used at this time of year, to decorate a home or alter in thanks
for the harvest we have received. Apple seeds or apples in general can be used. And it is
interesting to note that the apple is one fruit that has been used as a secret, sacred sign; for when
you cut an apple in two, the core and the seeds form a pentacle9.
I hope that you may all have a good harvest and I hope that this article has set some of the
possibly confusing symbolism straight for you. Happy Lammas!!!
Notes:
1 Walker, Barbara. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects
. 1988. Harper and Row, San Francisco, CA, pg. 486.
2 Walker, Barbara. Women's Rituals . 1990. Harper and Row, San
Francisco, CA, pg. 112.
3 Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects , pg.
486.
4 Campanelli, Pauline. Ancient Ways; Reclaiming Pagan Traditions .
1992.
Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN, pg. 126.
5 Ibid, pg. 124.
6 Ibid, pg. 124.
7 Carlyon, Richard. A Guide to the Gods . 1981. Quill, New York, NY,
pg.
161.
8 Walker, Barbara, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets .
1983.
Harper and Row, San Franciso, CA, pg. 806.
9 Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects , pg.
480.
by Sherlock
Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. - Common or Wild Apple (also called Pyrus
mallus L.
or Malus pumila Mill. by some botanists)
The apple is the companion tree to the hazel, in the Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar. Apple
trees are
members of the Rose family (Rosaceae), making them cousins to the hawthorns, crab
apples,
plums, cherries, peaches, pears and rowans.
The apple tree grows to about 40 feet in height. The leaves are simple and appear
alternately on
the stems. They have serrate edges and are densely covered with grey hairs on the bottoms. The
blossoms
are pink or white and very pretty. The fruit matures in late summer. Most varieties are
edible.
The apple tree is native to Europe and Asia, and was brought to the U.S. for cultivation.
Jonathan
Chapman (1774-1845) traveled mostly on foot for 50 years giving apple seeds to everyone he
met. He is
responsible for the spread of apple trees from Pennsylvania to Illinois, thus earning him the
nickname
Johnny Appleseed. Because the apple is non-native, it is found mainly at old home sites or along
roads1.
The apple has long been cultivated for food, but because of its showy blossoms, it is
sometimes
planted for decoration. It has a heavy, hard, reddish-brown wood that is often used for tool
handles2.
While the cultivated apples are sweet and delicious, the wild species are seldom good to eat
raw,
and are apt to give you colic if eaten green. However, these same qualities make them excellent
as
cooking apples, with their firmness and wild sour, slightly bitter taste. And you have a guarantee
that
these apples have not been sprayed with poisons3.
Besides these naturalized wild apples, America has several kinds of native crab apples, that
grow
from southern Canada to Florida and west to the Plains. Another species is found on the West
Coast from
Alaska to California. All of these crab apples have hard, sour fruit, which make wonderful jelly
or jellied
apple butter. As they are too small to cut in quarters, they are usually cooked
whole4.
Finally, a cultivated variety of crab apple, the Hopa Ornamental Crab Apple, is a beautiful
flowering tree covered in pink blossoms each spring, and is planted in residential areas. This tree
produces a huge crop of tiny, bright-red apples, which usually go to waste as so few people know
their
value. They are usually free of insect damage, and can be cooked whole. Being red all the way
through,
the Hopa crab makes a beautifully colored jelly, which is said to be the aristocrat of them
all5.
Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia)
The muscadine is a type of wild grape vine found growing in trees in the Southeast and
many
other places. It a close cousin to the cultivated grape. It has simple serrate leaves which grow
alternately
along the vine. It has small clusters (1-6) of grape-like fruit which ripens from mid- to
late-August in the
Southeast. The fruit is edible and is often used to make wine or jelly. The center of the fruit is
sweet, but
unless the fruit is extremely ripe, the skin is tough and sour. The seeds in the center are bitter if
you chew
them. If you know the location of any muscadines, pay attention to them; they will be ripe
soon.
The grape leaves are also edible. They taste pleasant enough when eaten raw, but are a little
tough. When cooked, however, they become tender, and give a delicious flavor to other food.
