55_2012summerautumn

Ravens’ Call THE TASMANIAN PAGAN ALLIANCE, INC. NEWSLETTER

S U M M E R / A U T U M N 2 0 1 2 N U M B E R 5 5

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www.taspainc.com Ravens‘ Call—Summer/Autumn 2012

The Pagan Alliance Ethic Love & Kinship with nature.

Reverence for the life force & its ever-renewing cycles of life & death.

Each individual is responsible for discovering & developing his/her own true nature in harmony with the greater world, & takes full responsibility for his/her actions.

Acceptance of the many-faceted nature of Divinity: Acceptance that divinity exists in many forms, & can be worshipped/respected as male, female, androgynous, or

in a form beyond human definition.

3 Editorial

4 Eye of Newt

5 Luna Journey

6 AWC Wrap-Up Report

8 AWC Maypole Workshop

9 AWC Sewing Bee

10 Wendy Rule Concert & Workshop

12 Feature: The Power of Woman

14 Familiar Friends

Internet Interest

15 Green Practical Magic

16 Pagan Parenting

17 Profiling Tassie Pagans

18 Compost Heap

19 State Coordinator‘s Report

Membership Renewals

20 Moot Reports

21 What‘s On

22 Needful Things

23 The Herb Obsession

24 Alternative Retail Therapies

25 Membership Invitation

Back Page - Membership Renewal Form

Contents

the Team

Mandhi Allen

Terri Baran [email protected]

Postal Address PO Box 1127

Launceston TAS 7250

Hobart - Allannah Turner Launceston - Rose Dragonwulf North-West - Irene/Jo Corvinus

St Helens - Debbie

Mel Dolliver [email protected]

Jess Steers [email protected]

State Coordinator

Regional Coordinator

Secretary

Treasurer

Moot Convenors Editor - Mel Dolliver

Proof-reader - Heather Jensen Graphic Designer - Terri Baran

Printer - Mandhi Allen

Ravens’ Call

Disclaimer: The views contained within the Ravens’ Call newsletter are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or members of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc. Likewise, the advertisements are placed in good faith and do not signify endorsement by the editor or members of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc.

© Copyright 2011-12 Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Image thanks to katiesevignyart.org

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Mel Dolliver - Editor Woohoo! Yep that‘s right The Ravens‘ Call, you

remember don‘t you? It‘s a local pagan newsletter

published seasonally with a dedicated team of

writers, designers and artists delivering to you

interesting articles, reviews and reports as well as

coming Witchy events…no? Well if anything can

disrupt the flow of a well placed newsletter it has

to be the holding an Australian Wiccan

Conference! In a mass of excitement and a flurry of

organisation the poor ol‘ Ravens‘ Call rested on the

far reaches of the inbox, waiting patiently inside a

dusty USB! However as we stretch and crack our

knuckles we‘re more than happy to fluff the nest,

settle in and resume some normality.

A big thank you to those fantastic people who‘ve

contributed articles for this edition, it‘s been a

collaboration of those with no time to spare, those

with low energy, trauma and illness - so thanks

again, your efforts are appreciated !!

I‘m keeping my beady eyes peeled for new article

writers for the following issue, so if you have a

topic you‘d love to share – a book, CD or movie

review or a report about either a moot or event

you have attended, don‘t hesitate just send it to me

– [email protected].

I‘m feeling like a vampire trying to source new

blood!!

We have just attended our annual Summer Solstice

event (in conjunction with the December full moon)

– The Silver Broomstick awards, always an

entertaining event, with an extra element; the

AWC 2011 awards, mostly just for fun and

always in appreciation.

Look forward to photos and a report in next

seasons Ravens‘ Call, unfortunately there wasn‘t

enough space this time.

Enjoy any holidays that come your way during the

summer -

Goddess Bless,

About the Artist

Front cover: Lost in the Woods E. M. Lawrence is a self-taught, published illustrator. She resides in a story-book style haunted house with her partner, and far too many pets. "The undertones in my work invoke a darker whimsy, my illustrations are created with traditional tools, the feel of paper and pigment inks, paint and water under my hands makes me feel at home. The folklore of a time gone by features heavily as a theme throughout my art; strange young women dressed in elegantly tattered Victorian dresses, whether traipsing through the deep dark woods or inquisitively wandering through tumbled down old buildings filled with tiny beast‘s and strange little fellows are embarking on their individual journeys within a secret world."

mailto:[email protected]

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CHAI TEA

WORKSHOP WITH LISA

After a late night (comatose snooze) and early morning

(so excited I can‘t eat breakfast) start to the busy

workshop day of the conference, Lisa‘s practical

demonstration and awesome sample taste test was a

welcome relaxing calm before the frenzy, very earthy

grounding.

Lisa has a natural way with her workshops, she subtlety

organises you without being demanding, providing

learning and fun and a kick-arse handout including;

Chai tea history, equipment and ingredients list, recipes

and variations and information on the healthful and

magical benefits of chai.

If Lisa offers another chai tea workshop – race you

there!!

The Making of Chai Tea

½ tsp cinnamon powder

½ tsp ginger powder

½ tsp cardamom powder

½ tsp nutmeg powder

¼ tsp cloves powder

½ tsp black pepper kibbled

½ tsp ginger kibbled

½ tsp cardamom pods

½ tsp nutmeg kibbled

½ tsp whole cloves

1 cinnamon quill broken

½ c black tea leaves/green tea leaves/Rooibos

tea leaves

2 c milk (can be soy/rice/etc.)

1-2 tbsp honey

Use a mortar and pestle to break up the cardamom pods,

cinnamon quill, whole cloves and nutmeg if whole. Add

your spices and tea together and mix.

Heat 2 cups of milk in a saucepan, add one tablespoon of

the tea/spice mix and 1-2 tablespoons of honey. Bring to

the boil and simmer for a few minutes until all the

aromatic flavours soak into the milk. Sieve the spices and

decant into mugs.

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We feel powerful tides ebb and flow

in our emotions, our bodies, de-

pending on the phases of the moon.

We feel her push us and then

tighten the pull. The energy of the

moon is a personal journey...

