The Pendle Craft (TPC)

CONTENTS 6

Editor’s Letter

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Contributors

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Operation: Cancer & Leesha Lou’s Story

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How Do You Know If You’re A Witch

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Rites Of Passage

TPC’s International Women’s 105 Month: March, 2018

The Real Peak Blinders

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Tintagel

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British Wildlife

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Nanny Knows Best

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Educating The Next Generation Of Initiates

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What Is SteamPunk?

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Obituary

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Modern Minoan Paganism 48

Book Reviews

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The Succubus, the Demon, & the Witch

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There’s A Donut In The Parking Lot

Ostara

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Ostara Crystal

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In The Eye Of The Beholder

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Will The Birmingham Peaky Blinders Please Stand Up

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Food Magic: A Taste Of India

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Easter Meal Planner

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Next Issue: Cathars

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Contact Details

Reichert.

Disclaimer:

Submissions:

The opinions expressed in this magazine by writers are not necessarily those of TPC or its staff.

All articles and artwork remain the copyright © of the author or artist.

We here at TPC retain typographical copyright © on all articles, photos and adverts typeset by TPC or its staff. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine can be reproduced, except for short passages for critisicm or review, without written permission from the Editors. Layout Design

by Tasha Clark, Monique

Original articles or artwork please send to: tpcsubmissions@hotmail. com We reserve the right to abridge any content and edit for grammar, style, etc. The editor’s decision is final.

We allow all differant styles of work from polytheism, philosophy, esoteric, folklore, political, religious, events and moots, book reviews, artwork, informative, fiction and non-fiction pieces. But within reason. We also aim to be a platform for writers, be it new and upcoming writers or those who write as a hobby wishing to publish their work in the public forum.

Advertising Enquiries: tpceditors@hotmail.com

Front & Back Cover Images

By Amy Adamson of AskAPhoto & John Robinson of Frameousfotos.

Model: Leesha Lou (front), Ikey Hall (back cover) All Images By pixabay.com Unless Otherwise Stated

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Editor’s Letter

o, here we are, the March 2018 edition of our magazine coming onto your phones, ipads, or computers of all shapes and sizes.

This month we have had, on the 8th of March International Woman’s Day, 17th of March St Patrick’s Day, and sadly the loss of some great British talent, by this I mean the great Ken Dodd, Jim Bowen, and Stephen Hawkins. They will be sadly missed not just by their families and friends, but by the wider audience who followed them over the years.

Ostara is a special time of year...its the Spring Equinox, a time of perfect equilibrium, a time when day and night are of equal length.

The natural world is coming alive, the sun is gaining in strength and the days are becoming longer and warmer. That being said, we have been hit by the “Beast From The East Part 1“ and now Part 2.

Britain had come to a stand-still due to deep, heavy snows, airports had closed because of dangerous conditions of the run-ways.

So TPC would like to like to give everyone warm, heated energy in this time of bleak cold. When Part 1 cleared we thought that was it, over and done with, everything re-opened and got back to normal, now everyone is questioning whether or not Part 2 is going to put us back to square one. Lets hope not.

Here at TPC we are bringing more stories for you to indulge in, a different layout once again for next issue, and hopefully a working website. So keep reading!

Don’t forget we are wanting your letters, your stories, so please send them into tpcsubmissions@hotmail.com This issue does contain an 18+ erotic fantasy featurette.

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THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Leesha Lou Kathryn Critchley-Fowler T A Moorman Luna Fireoak Winter Anne McKelvie

Seshat Audi

Salena Shakti Radford

Thora Dorn

Helen Libby Davidson tpcsubmissions@hotmail.com

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OPERATION: CANCER ONE WOMAN’S BATTLE AGAINST THE BIG ‘C’ I first got to know “Leesha Lou“ through Tasha and our photographer, John Robinson. John first approached us two years ago about Leesha-Lou and told us her story and how she wanted to model for our magazine. Due to battling my own depression and illness, I left it to Tasha to speak with Gemma and get to know her.

At that time, Leesha-Lou had been in remission and we all prayed she had won her fight as she had been through so much already, it was time she was given peace to carry on what she loved...modelling and the arts. Despite what she was going through, she put aside her troubles to talk and listen to Tasha, or so she thought, little did she know that Tasha was opening up the road to being a sound board for Leesha-Lou. To come and approach Tasha, no matter the time of day or night.

When John approached us again late last year or early this year and told us the battle for Leesha-Lou was beginning all over again, the cancer had returned.

To say we were shocked is an under-statement.

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Both of us cried, because this woman had been through so much already; Tasha told me about her own mother who had lost her fight with cancer in January 2010, she also told me about my grandmother who passed in 1996 of cancer.

At that moment it was decided between Tasha and I that, when Leesha-Lou was ready, we would publish her story, no matter what.

So, here we are.

Leesha-Lou’s story of her fight against the big ‘C‘.

This story is indicative of all those who are battling small conflicts in the war against Cancer.

Keep fighting!

Leesha-Lou’s story

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ince I was a very little girl, I have always been artistic, creative , intuitive & spiritual. I was passionate about art & loved to dance. I loved to horse ride and felt very connected to nature.