Gather
them in June, when they are full-sized but still tender. To preserve them for the rest of the year,
lay each
leaf flat in a covered glass dish or jar, and sprinkle each one liberally with salt. Layer them this
way until
the jar is full, then cover and keep in a cool place. To use, wash the leaves gently several times in
fresh
water6.
Stuffed Grape Leaves is a very economical dish which is easy to prepare. For the stuffing,
partially cook 1 cup of rice, then mix with 1/2 lb of ground lamb or beef and add 1 package of
spaghetti sauce mix. Place 1 tbsp. of this stuffing on each grape leaf and roll from the base
toward the point, tucking in the ends. Steam the leaves in a covered pot for 1 hour and serve
hot7.
Notes:
1 Little, Elbert L. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American
Trees . 1980. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, NY. pg. 492.
2 Davis, Donald E., and Davis, Norman D. Guide and Key to Alabama Trees
. 1965. (Auburn University, Auburn, AL) Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Dubuque, IO, pg.
88.
3 Gibbons, Euell. Stalking the Wild Asparagus . 1962. Alan C. Hood,
Publisher, Putney, VT, pg. 18.
4 Ibid, pg. 19.
5 Ibid, pg. 19.
6 Ibid, pg. 100.
7 Ibid, pg. 100.
Hello Hazel Nut!
Congratulations on one year! I was so glad to see the article by ShadowCat entitled
Magic
Without All the Bullshit. Funny, I was just going through some magickal trouble-shooting,
mired in
confusion because I was too worried about doing what worked for others and not tuning into
myself.
Thanks for waking me up.
I do honor the time-tested things, like candle color, herb uses, etc., but magick cries out for
creativity. I agree with ShadowCat (great name) that what does or doesn't work for one may or
may not
work for others. Would you believe that I've actually met people who told me my ways were
incorrect
simply because they were different.
On that note I'd like to comment on Baby Steps by Coll. Thanks for writing that;
it
needs to be said from time to time. Thirteen years ago I was a novice. I keep my heart and my
door
opened to novices always. I've learned through some difficult as well as appalling circumstances
about
traditions, and I'd be happy to share my story if it would help someone (or if your readers would
want to
read it--it covers every possible pitfall!) Whew!
Terrific issue!
Blessings
Signy May
Arbutus, Maryland
Dear Signy,
I'm sure our readers would like to hear your story; I think many people would benefit
greatly
from it. Send us a letter, or a full-length article if that's more appropriate to the subject. Thanks
for the
comments!
Blessed Be,
Linda Kerr, editor
Dear Linda,
First off, I want you to know how much I enjoyed the June/July issue of The Hazel
Nut. I like the format of varied articles and artwork related to "things Celtic." The
Hazel
Nut is not another of those Celtic/Pagan magazines that is basically an open forum for
arguing over
pagan philosophy and belief systems. The Hazel Nut contains the kind of articles that a
person
interested in Celtic beliefs and Magick wants to see. Please don't change this!
After reading Signy May's letter in the Letters to the Editor section (#9), I would like Signy
to
know that I am a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. I am beginning my 4th
month of
Gwersu (lessons) in the Bardic grade. After reading and studying a lot of Celtic/Druid books I
decided to
join the OBOD. I have enjoyed the OBOD course very much, and I find their lessons and
exercises to be
of much spiritual value, and to me the OBOD course is the correct road for me in my spiritual
search to
"follow my bliss." I hope that she enjoys the OBOD course as much as I have.
I have enclosed a photocopy of a piece of artwork that I would like to submit for
publication. It
is a decorative piece for the Celtic tree letter MUIN-vine. I drew the artwork out first by hand,
and then
scanned it into my Picture Publisher software program. I processed the artwork with the line
edge
detection feature, which to me gave it a more aged, antique look. I hope you like it. There are
three
different versions of the Tree Letter script on the drawing. On top of the "M" is the Sacred
Branch
Ogham for the letter Muin. In the middle of the "M" is the Welsh Coelbren Y beirdd Druidic
alphabet
letter for Muin. Above the "U" is the Druim or Standard Ogham letter for Muin. The reason I
had the
tree types of Celtic scripts is because to me it represents the diversity of the Celtic Peoples.
Peace and Blessings,
Les Martin
Dresden, Maine
(Editor's note: look on page 26 for Les' artwork; I think you'll find it as intriguing as I
did.)