Mel & The Moon My inner yearn for the moon has been apparent for a

significant time. At present this is my 35th spring, I can

remember so clearly the moment I gazed upon the

beauty and vitality radiating from a full moon, almost

half my life‘s span ago. I was 17 and blissfully in love,

my partner and I had slipped away from our noisy group

of friends and were making our way through a narrow

rocky path towards a known walking track. The night was

balmy, perfect for a midnight foray with my sweetheart,

hand in hand strolling enjoying the evening and each

other‘s company, the track lead us toward a cliff that

tumbled steeply into the surf below. And there she was,

huge and butter yellow hanging just above the waves

reflecting prettily over the ocean. Wow, I was rocked to

the core. The impact of the fullness and closeness of the

lunar energy was overwhelming, I felt taken over like I

had no room in my mind for any other thoughts, like I had

no need to do anything other than moon gaze. I

remember thinking – this is important, this is real and I

wanted to somehow celebrate the feeling to honour the

moon in a primal almost tribal way. Finally my partner

prodded me along, although the visual was lost I felt the

connection was there and I feel it still.

If I had of taken this experience and its need to worship -

or at least share with others, to the local library

participating in some research, I would have found plenty

of information about moon rituals, goddess, gatherings,

groups, meditations, cooking, planting, music, stories,

myths and lore. But at 17 I wasn‘t one for following

through with anything much, life was about friends,

partying, enjoying the freedom of my first car and

recording everything through my camera.

Maybe I just wasn‘t ready for more.

Now life has evolved into a rhythm that is very focused

upon both solar energy and the patterns created by the

moon they are of great import to me. My emotions wax

and wane with each phase, I plant my garden

accordingly and I know how to read myself well, through

experience, paying attention and recording my

behaviour during each moon phase.

I dream deeply while the moon is waning, I

become withdrawn at the dark of the moon

and get fidgety and restless during the

waxing phase and focused just after the three days of the

full moon and I know my physical cycle is always

harmonious with the full moon.

My Goddess and the Moon

There is no ‗one‘ particular Goddess that resonates

strongly within me, other women I have discussed the

moon‘s vibrations and related Goddesses with have felt a

strong guiding pull with the Egyptian Goddess Isis or

Celtic Goddess Bridget or Greek Goddess Diana. But for

me the Moon is all Goddess together, she is the feminine

energy of the Maiden, Mother and Crone.

The Maiden – she is the beginning, the young Goddess of

spring time new growth. She is the seed of an idea that

takes hold and is full of potential. She is youth and

beauty, of independence and confident of her abilities.

She is uncommitted, adventurous and a free spirit. The

Maiden is the phase of the waxing moon it is a time for

rituals of initiation of new projects, the Maiden‘s energy

can be harnessed to launch new ideas, to start a task with

a fresh plate, to walk forward with renewed focus.

The Mother – she is the ultimate nurturer, the mature

Goddess of high summer. She is the harvest and the rose

in full bloom; she is the bounty of the physical earth the

mother of all. Although she is heavily pregnant and has

many children at her skirts, she is wild and passionate

dancing in the rain, laughing and loving her life, she is

sexy and powerful. The full moon is her aspect and

ceremonies at this time are centred on bringing fully

formed ideas into manifestation.

The Crone – she is the wise one the grandmother, she has

a full life‘s experience behind her, she pulls no punches

and sees clearly through the superficial surface and into

the heart of truth. She has lost the beauty of youth and

has turned into the hag, she has birthed many children and

has lost those she loves. The Crone harnesses the phase of

the waning moon, rituals at this time are of release – to let

go the burdens that hold us back, to banish the things that

harm us and to discard that which we no longer need.

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Its unreal to think back on how quickly the results of

over a year‘s worth of planning is over and done

with when the weekend finally comes around.

Unless you‘ve been living under a pagan pet rock

of epic proportions, no doubt you have heard that

the Australian Wiccan Conference was a brilliant

success!

The Conference couldn‘t have happened without

some very amazing people, some of which I would

like to take the time to recognise and thank here.

Firstly, is my partner-in-crime, Mel. I always knew

I‘d been blessed with an amazing sister, but

organising a Conference with Mel was further

proof of her limitless hard work and determination.

Especially when it came to picking up the ball when

I‘d dropped it (for the record, don‘t go splitting up

from a long-term relationship and moving home in

the midst of planning a Conference, it‘s a real pain!

Haha!), and keeping the cups of tea flowing when it

was needed most.

An equally huge thank you also goes to Terri, not

only for her excellent computer skills, endless

printing, time and energy, but also for her

positiveness, helpfulness and general ―can do‖

attitude. For someone to launch head on into such a

project when Terri had never even been to a

Wiccan Conference was inspiring, humbling and

amazing. Thank you Terri, we really could not have

done it without you – you‘re an amazing woman!

A big thank you also needs to go to Zahira for her

persistence and amazing efforts as our Sponorship

Goddess. We easily had the biggest, most

interesting, and most profitable raffle ever seen at

a Conference, which was single-handedly put

together by Zahira. Not only this, but Zahira was

not even able to attend the Conference to see the

results of all her hard work, yet this didn‘t stop her

from making the most amazing impact on the

Conference ever - thank you!

Cindy and Chris were absolutely amazing helpers

throughout the whole planning of the Conference.

Accepting a major part in the ritual, travelling over

an hour more than once to help with ritual

preparation, and also lending us their amazing

artistic abilities by creating an amazing banner for

Spiral Dance, and so much more over the weekend,

was absolutely brilliant. It‘s no wonder they are the

winners of this year‘s Silver Broomstick Award! Thank

you so much, the Pagan Alliance is very lucky you

have members like you both.

Thank yous also need to go to Irene and Jo for your

sewing efforts (also despite not being able to attend

the Conference), Bec for her help with registrations

and the ritual, Troy and Kell for helping with the tea

and coffee, and our supply of Serpentine and

Stichtite, Shell and Rose for helping organise gigs for

Wendy Rule, Alaina for helping with the hired

bedding at the end of the Conference, and Lisa for

helping organise the raffle at the Conference. No

doubt there are many other people who helped out

who I may of missed – thank you to you also!