I experienced lots of spiritual awakening symptoms & could see, hear & sense spirit / Higher energies. When I look at the air around me I can see the particles moving as energy & know that we are all connected. I was fascinated about it all & started to research my symptoms. I see glittery particles swishing and swirling. I feel a presence around me, sometimes touching me. Temperature changes occur as does a Morse code clicking in my right ear. I feel crawling sensations on my scalp, a warm tingling pressure between my eyebrows and start getting purr like vibrations from my ears resonating inward. I almost ‘tune’ in to a higher frequency , it’s sometimes like a high pitched radio station at times, I have to tell my spirit guides to turn it down a little. Or sometimes I literally feel a shift of energy & I go into a different state of being, it’s like I zone out. I think I’ve astral travelled many times too.

My spirit guide is an Indian. I was told this at various angel card readings and since I’ve grown spiritually & progressed on my path, I have actually been able to connect with him myself. I sometimes see Indians on horses galloping in the fields

It’s why I love the saying “Be a Unicorn in a field full of horses” I sometimes hear what sounds like, bombs going off, gun shots, fireworks , I can hear choir type angelic music which is comforting.

I get lots of inspiration & feel alive after I meditate.

When I feel low or if I’ve been around anyone draining, I need to cleanse myself and recharge. To do this I mediate and ask for assistance. I can literally feel the bad feelings / energies exiting my body and up out through my crown chakra where there is immense pressure causing tension headaches and sensitivity But afterwards I feel so much lighter & happier.

I get wonderful colours flowing, like the Northern Lights. So calming & peaceful. I see stars & sometimes feel like I am traveling in some sort of spacecraft very close to the earths ground but moving so fast it’s blurred. This then usually then turns into a wormhole type tunnel & it’s unbelievable. It’s pitch black with a green tunnel & theres light at the end of the tunnel. I think this is where the saying comes from! There is light at the end of the tunnel, follow the light, it is where you will fine the truth. The Devine guidance is there for you to receive, but you must give permission. You must ask for help with

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anything you are struggling with in your life right now. Ask & you shall receive, as long as the intentions are of true integrity & for the highest good. It is through meditation & raising my vibration & changing my thought processes that I have managed to overcome some of the biggest & scariest challenges life’s had to offer , and it all boils down to ; your thoughts.

What we think, we manifest.

So if we constantly think negatively “I can’t do that, I’m really suffering, I’m depressed, what if this happened, I am financially struggling, I am exhausted, I’m never going to get out of this mess” We will attract much more of this negative feelings & circumstances.

The law of attraction, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, What we think, we become.

Everything you desire, you can manifest if you set your intentions clearly. As long as they are for the highest good, you think positively and believe & trust that it will be given to you, it will.

Most people unfortunately start to go into old thinking habits and you start to question things , which ultimately brings doubt ; which is negative, thus creating a blockage! So if you question it, you won’t receive.

It’s all about letting go, having faith that good things are available to everyone, if we think the right thoughts.

I’ve experienced many bad things ; broken family, relationship breakdowns, various stressful & mentally draining jobs. Made some bad choices in life, silly things when I was younger & been a victim of emotional abuse resulting in a custody court battle recently.

I’ve had a scary car crash which has left me with some scars on my face & also had 2 traumatic births, post natal depression which caused horrific distressing hallucinations , anxiety & depression!

It was this next traumatic life event that has completely changed my life. I thought I’d already endured so much, but god gives the hardest battles to 10

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his strongest soldiers & my biggest battle was still to come.

I had to have Herceptin injections for 12 months as i am Her2+ I’m on tamoxifen tablets daily for the next 10 years

I can honestly say though, that’s it’s shaped me into the person I’m meant to be.

I’ve turned something so negative, one of the worst possible life hurdles you can face....... into something so wonderful.

This was my Spiritual Awakening.

In Feb 2016 aged 31, a single parent to 2 young children & recently split from a toxic relationship, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I had DCIS & early stage 1 cancer.

It was such a shock.

Then again, I always had a low immune system, was often ill & often feared getting cancer therefore I thought about getting cancer & could quite possibly manifested it!

Remember, what we think we attract!

I have had numerous painful biopsies / scans / tests etc In March 2016 I had a double mastectomy with the main lymph node removed & had immediate reconstruction using implants.

In April 2017 I had a hysterectomy, to reduce the risks of ovarian cancer & cervical cancer. I have been blessed with 2 children & wanted to make sure I did everything I could to stay here to contribute to look after my children, to love & support them & watch them grow.

I started to write poetry & sketch & getting back into art like I used to. Since I’ve been doing that I have felt much lighter & happier.

It was almost like my self therapy & a way of dealing with the trauma & moving on.

Writing it down and then letting it process in order to be able to leave my mind.

I wrote a poem about my post natal depression , anxiety & depression.

Poems about my cancer journey & the fear of it returning.

Poems about meditation , love , sexuality.

I then wanted to express myself further & create images to go with my poems & so I started modeling.

Whether it be through artwork or modeling one of my biggest aims is to raise mental health awareness and breast cancer awareness.

I want to grow spiritually.

I had an emergency operation the day after due to a blood clot & the surgeon had to do the whole op again, I was in agony.

I was really starting to enjoy my new path, the way I dealt with the cancer actually opened up new doors to opportunities for me. Creative ones!

I then had chemotherapy In summer 2016 & suffered so much pain throughout the treatment - it was the worst part of my ‘journey’

But.....

The constant pain ; a feeling like my bones were broken , fatigue , restless legs , nerve pain , flu symptoms, metal mouth , nose bleeds , tummy troubles , insomnia , nausea , weight gain , bloating - the list is endless!