BUBBLES FROM THE
CAULDRON
BOOK REVIEWS, ETC.
The Year The Horses Came, a Novel by Mary Mackey. 1993. Harper San
Francisco, a
Division of Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY. Hardcover, $22.00.
- Reviewed by Stormy>
This is a fascinating story of a young girl, named Marrah, living in Britony in 5000 B.C. in
a
peace-loving Goddess oriented society. On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, Marrah
saves the life
of a pre-historic Indo-Aryan young man, named Stefan, who is a member of the fearless warring
Hansi
tribe, worshipers of a very cruel Sky God. Their worlds clash because of a prophecy Marrah's
Priestess/
mother, Sabalah, has concerning the arrival of the beastmen in her hometown of Shara, located
near what
we now call the edge of Russia on the Dead Sea. Her prophecy says that her only daughter,
Marrah, and
only son, Arang, must travel to Shara to warn Sabalah's people about the beastmen. The trip will
take
years to complete, traveling by boat from Britony to France, canoeing down rivers through
France and
Germany, and walking by foot through difficult European terrain of forests, mountains and
deserts
inhabited by lions and bears.
Stefan, the misplaced Indo-Aryan, accompanies them so he can go home to the Sea of
Grass, the
Steppes of Russia. Their different languages, customs and upbringing makes them strange allies
in their
traveling adventures. For instance, in the Goddess society men and women are equal. The act of
love
between men and women is called an act of joy. In the Sky God society, the act of love is more
like rape
where women are treated little better than dogs overlorded by the men of their tribes. Be
forewarned, as
the violence of the Hansi tribe is very graphic in this book.
The characters are strong, not silly or fluff-headed. This is not a Harlequin Romance book!
It's a
serious re-creation of an ancient peace-loving Goddess society versus a very cruel Sky God
society that
once you begin reading you cannot put down until finished. Mary Mackey, founder of the
Feminist
Writers' Guild and Professor of English and Writer-in-Residence at California State University,
Sacramento, California, did some heavy research, and a wonderful job of writing this so that it
flows well
and is easy to read.
This book definitely fires the imagination to realize how two distinct and completely
different
cultures might possibly evolve to become the diverse God/dess spirituality that inspires us today.
Make
sure you read the Historical Note at the end of the book. This is a must read for the God/dess
lover in all
of us!
The Polar Bear King, a movie based on Norwegian folklore. Written and produced
by
Erick Borge and directed by Ola Sollum. A new release that can be rented in most video stores,
rated PG for the entire family.
- Reviewed by Stormy
The story begins in cold snowbound Winterland when a widowed old King and his three
beautiful daughters are visited by salesmen from the South. The two older self-centered sisters
enjoy
looking over the wares, choosing everything they want. The third daughter, the fairest, asks for a
picture
of flowers, a rarity in the most northern snow country. In the picture, only she can see her Prince
and
future husband among the blossoming orchard.
In the South, called Summer-land where it's always warm, the Queen has just lost her King
and
their son must become King. The Queen Mother gives her son, the new King, a chain that he
must give
to his bride, one who must love him. Then suddenly a wicked witch appears, who had been
spurned by
the young Prince, angrily turning him into a Polar Bear. Part of the curse she imparts is that at
midnight
the Polar Bear King turns into a man and then at the first light of day turns back into a Polar
Bear. Also,
for seven years no one can look upon his face or he will have to marry the wicked witch. Luckily,
the
Queen is a good witch and she uses her magic to aid her son throughout the story.
The Prince has to go North to find his true love, the Princess with the picture of flowers.
The plot
thickens and the wicked witch bides her time. Will the Polar Bear ever turn back into a man?
Who will
he marry, if ever? Will the wicked witch win or the beautiful Princess?
The Polar Bear King is a delightful story based on the travel of the sun (the Polar
Bear King) through the yearly seasons. In the winter, the sun is in the South and must travel back
up North (where the Snow Princess is) to make it warm again in the summer. Their yearly
marriage insures a good year of fertility and harvest. Many of the old fairy tales preserve the old
ways of the Lord and Lady. Rent this movie and see if you can unravel more of the old ways!