A Conference isn‘t a Conference without ritual,

workshops and a market, and this also wouldn‘t

happen without an amazing amount of people

offering their time and effort free of charge. So a

huge thank you to everyone who helped with the

ritual, hosted a workshop or ran a stall at the market.

A thanks also needs to go out to the amazing

businesses who helped us also – although paid by us

for their work, they not only accommodated all our

requests but also were very helpful in making the

Conference happen – the team at Gumleaves,

Charlotte and her cooking crew, Karen Witt the

amazing face painter, Rob from Launceston Lakes

and Ida the cute devil, Dave the sound guy, Love

Tassie water people, and Brett from Slick Promotions.

And last but not least, a huge thank you to our family

– without the support of our ―consorts‖ Dan and

The Wrap-Up Report

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Shaun, Mel‘s ever tolerant kids Max and Ebony,

and our amazing parents Sharyne and Steven, the

Conference would never have been as good as it

was, so thank you.

Sometimes it‘s a bit tricky to know how an event is

really going when you‘re helping make it all

happen, but the smiling faces and lovely emails,

phone calls and texts after is as good a gauge as

any.

Highlights are too many to list but some wonderful

moments for me were seeing everyone‘s smiling

faces around the circle at the Opening Ceremony,

earwigging on the great things people had to say

about the food, hearing from people about how

much they enjoyed the workshops, having a quiet

moment with Mel in the circle after the ritual once

everyone had left to party, and the excitement of

everyone after the announcement of being able to

pat a real live Tasmanian Devil, and of course

raising enough money to name one of our own!

The Conference was an amazing journey, and I‘m

really glad we took on the mammoth task. On the

Sunday arvo, when everyone was packing up and

heading home, one keen Conference guest asked

me, ―So Jess, would you ever do another

Conference?‖ to which my answer was ―No way!‖.

But now, after a few months have gone past….

well, never say never

Cindy, hard at work on her mural for Spiral Dance!

Everyone got to take home a small pack of our ritual incense.

One of the many tokens handed out after this year‘s

ritual, hand-crafted by Mel.

By Jess

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As a first timer never having danced the Maypole

before I was quite nervous about trying it out. I had

known the "theory" of Maypole, but to put it into

practice with my lack of movement co-ordination was a scary prospect indeed. However after a glassful of

mead I gave it a go.

We were lined up boy, girl, boy, girl, girl pretending to be boy, girl etc, and started with a basic, "girls go

left, boys go right" routine. To the tunes of Spiral Dance, we had great fun weaving in and out trying not to

run into the person coming towards you. We then turned around and went in reverse to unwind the ribbons

to avoid any baby-surprises! We then tried out a more complicated pattern where we paired into girl/boy

or girl/girl-pretending-to-be-boy pairs and alternated weaving between and around the other pairs

moving towards us.

Least to say this was a bit more confusing and ended with several "tie-ups" but it was magickal all the same!

At the end of the workshop everyone was pretty knackered after the big workout. I myself now feel more

connected to the pagan traditions I had read/heard/seen before but it did not compare to actually taking

part in it myself.

I look forward to my next attendance to AWC workshops!

Maypole Workshop

By Mel Ell

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The (Epic) Sewing Bee!

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In September Wendy Rule and her fiancée Tim Van Diest gave an intimate concert at the Exeter Bakery in

the City in Launceston.

The venue offered a lounge area where we got to sit privately to hear the delightful music of this talented

duo who are currently working on their first album together.

The food was lovely and catered for by the former Chef from the very popular restaurant Fee & Me.

An altar and scared space was made and it we were especially lucky to just be able to sit and chat with

Wendy and Tim (after I rescued him from being locked out on the street :s) during the break. One attendee

summed it up perfectly:

"It was so beautiful to see Wendy here in Launceston and hear her sing, her voice is incredible and it was such a

magical night, very special and auspicious, I felt like I floated away into another world....Thank-you Wendy!!!! "

~ Rose

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As if giving two concerts in two days wasn't enough, the next day Wendy Rule held a workshop on Ritual Meditation in Launceston. By using song, music and percussion we got to meditate and go deeply into all of the elements over 3 hours which was an amazing experience for everyone-be they new to meditation or regulars of the practice. As Wendy herself describes it: "Joined by my partner Timothy Van Diest, we create improvised soundscapes to lead us into deep ritual. With each element, I sing myself into a sacred trance, and fluidly move between song and spoken word meditation. As a group, we cast circle, dance, sing and laugh together. A rare opportunity to be in intimate Ritual space together. Truly transformative and definitely magical". A lovely altar was set up in the middle of the area and we enjoyed a wonderful feast provided by everyone who attended at lunchtime. We even got to get in some retail therapy as the workshop was held at Serenity Gongs & Gifts and many of us took home new items that day. With people attending from Deloraine, Burnie and Launceston we really had a fantastic afternoon and it was a reaffirming experience for me to feel so closely connected to the elements and Mother Earth energies again. The wonderful energies from and between Wendy and Tim just intensified the experience of the workshop too. Other participants gave glowing feedback too including: "I found the workshop with Wendy brought a refreshing renewal of my connection to the elements. So easy to get caught up in the work-and-worry whirl and forget to connect - this workshop got me back in touch with the basics!" Another participant stated: "Fantastically magickal...the workshop was completely spiritual and energized!" I personally have attended several of Wendy's workshops over the years and this one has left the biggest impression upon me. I look forward to her next return to our Isle and I'm sure I'm not alone.

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OK, so I agreed to write some articles for RC,

Goddess Mel is very persuasive. So I sat around for

a day, wondering what amazing spiritual insights I

can offer, what deep and meaningful things I can

write about while I‘m stuck in a hospital room that

has no fresh air or light, and is in no way connected

to the real organic world. The Goddess seems very

far away when you‘re in such a clinical masculine

environment.

Then I thought, I‘m having a very different sort of life

experience, something just as worthy of being

written about, even if I can offer no spiritual insight

or deep thoughts.