I had to inject my stomach daily with steroids & was given hundreds of drugs. I felt like a walking pin cushion.

the battle wasn’t quite over.

Unfortunately, I started to get excruciating pains in my breasts. Capsular contracture had formed.

I went back to my surgeon & expressed my concerns. She offered me some lipomodelling to smooth the appearance but I was in pain & knew that would only make them look better, not feel better.

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That was just masking the problem.

I had a gut feeling something wasn’t right. You should always listen to your gut feelings ; your intuition. So this time I did.

I got a second opinion and another surgeon agreed they were badly capsular contracted & offered me breast revision surgery;

made some wonderful connections in the industry. I am on my creative path, a spiritual journey, I feel content & have faith that everything I desire will happen. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

I am being a unicorn in a field full of horses, I am making a positive into a negative,

To remove the painful build up of scar tissue & replace using fresh implants.

I am not what happened to me, I am what I chose to become.

Wonderful, I thought.

I aspire to inspire before I expire.

So in September 2017 I had the reconstruction. It didn’t go smoothly & the scar tissue biopsy results actually showed more cancerous cells! 18 months post chemo!

Cancer back Again!

I was mortified, in shock & didn’t know what to do.

Anxiety was so high that panic attacks had started and now an anxiety tic.

In Jan 2018 I had a course of radiotherapy targeting the whole of my left breast.

Yes I’ve had traumatic life events, but I have found myself spiritually & have faith that all will be ok.

It’s all about how we think, remember.

What we think, we attract / become.

I have become a warrior princess on a creative mission making princess crowns who now just needs to focus my intentions and manifesting myself a lovely princess castle to live in now With my own pet unicorn of course.

It’s been hard, extremely tiring & I have tried to remain positive.

Follow your Dreams,

I always try to be strong & ask my guides to help me along the way.

Love & Light,

I have been asking for their help and protection more than ever and they have helped me so much!

I have experienced so many synchronicities & received so many inspiring messages and idea. I have been thinking positively, manifesting wonderful things!

I have started getting back into my arty craft side and actually started designing & making bespoke headdresses & wire outfits for photo shoots & have 12

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~ Leesha Lou ~ All Images By Leesha Lou

Image By John Robinson

It was a form of treatment I hadn’t had yet & the oncologist thought we should try that before opting for a radical mastectomy.

I know I am on the right path.

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Ernest Bayles

Harry Fowler

ry o St d e Th ehin B

THE Real

PEAKY BLINDERS Charles Lambourne

Stephen McHickie

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images from Wikipedia

Thomas Gilbert

Birmingham is a fantastic place to visit and it is a place I would highly recommend stopping at on any journey south: The Bullring, Rotunda Hotel, and for nightlife we have the BrewDog in John Bright Street, or the Jam House on St Pauls Square. For the sporting fanatics there is always a visit to Aston Villa Football stadium or the Edgbaston Cricket Club. She is the biggest city in the UK outside of London, with a population of 1.1 million inhabitants as of 2014 and an estimated 3-million people in the wider metropolitan area.

to some, hard to imagine life back in the late Victorian early Edwardian era. It was not a time of TVs, Computers, or Fast Food. Far from it.

It was a life of crowded slums, poverty, prostitution and crime. In the old black-and-white films, we see uniformed policemen on point-duty directing traffic in the high street, but in the back streets life was so different. Street gangs vied for control in Post-code battles, territory was lost and won with blood and sweat. Where there was no work, there was a shilling to be “taken” from someone’s pockets.

Today it’s a thriving city of commerce and tourism, as well as being an important transport hub for the rest of the UK, and recently, Birmingham has been once more brought to the forefront of British television screens with the epic TV-series: “Peaky Blinders”, a show exploring the life and times of the Birmingham inhabitants around the 1920s. The show delves into the lives of the Peaky Blinders gang members, showing them rise like a phoenix, from nothing to high-rolling career criminals, some would say an early form of the Krays gang in London. Winners of numerous awards such as the BAFTA Television Craft Awards, the Golden FIPA, and IFTA. Yes, this is how good this show has gotten since it aired in 2013.

The Peaky Blinders were a gang which was formed in the early 1890s and survived for over twenty long years, until 1910. But, like much of the slums in Birmingham, there were many such gangs that ruled its own turf with an almost political hierarchy; the biggest rival of the gang at its outset was the “Sloggers”, who constantly fought the Peaky Blinders in pitched battles. These gangs were violent, and in many cases murderous.

There are those of us, however, who have never seen a minute of the TV-show, including myself and our photographer, John Robinson, who choose to sit and watch the first series of the Peaky Blinders, and before he knew it, he was onto the second and third series. “Much like a book”, he told us, “it is so hard to put down and stop watching.”

The TV series opens at the end of World War I and the lead character, Shelby, is a veteran of the trenches, putting the show around the early 1920s, and taking the name from the so-called peaks of the caps that were used in fights as a weapon after razor blades had been sewn into them. As dark and mesmerising as the TV show might be, with its weekly scripts of bloody, compelling and dramatic story-lines, is there any truth behind the realistic show?

As you walk Birmingham streets today, it is,

Professor John Douglas, Historian and Criminal Profiler, asserted that the name “Peaky Blinders” came from the signature weapon of choice, the peaked cap with its sewn in razor-blades, however this has been questioned by Birmingham born and bred Professor Carl Chinn, who believes the gangs’ name came not from the razor-blade theory but from the slang terms of the time, Peaky being from the flat-cap that was worn, and Blinders, which is still used today, being a term for a well-dressed person, like “dapper.”

Bell-bottomed trousers, tailored outfits, peaked caps, members of the Peaky Blinders gang were uncommonly dressed for gangs at that time. A sign they wanted to prove they were better than everyone else. However, their distinctive dress, although smart and fashionable, made them easily recognisable by inhabitants of the city, the police, and other gang members.

It was not just the men that were smartly dressed, their wives, girlfriends, and mistresses also sported equally lavish clothing: Pearls, silks, and colourful scarves were commonplace.

England, in particularly Central England, of

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the late Victorian era, saw very slow economic growth and this is believed to have in turn had a knock-on effect with the growth of a violent youth sub-culture. Pickpocketing was rife by youths of the lower classes, many of which were executed by means of beatings, stabbings, or even manual strangulation. In the early 1890’s street gangs would consist of young men between the ages of 12 and 30; the most powerful and violent of the Peaky Blinders gang was Thomas Gilbert, aka Kevin Mooney.

Other prominent members were David Taylor, Ernest Haynes, Harry Fowles, and Stephen McNickel. In 1904, “Baby-faced Harry” Fowles was arrested for stealing a bike, arrested at the same time was McNickel and Haynes, for theft of a bike and home-invasion. When they were caught, West-Midlands records show the three of the described as “foul-mouthed young men who stalk the streets in drunken gangs, insulting and mugging passers-by.”

After establishing into controlled territory, the Peaky Blinders expanded their criminal empire; their enterprises consisted of protection-rackets, fraud, bribery, smuggling, robbery, hi-jacking, and book-making. University of Leeds Historian, Heather Shor, claims that the Peaky Blinders gang solely focused on street-fighting, robbery and racketeering, as opposed to actual organised crime.

It was after nearly a decade of growth and lavish life-style, that brought the attention of a much larger gang, The Birmingham Boys, and it was the Peaky Blinder’s expansion into race-courses that brought about a violent confrontation and backlash. Realising they could not keep control, the Peaky Blinders families moved out into the country side, and as their grip of Birmingham diminished, another gang, the Sabini gang, moved in to fill the void and solidified a truce with the Birmingham Boys. By the 1930s, the Sabini gang had moved in on the Birmingham Boys, and had almost full political control of Central England.

As of the actual gang itself, the Peaky Blinders diminished, but their name lived on being used for any violent youth.

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So, although being in an alternative historical reality, is the show accurate? I think so. Its fair to say that the researchers and the script writers have done a fantastic job in bringing in fact and fiction, blending the two together in such a way that it leaves people wanting more. I will admit now, that I am someone who has not watched the show and have gone on hearsay, but what people have told me, its been nothing but high praises. Keep going Peaky Blinders.

Will they move into the territory of the Sabini gang or the Birmingham Boys? We can only wait and see.

I hope people will keep watching.

HOTEL • BISTRO, BAR & GRILL • FOOD HALL • BEER HALL

Head to Clitheroe to discover a stunning new shopping and leisure destination combining urban sophistication with small town charm and rural relaxation.

Big enough to occupy a full day, but small enough to explore on foot, Clitheroe really is one of the most enchanting little towns in Lancashire.

produce available anywhere in the county and the longest bar in Britain, the most difficult decision for visitors is choosing which of these amazing venues they’ll visit first.

Clitheroe has a growing reputation as one of Lancashire’s foremost foodie hubs and the Bowland Food Hall is a spectacular showcase for the area’s food entrepreneurs. Here, visitors can chat to the knowledgeable staff, sample the produce, pick up recipe and cooking tips and take home some delicious local treats.

Next door, Bowland Beer Hall is home to the longest bar in Britain. Here, real ale and craft beer lovers can choose from a selection of at least 24 perfectly kept brews and maybe book a tour of the brewery next door.

And now there’s an exciting new venue that makes a trip to Clitheroe an even more enticing prospect.

Located in a lovingly restored listed building in the heart of town, Holmes Mill is rapidly establishing a reputation as a ‘must-visit’ destination across the northwest and even further afield.

If retail therapy is top priority, there are also some lovely places to explore elsewhere in Clitheroe town centre. Housed in an imposing former chapel in the heart of town, the Emporium is part restaurant, part interior design superstore. Whether it’s a latte or a lunchtime glass of fizz, this bustling brasserie is not to be missed.

Driven by a commitment to showcasing the best of local food and drink in an inspiring setting, the renaissance of this local landmark honours Lancashire’s rich industrial heritage and fine culinary traditions.

By making features of the historic machinery and preserving the rich textures of the original building, the mill makes a fascinating backdrop for a unique shopping, dining and leisure experience.

With a cosy café selling home-made cakes and pastries, an elegant modern British bistro, some of the best fresh local www.holmesmill.co.uk | 01200 407120 | Greenacre Street, Clitheroe, BB7 1EB

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TINTAGEL

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Kernow a’gas dynergh!

Welcome To Cornwall!

Today 549,400 inhabitants thrive throughout the county of Cornwall, despite much of its industry having been wiped out and fish-stocks having dwindled greatly. So, what keeps people in Cornwall, or what makes people want to visit the county? It’s history and its sheer beauty.

Both Devon and Cornwall were rich mining areas with metalliferous ores such as lead, tin, silver, arsenic, and zinc. During the 19th-Century, Cornwall alone had some 600-steam pumps working to help with the extraction from mines, but in 1998, South Crofty, the last working tin mine in the county closed its doors.