As a woman, problems with one‘s pregnancy are

devastating. You feel like you‘ve failed as a woman,

failed to protect your growing baby, failed

womankind and the Goddess by somehow not being

strong enough or good enough to simply breeze

through pregnancy. I felt like this after my first

Caesarean Section, that my body had let me down

at the final hour and that I wasn‘t worthy enough to

give birth to my son the ―normal‖ way. I also felt

tremendous anger that my pregnancy had been

made into a medical condition and had been ―taken

over‖ so that my natural instincts were stomped

down and ridiculed. When I wanted to walk around

the room while in labour, I was strapped to the bed

with a monitor over my belly. When I wanted to lie

down and sleep for a while, I was made to get up.

And at the end of 2 days of labour in hospital I was

told ―You‘re taking too long, we need the room for a

private patient, so we‘re going to give you a

Caesarean.‖ It took me a long time to get over this

experience and to even contemplate having another

child. My second pregnancy was uneventful, just the

usual morning sickness, then another Caesarean

birth. This current pregnancy…. Well it‘s pretty

eventful.

Where to begin? I suppose at the beginning.

After a routine 23 week ultrasound scan, I was

informed that I had very little amniotic fluid around

my baby and that I had a very low-lying placenta. I

was then told that I had to go to Hobart to have a

more definitive scan, as the Hobart hospital has

better equipment and more experienced

radiographers. My doctor then told me to expect to

stay for longer and to pack a bag. Oh, and by the

way, I had to be in Hobart the next day, as they

had already booked the scan for me!

Well, here I am. Over 3 ½ hours drive from home,

away from my family and friends and missing my

sons and fiancé dreadfully. I‘ve been here for 2 ½

weeks now, in the high risk Maternity Ward. I‘ve had

every test under the sun, been poked and prodded,

scanned and MRI‘d, made to pee in numerous test

cups, been scanned with a probe (which was very

disappointing, it didn‘t buzz at all), been stuck full of

needles and had so much blood taken that my veins

have shut down! (They really have shut down!)

I‘ve been seen by surgeons, anaesthetists, diabetes

educators, neonatal specialists, lactation consultants,

paediatricians, dieticians, physiotherapists,

endocrinologists, radiographers, social workers and

general doctors. And Midwives and nurses, who are

a whole other ballgame.

There are nurses and there are nurses. On the whole,

the nurses I‘ve seen are really great. But there‘s

always one. One who delights in telling you the

horror stories about the women before you who had

the same medical condition, who woke up in a pool

of blood and were lucky to survive surgery. One

who says things like ―Don‘t worry dear, these

hospital blankets are super absorbent and when you

hemorrhage, you just throw them over the blood and

clean the mess up yourself.‖ Or ―Jee, I‘m so glad it‘s

you and not me in here, I‘m really glad you‘re the

one lying in that bed, so I don‘t have to go through

anything like this.‖ Or, when I say I just want some

privacy to go to the toilet, ―Well, I‘ll let the next shift

The Power of Woman When the Goddess Seems So Far Away

By Lisa Bolton (10th Nov 2011)

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of nurses know you don‘t want to be disturbed, and I

won‘t say that you‘re whinging or anything.‖

It should be amusing. It probably would be if I

weren‘t so damn terrified.

A couple days ago I met a man coming to see his

partner who had just had her prem baby (at 25

weeks gestation). I saw him this morning and asked

how his son was doing. He told me that he‘d died

early this morning. I could see how devastated he

was, and could do nothing for him, but give him a

quick hug and offer my condolences. I had never

met his partner, I didn‘t know her name, but I sent

her a card which said ‗Dear Family, I know there is

nothing I can say that will help

you to feel any better, so I will

not offer any platitudes. I am

sad for you beyond words that

your son passed away. I hope

your family can stay strong for

you and give you lots of support

so you can heal, and I hope they

realise that this will take time. If

you would like to talk to

someone who isn‘t family, but

one who understands what you

went through prior to your son‘s

birth and who also understands a

measure of the pain you‘re

feeling now, I am here, to listen.‖

I was very surprised when she

came to see me and thank me for the card. She told

me about how she had to make the decision to turn

off her son‘s life support so he wouldn‘t suffer

anymore and how he‘d taken his last breaths in her

arms. She showed me the pictures she‘d taken of

him, and told me about the records the nurses had

kept for her. She told me a very familiar story of a

routine scan and being rushed to Hobart. And the

weeks of tests, scans, doctor visits and preparing for

the worst.

I was so honoured that she would share this touching

personal journey with me. I was moved beyond

words.

I felt honoured to listen to her story. Women need to

tell their stories. I had never before heard of any

woman losing their amniotic fluid in their pregnancy.

Now I am hearing ―Oh, that happened to me‖ or

―My sister in law had that happen‖. We need to tell

our stories so that other women don‘t feel so alone

when they experience loss or tragedy. We need to

become good listeners and good sharers. It takes

strength and compassion to listen to someone else‘s

pain. It makes our own heart hurt, our own eyes cry

and our own bodies ache with sadness. It makes us

compassionate and it makes life real and poignant.

It makes me realise how strong women are. It makes

me realise that the Goddess is only as far away as

the nearest woman who has a loving heart. As

women with strong and loving hearts, we can go

through pain like losing a child

and still get up and go on with

life. We can live with the fear of

scars, losing parts of our bodies,

h a v i n g t o h a v e b l o o d

transfusions, and knowing that

our prem baby might not make it.

We do it because we are strong.

We do it because there is no

other choice.

I guess that brings me to the part

where I offer up my wisdom. I

think I‘m having this life lesson

because I‘ve been a control freak

all my life. I like to be the one in

charge of my destiny and life-

path. As I‘ve always been a bit

New-Agey, I would hang out in crystal shops and

alternative book stores. These places always have

packs of Destiny Cards on the counter. Whenever I

pick up a random Destiny Card, it almost always

says SURRENDER, to which my response is always

NEVER! Never surrender! Now I am in a situation

where I have to trust others. I have to put my life and

the life of my unborn son completely in their hands

and trust that they know what they‘re doing. I have

to surrender. There is no choice.

So the wisdom I have to offer? Don‘t go into New

Agey shops and whatever you do, don‘t pick up

those damn Destiny Cards!

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Felidomancy -

foretelling by the behaviour of cats:

Divination by observing the behavior or

actions of a cat (or cats), ranging in

predictions about changes in the weather

to unexpected visitors. Dating from the

Middle Ages, many of these have survived

as popular superstitions.