Cornwall, or Kernow as it is known in the Cornish Celtic dialect, can boast fantastic, turquoise waters, for the surfers amongst us, historic castles for the history buffs, ample stylish hotels, and more pretty, chocolate-box villages than you can shake a stick at.

But there is one place that brings tourists by the hundreds, if not thousands, each year, and that is Tintagel, home of the legendary King Arthur and the knights of the Round-Table.

Tintagel Castle is a place shrouded in romance and mystery, built half on the mainland and half on a rugged headland that sits out in the Cornish sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Although the castle is medieval, its history goes back much, much further, to the Dark Ages between the 5th and 7th Centuries A.D., being an important stronghold and probably resident to many of the Cornish Kings, such as Cado ap Gerren (c.514 to c.530).

However, it was not until the 12 -century that Geoffrey of Monmouth, a Welsh monk writing a manuscript titled “History of the Kings of Britain,” that Tintagel is first mentioned as the birthplace of King Arthur, conceived with the help of the equally famous wizard, Merlin. At the same time as the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, Cornish and Breton writers associated another legendary pair with the site, Tristan and Iseult. th

Is this what made the Earl of Cornwall, son 20

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of King John, and brother of Henry III, build the castle here? There was no military value here. So was it just legend that brought this rich and affluent Earl here…wanting to uphold the legend that was King Arthur and his court.

And it seems to be still enthralling people, long after the castle has fallen into decay. The Earl of Cornwall traded with Gervase de Tintagel, swapping the land of Merthen for that of Tintagel, and a castle was soon erected in 1233. But after Richard, future Earls of Cornwall did not want the castle and it was given over the High Sherriff of Cornwall, where part of it was turned into a prison, and land used for grazing sheep and cattle. Afterwards, it was sadly left to fall into ruin, unlike the legend of the place which spread throughout Britain like wild-fire.

The village of Tintagel was originally called Trevena, until the 1850s when the post office decided that it was better if village became known by its Parish name rather than its original, and so Trevena became Tintagel. Yet despite its change, the village did not lose its allure. During the early Victorian period it became a tourist destination for the ordinary citizen and the artists, playwrights, poets, and story-tellers. One of these poets, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, penned the poem “Idylls of the King” here, mentioning Tintagel a few times. Letitia Elizabeth Landon penned the poem “A Legend of Tintagel Castle”, based loosely on the story of Lancelot and Elaine.

But its not just legend that attracts people here.

I mentioned before the sheer beauty of Cornwall before, and this is one place that shows you just how beautiful the County really is.

The coastline around Tintagel, like much of Cornwall, is rugged, and traced with clifftop trails, over-looking the turquoise waters, caused by copper deposits in the silt and sand being lit-up the rays of the sun. Almost a mile from the castle is Treknow, where its rich deposits of tin and Devonian ‘slate’ was extensively quarried. As we explore the region around Trevena (Tintagel), we find Condolden (Kingsdown) Hill, which is one of the very few hills in Cornwall and outside of Bodmin, to be 1,000-feet or more. It is not far from the coastline and as we

move back towards the sea, starting at the cliffs of Bossiney Haven, just south of Trebarwith Strand, we can walk to Willapark to the south of Boscastle, making up the Tintagel SSI (Site of Scientific Interest), famed for its maritime heaths and geological outcroppings. Tintagel is part of Cornwall’s’ Area of Outstanding Beauty.

In 1935, an anonymous writer once mentioned Willapark as being the scene of spectacular flocks of seabirds (8-species). Inland, the same author mentions the crows, including the Cornish Chough, the ravens, and the falcons that frequent the area.

Another writer states that within the area of Tintagel, there are at least 385 varieties of plant life, 30 kinds of grasses and 6 kinds of ferns.

Finally if you are looking for a hotel with a view, then you why not give the Camelot Castle Hotel a try, with its stunningly, breath-taking sea-views.

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BRITISH WILDLIFE

Slow Worm

hale 2m Minke W male: 10.7m, Calf: th: Male: 9.8m, Fe

Maximum leng tion: 209,800 Ireland.

Estimated popula e; N Scotland and id w ld or W s an ce Locations: O single speinke whales as a m l al at tre ns tio at least Whaling na own that there are sh en be w no s ha cies, but it vided into sephich are further di w s, ie ec sp nt re two diffe ies. The ns and/or sub-spec tio la pu po al ic og ol the arate bi ntarctic minke and A e th e ar s ie ec t two recognised sp f minke is an as ye ar dw e th ch hi w of common minke, cies. unnamed subspe

Despite their name and appearance, slow-worms are neither worms nor snakes, but are in fact lizards - they’re given away by their ability to shed their tails and blink with their eyelids. They can be found in heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides: anywhere they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe.

They are often found in mature gardens and allotments, where they like hunting around the compost heap. However, if you have a cat, you are unlikely to find them in your garden as cats predate them. Like other reptiles, slow-worms hibernate, usually from October to March.

Edible Dormouse The edible dormouse is the largest of all dormice, being around 14 to 19 cm (5.5 to 7.5 in) in head-body length, plus a 11- to 13-cm-long tail. It normally weighs from 120 to 150 g (4.2 to 5.3 oz), but may almost double in weight immediately prior to hibernation. It has a generally squirrel-like body, with small ears, short legs, and large feet

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Hedgehogs

A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas (the extinct genus Amphechinus was once present in North America). Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (family Soricidae), with gymnures possibly being the intermediate link, and have changed little over the last 15 million years.