Washing its face = visitors.

Stepping on a cat's tail = bad luck will

follow (probably from the angry cat).

Abandoning house = bad omen.

Stray entering home = very good omen,

money to follow.

Entering room right paw first = for a question the answer is yes!

Sneezing = improved luck.

Meowing during travel = be cautious.

Minxi & Thomas

By Rose

Internet Interest by Jess Reuseit.com is a great website I've come across in my travels. Based in the US, its a site full of

amazing products aimed to replace disposable items in your home with good quality gear that

doesn't add to landfill. What I really liked about this website is that each item comes with a full

description of what it's made of, and where it comes from - together with a strong environmental

message, good postage, great sale discounts and reasonable postage to Australia.

Some of my favourite items include glass drink bottles – no plastic or metallic taste, and they even

stock ones with filters and double glass skins for DIY cold or hot tea!

I also loved the idea of these bags – they clip into a normal

shopping trolley, and are washable. They also appeal to my avoidance of

doing two trips – one bag in each hand, voila!

These nifty produce bags are great – breathable, washable, and see

through for your checkout person to easily see what you‘ve bought!

There are so many other great products on this website, all cleverly designed to replace the many

things we buy and eventually throw away. Worth a look!

www.reuseit.com

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GARBAGE!

I was on a Google journey the other day (you know, when

you look at something, that leads you to something else,

which then leads you somewhere else, until you are in a

place that is totally not what you were originally looking

at?) reading an article about recycling, garbage and

waste. It said that the average Australian adult generates

about 500kg of rubbish a year. That means, if I live until

I‘m 85, that I would have generated 34,000kg of rubbish in

my independent adult life. That‘s 34 tonnes. The weight of

about 20 cars. Holy cow, that is a lot of rubbish!

Also, as I was taking the garbage out the other day, I was

thinking about the fact that my Nan never had a bin. I

remember being a kid, eating a lolly at Nan‘s house, and

asking where to put the wrapper, as she had no bin! Nan

grew up during the Depression and as a resourceful country

lass has always been one to reuse, recycle, and upcycle

where possible, before it was trendy.

So I‘ve been pondering, how can I make more of an effort

to reuse and recycle? Could I survive without a bin? Can I

decrease my predicted 34 tonnes of rubbish?

Staring into the contents of my garbage, some of it is easy

– the Council is nice enough to supply me with a big recycle

bin for empty bottles of plastic and glass, cardboard and

paper. I probably don‘t sort through things as well as I

could however, so the first step is to be a little more

thorough about these things. Also, I can make an effort to

reduce what I‘m putting into the recycling – reusing

cardboard boxes before they get knocked around then

throwing them out. I can also put a ‗No Junk Mail‘ sticker on

the letter box – although I like to read them, I don‘t really

buy anything out of the catalogues anyway, and the amount

I receive is just insane!

Food scraps are also easy – I probably need to make more

of an effort to eat leftovers, and everything else can go into

a compost bin, something I meant to install in my last house

over the two years I lived there.

The other bits and pieces are a bit trickier – what about

those foil bags that chips come in, or cat food? Other

plastics, such as the tray and wrapping off a packet off mint

slice? I found online a great how to guide on making bags

and boxes out of chip packets that I want to give a go, but

that doesn‘t use all types of plastic.

What if we had to deal with every single scrap of rubbish

we generate? If there was no land fill, no garbage disposal

service, nowhere to put the garbage? Would it alter our

buying habits? Is it better to buy chicken from the deli and

only use 1 plastic bag and 1 sheet of paper, than pre-

packaged stuff that leaves you with the absorbent pad, the

tray, and the cling wrap?

And then, is finding a second use for an object really good

enough, when it ends up in the bin anyway? Take meat trays

– Mel collects them and uses them as paint trays. I love this

idea, and now keep them for the same purpose, however

after using them for painting, they just end up in the bin

anyway, so is it really helping decrease landfill?

And at what point are you just collecting a heap of stuff that

you‘re never going to use? I have boxes of jars in the

bottom shed, which will no doubt be used eventually for jam

or chutney or to hold screws in the shed, but after the 20th

meat tray, I‘m wondering how much painting I actually

expect to do in the next 12 months? Or how much screws

and chutney one can actually store?

I guess it was easier for my Nan to live without a bin – in

her day there was no plastic, and she didn‘t have the luxury

of garbage collection anyway. But I do want to make an

effort not to be wheeling out very full bins every week when

I move back into a home of my own – even if I can decrease

my rubbish by half, and only need to put out the bin once a

fortnight, surely that can make a difference?

How do you reuse and recycle and reduce your garbage?

By Jess

Please respond to this article with your recycle and/

or reducing tips or ideas -

RC editor Mel - [email protected]

16


Prayer Flags (AWC Workshop with Kimi Ravensky)

This is simply the best group activity to kick-start any pagan event, and one that could easily become a boredom buster for kids during the holidays! There can be as many variations as creative ideas can be brain stormed! Kimi chose an assortment of traditional prayer flag colours – green (symbolising water), blue (for the sky and wider cosmos), red (for the fire aspect), white (symbolising the wind) and yellow (for the earth). Once nailing down the preferred hue it was time to release those creative juices or at the very least try our hand under the enthusiastic eye of Kimi! Looped through balcony uprights our wishes joined together creating the unifying message of community, love, compassion and gratitude - traveling up, out and into the universe. How to make your own Prayer Flags: Depending on how large your group is - 2 metres of cotton fabric from the roll 2-6 metres of soft cotton tape or twine assorted coloured permanent markers hand held paper stapler + staples Tear or cut the cotton fabric into rectangles – maybe 15cm x 25cm Decorate with the markers Attach to twine with stapler, fold and staple Its time to begin our own Tassie Pagan Alliance prayer flag string – we can add to it at every event, using colours that are themed to each Sabbat. We can admire our work in progress sigil as it adorns the sacred space we create outside of time.

17


What spiritual path do you follow? I consider myself eclectic witch, I tend to borrow bits from here and there, and sometimes just go with how I feel at the time. Favourite Sabbat? Why? It‘s a close call between Samhain and Yule - At Samhain I get to visit all the cemeteries and tell my kids stories about their ancestors - having done a lot of research into my family tree I have quite a few tales to tell. Yule is the day before my birthday, and I usually have a get together with a feast and lots of Yule pressies shared. Which moot do you most regularly attend? Burnie up until the beginning of this year - now it‘s the Launceston one. Favourite ritual tool? Why? I tend to use very few tools if I‘m working alone - candles, incense, water, etc. just the basics. Mead or Mulled wine? Both! :) Runes or Tarot? I have both, but I definitely use my Tarot much more often. Would like to learn more about Runes though. Favourite movie? Hmm... I‘d probably have to say Love Actually is my favourite movie lol. Do you have a recent pagan interest/activity? Or an event or workshop attended? I bought a book on Palm Reading recently, which I‘ve been interested in for a long time, haven‘t got very far through it yet. First Pagan book ever bought?

Witchcraft a beginners guide, by Teresa Moorey. I still have it although I haven’t looked at it for a while, the pages are tattered and falling out from so much use! If you could meet a famous Pagan person (author, singer or other), who would it be? Why? Probably Emma Restall Orr - I‘ve only read a couple of her books but I love the way she uses stories to teach (particularly in ―Spirits of the Sacred Grove‖). Favourite Ravens' Call article? It‘s not in the Ravens‘ Call anymore, but I used to love Jilli‘s Hedge! Now my favourite would have to be The Compost Heap. Skyclad, robed or casual? Depends on the company and the weather :) How would you like to be remembered? Fondly! lol

Thanks heaps for your pagan profile, Heather xxx ED

Next Issue

AUTUMN/

WINTER

2012

18


The Compost Heap suggests a venture out into the garden. Something earthy, seasonal and full of worms…

The Pagan Food Pantry

I am a member and elder of the Community Church of Inclusive Wicca and

last month we started a ―Food Pantry‖ for pagans. I will be the contact for

Tasmanians who need help. I was wondering if we could put something in the

next issue of Ravens Call, to let people know about it. The website is

www.cciwi.org

The following is from the CCIWI website and explains a bit more about it:

―We so often hear that when Pagans are facing tough financial times, they feel

uncomfortable going to religious organisations for help because they’re expected to accept the faith of

that charitable body, and of course most charitable bodies are Christian based. We’d like to offer a

more faith acceptable option for these folks that won’t compromise their spiritual and religious beliefs.

From May 1st 2011, CCIWI, (a licenced charity no: CCP1645) will be offering our Food Pantry

service where we’ll be providing a bag of non-perishable food or a Woolworths or Coles gift card

primarily to Wiccan and Pagan folks and families who are in genuine financial need.

If you’d like to donate money to help us, you can do so via PayPal using the address [email protected].

If you’d like to donate Coles or Woolworths gift cards to us, you can send them to CCIWI, 21 Daveys

Road, Flagstaff Hill, SA 5159, Australia.

If you’d like to drop off food donations and you live in Adelaide, you can drop those at 21 Daveys

Road, Flagstaff Hill, SA 5159. If you live elsewhere, watch this space for the release of our drop off

points.

100% of your donation goes straight back to the Wiccan community.

If you’d like to know more, please contact us for details at [email protected]. Please consider helping

us by donating money, Coles or Woolworths gift cards or food. Thanks so much for any help you can

give us.

If you’d like some help with groceries, please contact us on [email protected].”

Regards,

Jan

http://www.cciwi.org




19


The past few months have been completely dominated by the

Conference, and Conference recovery, so there isn‘t a great deal to

report this time around!

On Sunday 11th December we hosted our annual Silver Broomstick

Awards at the lovely Risdon Brook Dam – our next edition will have a full

report and photos from the event!

A big thank you goes out to everyone who renewed their membership this

year, and also a big welcome to all our new members.

Now the Conference is well and truly over, things will be back on track,

including Sabbat celebrations that are already being planned for the

new year, so please keep an eye out on the website and Facebook page

for details. Also, please let us know if you have updated your email

address, as we do send out email updates from time to time to keep you

in the loop!

Thank you again for your continued support of the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance, I look forward to

catching up with you in the new year.

Blessings,

Jess

[email protected]

2011 Membership Renewals

It‘s not too late to renew your membership! $20 for singles, $30 for couples – if you only joined up this year in the months April, May or June, and paid the full $20 or $30 (as opposed to the adjusted amount of $5) then you won‘t need to pay until this time next year. At the end of your Ravens' Call there is a form to complete - either snail mail to our postal address, hand the form into your local moot convener or visit our Pagan Alliance web site and complete the online form. This will help us correct any changed information including new email address etc - also the option for electronic Ravens' Call issues. We hope you‘ll join us for another fantastic 12 months! Don‘t forget that if you pay for an additional year, you receive a $5 discount. TPA Bank account details: Tasmanian Pagan Alliance Inc. Commonwealth Bank of Australia BSB: 067-002 Account: 1034 4140

TPA Snail mail address:

PO Box 1127 Launceston TAS 7250

TPA web site address:

www.taspainc.com

http://www.taspainc.com/

20


Moot Report – Burnie, September

Leading up to the Australian Wiccan Conference only our die hard mooters attended to discuss the Spring Equinox and how we have celebrated it in the past. Iain entertained us with stories of different festivals he has attended in Scotland and England. It was great to hear that the old religion is alive and well in certain parts of the UK and Scotland and practiced openly, particularly on the major sabbats.

Moot Report - Burnie, October

After our hearty RSL dinners and deserts our guest

speaker, Pip Colman, gave us pointers on tapping into

our psychic abilities and intuition. This knowledge was

then put into practice by giving each other oracle card

readings. Pip ended the talk with information on how to

perform a medium ship reading. This sparked much

discussion about our own individual encounters with

deceased loved ones and ghosts.

Moot Report - Burnie, November

This month was dedicated to sharing our crystal friends

from the earth. Many crystals were brought along to

share ranging from raw crystals that had been sought

out and collected from our local environment to

beautifully faceted wands and jewellery. We shared

stories about the first crystal that caught our attention

and the place that crystals hold in our lives now. Each

person had great stories and anecdotes to share about

the uses of crystals, some of which I‘ve included here.