Like many of the first mammals, they have adapted

to a nocturnal way of life.

Hedgehogs’ spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated porcupines, which are rodents, and echidnas, a type of monotreme.

The name hedgehog came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English heyghoge, from heyg, hegge (“hedge”), because it frequents hedgerows, and hoge, hogge (“hog”), from its piglike snout.

Other names include urchin, hedgepig and furze-pig. The collective noun for a group of hedgehogs is array.

Common Seal The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Baltic and North Seas.

Harbor seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kg (290 lb). Blubber under the seal’s skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand, and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area.

Males may fight over mates under water and on land. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups can weigh up to 16 kg (35 lb) and are able to swim and dive within hours of birth. They develop quickly on their mothers’ fat-rich milk, and are weaned after four to six weeks.

The global population of harbor seals is 350,000–500,000, but subspecies in certain habitats are threatened.

[1] Once a common practice, sealing is now illegal in many nations within the animal’s range.

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Nanny Knows Best

By Kathryn Critchley-Fowler THIS IS AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL C.E.O.s, MANAGERS, GENERAL MANAGERS, DEPARTMENTAL MANAGERS, SENIOR MANAGERS, MANAGING DIRECTORS, DIRECTORS, OPERATIONS MANAGERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN PERSONEL. I am a retired British Nanny. I looked after children for many many years, and I still know how to deal with naughty little children. And in my capacity as British Nanny, I write this article F A O all Managing Directors, Departmental Managers, Operations Managers and all those who work in personnel.

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I am writing to tell you that you are all very naughty, and I am wagging my finger at you and frowning at you and you can all go to bed without any tea, and without any television, either.

I’ll tell you why in a moment, if you all stop fidgeting, and sit down nicely and listen. (Stephen don’t pummel Josephine, she dosn’t like it).

My favourite person had the misfortune to be made redundant a few months ago, and ever since then, he has gone above and beyond the call of duty to obtain gainful employment. He has spent hours trawling the internet applying

TPC - The Pendle Craft

for this and applying for that, some days he starts at 7 am and continues until 8 or even 9 at night. His CV is excellent, he has had it checked by some chap whose job it is to check people’s CVs and make sure they are up to scratch. He checked my favourite person’s CV, and it was very definately up to scratch, faultless, apparently. My favourite person has joined agencies, he has been on job search websites. Infact, there is nothing he hasn’t done to find work. We even spent several days putting a postcard in every Post Office and every Newsagent’s window within a 20-mile radius advertising his

availability for work, and I paid for an add to go into Cambridge Evening News. And, (we are getting there, sit still and listen for a little while longer) what really really annoys me is the number of people who don’t even bother to reply to a lot of the jobs he applies for, and the number of people who ring him up to tell him they have found his CV on a CV library (what ever one of those is) and they would like to put him foward for a job, and they will ring him or txt him or email him by Tuesday evening to tell him what is happening - AND THEY DON’T.

able (good) and said “Well, I’m not supposed to tell anybody”

So this means that either they were telling lies in the first place (naughty) or they just couldn’t be bothered (lazy).

I looked at the child.

I was with him one day, when we were doing the rounds of taking his CV into agencies and handing-them-in-personally. In one agency we went into (well, it was nice to get out of the rain for a while) the child behind the counter (who was much more interested in filing her nails than in talking to people), did the usual thing, she simpered, she giggled, and she filled in a form. Then she stapled her form to my favourite person’s CV and told a naughty fibby-fiblet - she said “we’ll be in touch in a few days” “Tell me” I said, giving her my best Cross Nanny face (it always works) “What are you actually going to do with his CV ?”

The child looked uncomfort-

“You can tell me” I replied, giving her a hard stare. (A British Nanny’s Hard Stare is much harder and stairer than Paddington’s) “mumble mumble mumble mumble” said the child, looking at her fingernails “I beg your pardon” said I. “We hold onto it for a few days and then it goes into a black sack with all the others that we receive this week, and then the black sack is dumped in the yard out back and left there.”

“There are piles of black sacks out there, full of people’s CVs and stuff. We are paid to collect them, but we don’t actually do anything with them” “But what about the people who entrust you with the task of finding them a job?” I asked “That’s their problem” replied the child.

We left the agency, suddenly being outside in the rain was a preferable place to be.

Anyone need a wee break ?

Go now, please, And will you men put the seat down again afterwards, and FLUSH ! And do try and aim properly. And wash your hands. With SOAP. And DRY THEM. (pause) That better ? Good. Now, all sit down nicely.

You there, sitting in the middle of the 2nd row - I saw you

pull that face, and if the wind changes you’ll stick like that for ever and ever and then you’ll be sorry.

If you advertise a position, you are bound to receive a lot of replies. What I would like you to do in future, is not just pull half a dozen out of a hat and bin the rest (and don’t say you don’t, because I know that you do). Remember, each application that you receive is from someone who is a job seeker, someone that you don’t necessarily know personally (and we don’t want any nasty nephatism, do we?) and every job seeker that has taken the time and the effort to fill in one of your application forms is someone who could potentially be the person that you are seeking. Some application forms can be filled in with a click on a computer, others take a while (and several cups of tea) to be completed by hand by someone actually using a pen to write things down.