Jade (specifically Chinese Jade)– should always

be given as a gift and not bought for yourself. If

your Jade crystal breaks it has saved your life.

You should then thank it and bury it back in the

earth.

Malachite – attracts money so should be kept in

your till or wallet.

Opals – are not unlucky, this was a rumour started

by the diamond companies in the 1970s when

opals became popular.

Many crystals are porous and will dry out so they

need to be ‗fed‘ by rubbing a bit of Vaseline or

vegetable oil into them (only if they are polished

crystals) when they are looking dull.

If a crystal gets hot in your hands quickly then you

really need that energy. If it stays cold then you

don‘t need that energy. If you can‘t decide

between two stones, hold one in each hand and

the one that gets hot first is the one you need.

This will also work if you are choosing a stone for

someone else.

Launceston Moot - October

North-West Moots

When: 2nd Thursday of every month

Where: Burnie RSL, 36 Alexander St

Start Time: 6:00pm

Contact: Irene - [email protected]

St Helens Moot

When: First Sunday of every month

Where: ‗Something Fabulous‘, Shop 1/7 Pendrigh

Place

Start Time: 3:00pm onwards

Contact: Debbie - [email protected]

Launceston Moots

When: Last Tuesday of every month (except Dec)

Where: Alchemy Bar, 90 George St Launceston

Time: 7:00pm onwards

Contact: Rose - [email protected]

Southern Moots

When: First Thursday of every month

Where: New Sydney Hotel - 87 Bathurst St

Time: 6:30pm onwards

Contact: Allannah - [email protected]

21


LIVING THE GODDESS WORKSHOPS

with Jo & Zahira

Learn about a different Goddess each month and

explore practical ways to incorporate her qualities into

your daily life. Jo and Zahira will be your hostesses.

Light afternoon tea will be provided.

January Workshop

Date: Saturday, January 21st 2012

Time: 1:45pm for a 2:00pm start. Ends at 5:00pm.

Cost: Adults $30 / Children $20 (must be accompanied

by an adult).

10% discount if paid by December 24th. All other

enrolments must be received by Jan 14th.

Venue: Near Gravelly Beach. Full details on enrolment.

Bring: A cushion. If you have a drum, feel free to bring it

too. There will be a trade table so feel free to bring

anything you want to sell. Your surplus item might be

someone else‘s treasure.

Wear: Something pink/magenta. It could be a hair tie, a

necklace, or come completely in pink!

Payment Options: Paypal, cheque, money order or

direct deposit.

Both women and men are invited, as long as you

genuinely want to learn!

For more details and to book your spot, contact Zahira

on 0418 139 826 / [email protected]

ARABIC DRUMMING

with Razi

Learn how to correctly strike the drum and to create

clean crisp sounds. In next to no time you‘ll be playing a

rhythm with the confidence of a professional.

Workshop fee includes a handout of rhythms covered.

Content is flexible so as to accommodate student needs.

When: Saturday, January 21st 2012

Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm

Venue: Near Gravelly Beach.

Bring: Drum (suitable drums to bring - djembe, Egyptian

table, darabouka), pen & paper.

A small number of drums will be available for hire on the

day for $5.00 each. Please RSVP so Razi can ensure he

has enough for everyone.

Cost: $30 (10% discount if paid by December 24th. All

enrolments must be received by January 14th).

Payment Options: Paypal, cheque, money order or

direct deposit.

For more details and to book your spot, contact Zahira on

0418 139 826 / [email protected]

Heard on the Grapevine...

PEACEFEST, WYNYARD

3rd, 4th & 5th February 2012

Make the trip this summer, and make new friends, re-

connect with old friends, follow the rainbow signs,

2 DAYS OF PEACE, HEALING, MUSIC, RELAXATION AND

JOY.

Tarot readers, aura photos, gems and minerals, kite

flying, organic vegies, potted herbs, fire performances,

woodwork, reiki healing, meditation, labyrinth workshop,

music, the list goes on and on!

Visit http://www.peacefestwynyard.com for more

information.

22


While for many pagans visualisation and meditation are the cornerstones of their practice and can be done without

the need for any tools whatsoever, working with magically charged or energized equipment can enhance rituals and

solidify spell casting. You are the conductor of your own personal power, not the moonstone pendant worn during

the full moon or the candles alight in honour of the Gods – neither can you generate strength through a consecrated

athame…but you can complement magical endeavours and reinforce spiritual belief through creating meaningful

implements that work in usefulness and harmony with you.

Sigils

The use of sigils is a common practice for most practicing pagans but, may not be considered a ritual or

magical tool. After all it‘s simply paper and pen.

Sigils can be frequently created - buried deep in the soil, cast adrift upon the tide or caught by flame.

Attaching a paper sigil to a Yule log is one of the more traditional methods, it could be a wish for the future

or prosperity for the coming year. Your chosen mark can be a complex and creative design or plain and un-

decorated, whatever has personal and prominent symbolism.

There is transformation magic in the crafting of a sigil, our thoughts are manifesting from an idea or desire

into the physical world. You are in effect creating something from nothing, birthing a wish that will begin a

journey with a purpose towards a distant goal.

Sigils are the magical tool that propels me forward, keeps me searching for the next project the next

opportunity to build, create, achieve and to experience my chosen path, sigils are the push I need to continue

onward maintaining momentum.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigil_(magic) :

The term sigil derives from the Latin sigillum, meaning "seal", though it may also be related to the

Hebrew (segulah meaning "word, action, or item of spiritual effect"). A sigil may have an abstract,

pictorial or semi-abstract form. The current use of the term is derived from Renaissance magic, which was in

turn inspired by the magical traditions of antiquity.

In medieval ceremonial magic, the term sigil was commonly used to refer to occult signs which

represented various angels and demons which the magician might summon. The magical training books called

grimoires often listed pages of such sigils. A particularly well-known list is in the Lesser Key of Solomon, in

which the sigils of the 72 princes of the hierarchy of hell are given for the magician's use. Such sigils were

considered to be the equivalent of the true name of the spirit and thus granted the magician a measure of

control over the beings.

Sigils are commonly found in Jewish mysticism and Kabbalistic magic upon which much of Western magic is

based.