Do you have any idea how disconcerting it is for someone who has spent the best part of an afternoon carefully filling in your form to apply for your job which they know the ins and outs of and have all the qualifications to do, not to mention a number of the most excellent refrences, do you know or even care how disconcerting it is for that person never to have a reply from you because his application was deemed to be a wheelie-bin candidate purely because it was not in the first 6 that Doris in Personal (yes, Doris, I DO mean you) pulled

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out of the box of application forms that the postman brought to your office this morning. (I have been told on more than one occasion that this does happen).

“What him upstairs in management don’t know, won’t hurt him” Now, some of you are very polite, and you send a letter that begins “ Dear Sir or Madam. Thank you for your application for the position of .... which we received on .... We would like to invite you to come for Interview, and we ask if you could contact us on ......... to arrange a suitable date. Yours Sincerly” etc etc etc. And on the day at the alloted time and place, the applicant is there, 10 minutes early, with best bib and tucker on, and they have a long interview. And they return home full of hope (and this is where Nanny gets Very Cross) because the firm in question never contacts the applicant again.

Surely a polite letter or email is not too much to ask ?

Because your polite letter or email is not only reasuring to the job seeker, it is proof to the DSS that the job seeker is actually seeking work. They need proof of everything at the DSS. So, there you are.

I don’t want to hear any silly excuses about how busy you are, you can’t answer every letter you receive, you are about to go on annual leave or you have a pimple on your bum. You might think yourself to be a Very Important Person, but you are just an ordinary person. You are no better than anyone else, infact you are less important than the job seekers who answer your advertisment.

You might think that living on job seekers is easy, but it isn’t. Even a staff member of the DSS told me recently that Job Seekers is not enough to live on.

You will have many people who apply for your positions, you will have men and you will have women. Some will be school leavers, some will just have graduated from University and some will be from the older end of the employment 26

TPC - The Pendle Craft

market. Some will be able bodied, some will be disabled. Your applicants may appear to you to be nothing more than one solid mass of people, but within that mass are a lot of individual people, and each one of them needs to be treated by you with as much respect as you would expect to be treated yourself. Because anyone can be made redundant at any time. And by ANYONE I mean YOU. There now. Consider yourselves told. You may all go outside to play, but put your coats on because it’s chilly. File out nicely, no pushing or shoving.

Stephen, I won’t tell you again, leave Josephine alone. She dosn’t like it. Well, she didn’t like it yesterday

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SUDUKO CHALLENGE Puzzle 1.

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CLUES 27 RILED 28 DEBAR 29 AIDES 31 CUTLERY

Across 2 UNTRIED 8 TOPIC 9 OCHRE 10 TROUT 11 CAROB 12 ACHE 14 DIRGE 18 FETA 20 BARN 21 STAKE 24 PALM 25 ROUGE

13 ARC 15 KIN 16 TUG 17 KEEN 19 ATE 21 PRIDES 22 LAUREL 23 RANTER 24 REGAL 25 RING 30 WEE

down 1 HOW 3 TRANCE 4 DAFTER 5 RECEDE 6 THORN 7 BUST 11 FACE

PUB QUIZ 1 In

which country is botany bay?

2 What

was muds first

3 Who

plays

4 How

often is the

#1

Will Turner

single? in the

Ryder Cup

comedy

Caribbean

films?

movie superstar played

hit,

Who

sang it??

Vinnie Barbarino

in the

70s

Welcome Back Kotter?

7 What

baseball

Hall

of

Famer

was court-martialed for refus-

ing to take a seat in the back of a

8

of the

held?

5 Lost In America Was A 1994 6 Which

Pirates

featured the boxer

U.S. Which U2

Steve Collins

and

video in

Boyzone?Army

1998

bus?

Answers in next issue, june

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How Do You Know

If You Are A Witch?

By Luna FireOak 30

TPC - The Pendle Craft

H

ow do you know that you are a witch?

You`ve probably been asking this one to yourself for a long time, and you would like an answer.

Well, hopefully, I can clear that one up for you. Before I go on, I must stress that the points raised here are my opinion only, and it is for you to make up your own mind as to what and how you see yourself. As I am not you, I don`t know you, what makes you tick, it is for you to decide. The thing with Witchcraft is allowing yourself to grow. It is an individual spiritual journey, it is yours and no one else`s.

So what is Witchcraft? That is one of those questions that I would have to answer `where do I start?` The fact is I could not possibly even begin to explain all that here. There are literally thousands of books written on the subject, and this is a vast topic to get into. You will have heard people say it is evil and Witches are wicked and we curse and course harm, whereas this may be true for a small few, it is generally viewed as a peaceful craft.

Actually, most Witches are healers, empaths and cause no harm to no one. You are only beginning your journey and establishing whether this is for you and we will stay with this. Don`t allow anyone to put you off finding out for yourself.

A little about myself, I am still considered a new Witch, I have only actually been on this path for approximately

5 years, as pagan, 3 years practising Witchcraft. I do not follow Wicca, but more of the Traditional way of folklore, with a modern twist. You do not have to be Pagan to be a Witch either. How did I know and become being a Witch? It was a long journey, but once I realised who I was, the world just literally opened up for me. I had the Christian upbringing, and I was quite happy with that, although I did question my faith many times, this did not point me towards the craft. It did make me study other religions, but none ever felt right. Cutting a long story short, I eventually realised, I was keeping myself in the box, instead of stepping outside of it. I understand looking back on my life that the signs had been there, I just refused to see them. Once I stepped out the box and started to piece bits together, I realised how connected to the earth I was, that’s when I realised, I had found my truth. For most of us I think, we feel the pull. What does this mean? It means you have that connection, you feel the pull towards nature, you may find you are drawn to the moon`s energy, the sun`s energy, you may believe that there are more God’s than just one and you may feel that the Goddess does exist. You may feel that religion is not for you.