The use of symbols for magical or cultic purposes has been widespread since at least the Neolithic. Some

examples from other cultures include the yantra from Hindu tantra, historical runic magic among the

Germanic peoples, or the use of veves in Voudon.

23


Unlike with traditional sigils, whose creators made use of traditional lore passed down from generations or

from books, modern users often create sigils entirely themselves and devise individual means of "charging"

them with metaphysical power.

Modern sigils may appear in any medium—physical, virtual, or mental. Visual symbols are the traditional,

and presumably still most popular, form, but the use of aural and tactile symbols in magic is not unheard of.

In modern uses, the concept was mostly popularized by Austin Osman Spare, who published a method by

which the words of a statement of intent are reduced into an abstract design; the sigil is then charged with

the will of the creator. Spare's technique, now known as sigiliation, has become a core element of chaos

magic. The inherently individualistic nature of chaos magic leads most chaos magicians to prepare and cast

(or "charge") sigils in unique ways, as the process of sigilization has never been rigorously defined. The

magician is expected to "fill in the blank spots" by himself or herself. Sigils are used for spells as well as for

the creation of thought-forms.

Example: My example is ―Ravens‘ Call‖. I then take out all the double letters, clear my mind of every day

clutter and focus upon my desired intention. The key it to stop thinking and let your pen take you on a

journey - sigils can be elaborate or simplistic.

24


Nettle - Urtica

Nettle is new addition to the garden plot, this herb almost didn’t make the grade – so wild it grows I thought it similar to growing clover, thistle or rag wort in amongst traditional herbs like rosemary, mugwort or clary sage – too common, a roadside weed. But Nettle has long been recognized for its bounty of nutrition as well as its instant sting. Folk medicine and lore worldwide attributes nettle the powers of protection and fertility, it really is an incredible plant –

one I’m proud to point out when garden visitors call.

Nettle magic is the magic of Mothering. With a bounty of nutrition, offering us the building blocks we need to be healthy, strong individuals. The flavour of nettle tea has been described as akin to milk or mother's milk; nettle in your life reminds you to take the time to nourish yourself at the most

basic levels.

Nettle's sting reminds us to value our gifts just as we must honour and protect the work of mothering if we are to remain healthy. Nettle protects herself and space with a mild sting that can last for days. In this, she asks us to recognize and honour the worth of what is given; if you're willing to hazard the sting to gain the treasure from nettle, you're more likely to value what you have taken. When nettle has come into your life, especially around a project you're nurturing, take time to ensure that you and those who might benefit from your work recognize and value your

contribution.

Nettle is transformation through nurturing and self-worth, like that of a healthy, loving mother. Soggy, wet ground is the favourite rooting place; this herb is an expert at turning hard, clay soils into fertile ground. The ability to undo the effects of an excess of water in the soil speaks of an affinity with water and with conditions of stress, especially of an emotional nature. Just as nettle can turn a situation that appears hard and unloving into one of fertility - so can we, by reminding us of our power to shift our thoughts and deeds into a place of nurturing, encouraging personal and environmental growth, as a mother might shift hers to provide the best possible conditions for her children's growth. Nettle can bring out the mother in all of us, and our world

will be the better for it.

Gypsy lore says: Nettle, is a strong Jinx-Breaker. Mix with another uncrossing herb, such as Mint, Rue or Agrimony, plus a Jinx-Breaking Mineral, like Witch's Salt, Graveyard Dust, or Uncrossing Powder, then sprinkle it around the home to cut off curses put

on by witches (handy!).

Protection tea: one part nettle one part pennyroyal

Habitat: Nettle grows in waste places, gardens, along roadsides, fences, and walls.

World wide.

Description: Singing nettle is a perennial plant. The square, bristly stem grows from 60cm to 2m high and bears opposite cordate (having a heart-shaped outline), deeply serrate pointed leaves which are downy underneath. Flowering with small, greenish

flowers grow in axillary clusters from spring until autumn.

Health properties and uses: Astringent - Diuretic - Galactagogue - Hemostatic –

Tonic.

The fresh juice or an infusion of the nettle plant has been used to stimulate the digestive system and to promote milk flow in nursing mothers. As an astringent it is also use for blood in the urine, haemorrhoids, and excessive menstrual flow. Nettle is a helpful remedy for ailments of the urinary tract and is said to reduce susceptibility to rheumatic problems and colds. A decoction of the plant is good for diarrhoea. A decoction of the root is recommended for external use on the scalp for loss of hair. The fresh leaves have sometimes been used as a Rubefacient*, but severe irritation and blistering can result. Nettle can also be eaten as a vegetable, but old plants must be thoroughly

cooked to be safe. Young plants in the spring can be used for salad or as a vegetable.

By Mel

*A Rubefacient is a substance for topical application that produces redness of the skin e.g. by causing dilation of the capillaries and

an increase in blood circulation.

25


It’s Only Natural

Hub Arcade, The Mall

Devonport

For anyone who grew up or

lived in the Devonport area,

this place will bring back

some nostalgia for you. It is

owned and run by Maggie Reeman, who in the 1970s opened the store in the

Devonport mall, ―Maggie‘s Bazaar‖. A place that I, for one, spent a lot of time

in when I was younger (loved buying the scoops of the tiny crystal chips!), and

was devastated when it closed down in the early 2000s.

But she‘s back with a vengeance with this beautiful new store. Located where

the Anvers Chocolate Shop used to be in the Hub Arcade, Maggie stocks

crystals galore, jewellery, handmade goat‘s milk soaps, lovely scented things,

artwork and glassware. And everything is SO affordable!

Keep an eye on this place – after having a chat with Maggie myself, she said

that the lease is only for the short-term and not everything she has is on display.

She is ‗testing the

waters‘ and if it proves fruitful, she‘ll continue trading,

possibly under a different name (something including

―Maggie‘s‖, she told me; ―you can take the kid from the shop

but you can‘t take the shop from the kid!‖).

Please continue to support local businesses who stock that

which we require for our craft – I find this is. It‘s most

important that we keep these resources alive because without

them, we wouldn‘t have access to the amazingly beautiful and

powerful things we currently do. By Terri

27


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