You may be empathic, have a natural psychic gift, and you may even have family members that have similar beliefs.

Of course, none of this means that you are a Witch, what makes you the Witch is you.

It is hard to define what a Witch is, and I wouldn`t even try because we are all different. You will not find two Witches the same, it is indeed an individuals journey. No one can tell you that you are, only you can answer. So how do you know? Well the fact that you are even asking yourself should at least be a clue.

Read books, join groups on Facebook, see what other Witches are talking about.

One thing you will notice is how ordinary we are, we just do everyday things like everyone else. The only difference is, we see and feel the magick for example when we use herbs in our cooking, we add the intention of the magick that corresponds with that herb, for example when adding rosemary to a dish, we are adding protection. So while we sprinkle, we focus on adding protection to our family.

When we light a candle, we may be focusing on sending healing to someone. We live the magick, we see it everywhere. Even going for a walk we connect with the tree`s the ground and the elements. We may have a strong connection with animals, we pick up on their emotions, we see their souls. If you take yourself back to your childhood, children see magick, they believe in fairies, even Santa Clause, as we get older we tend to lose sight of it. As a Witch you still see and feel the magick around you. You may find that you have been doing all this without realising it and is

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something that just comes naturally to you.

One of my strongest points was the connection to the moon, since childhood. I didn`t see it in the witchy sense back then, but I noticed it, I watched it and studied it. I now work with it but differently. I set up an altar, light candles, and send out healing. Sometimes I do spellwork, I do what feels right to do at the time.

On Right - Last years Altar for Ostara, everything I have placed here has a personal meaning to me, a connection of why it is there.

That is why some Witches like to have an altar, it is for some a shrine to honour a God or Goddess. For me, it is a focal point of what I believe.

So you have decided you have this connection or at least would like to know more. What do we do next? Apart from reading books on the subject, we could try putting it into practice.

Find the time to take a walk, a country lane is best, because it is quiet, and plenty of nature for you to notice. Look at the tree`s, the birds, are they singing? Are there any animals around you? Ducks, rabbits, mice etc. What is the weather like, is it cold, raining, windy?. Just take it all in, have a look and feel the connection. Sit down on the grass, run your fingers through it. Is there water near you? Can you paddle, or what wildlife is there, ducks, seagulls? Can you see the sun or the moon? You will find as time goes on you will notice more around you and appreciate it more as well. You will connect what you see with the magick that you do.

A lot of new to the craft will say the connection they have made is the fact that they feel spirit around them. They have grown up with this gift, that does not necessarily mean you are a witch, it can say you have mediumship gifts, maybe a lightworker etc. again only you can decide what category you fit into, and it is for no one else to judge or tell you. However, most Witches will also practice spellwork, visualisation and meditation and more than likely, work with Herbs and Crystals. Herbs being a craft of its own, and one I`m still learning, but herbs do carry magickal properties, as do crystals.

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You will find as you learn that your world opens up and there is so much that you want to delve into. Be careful because you can overload yourself with information and become very confused. Take it one step at a time, choose what draws you the most and go on from there.

Read books, start with the basics, you will probably come across books that are mainly focused on Wicca because you will search for Witchcraft books. Wicca is the modern Witchcraft of today and learn what you can. Also look up Druids, Folklore, Traditional, the list is endless, but look outside the box, not just Witchcraft, as you will end up with a limited view of what the craft is all about. You are most likely to find it confusing because everyone has their own opinion, but if you don`t ask questions, do your own research, you will never reach your own conclusions.

One thing you will need is a notebook. Take notes on what you learn, what you do and think why you do it. Trust me it’s not only a fun thing to do, but you may see a link a connection you didn`t know you had. It`s also a great way in a year or two to read back, you will see how much you progressed on your journey. Some Witches keep a Grimoire, A Book Of Shadows, or as I call mine a Journal. Doesn`t matter and you can have it on paper or computer, it’s yours, no one else`s.

Many newbies think they must go out and buy many tools for an Altar and they must have a broom and hundreds of books. Although these are nice to have, they are by no means necessary. If you want to use tools, they can all

be made and can be fun to do as well. Wands can be found while you are out walking. Candle holders are very easy to make, just drill a hole in a piece of flat wood, big enough to hold a candle, safely.

Cauldron`s, a fireproof dish is all you need, A Chalice, a tumbler or wine glass. Nothing needs to cost a fortune and charity shops can have great finds. Oh, and you don`t have to

have a black cat either.

Being a Witch is being creative. I have made a Witchy ball that I hang near my front door, just for protection. I also made a key of life, because I am drawn to keys. The most important part of being a Witch is having fun, it’s the best learning journey you can travel, enjoy and embrace every bit of it.

Keys of Life Witchy Ball

Images By Lunar FireOak

One Of My Moon Altars

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Educating The Next

Generation of Initiates

By Seshat N Aubi

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S

o much has happened with regards to public perception of public schools and education since I mentioned writing this piece to TPC at the beginning of February. I had no idea that the recent school shooting would dominate the headlines. I initially had another focus I wanted to direct your attention to, but I would be remiss if I did not mention the tragedy and the details that have gripped the nation in an important debate.

On February 14, 2018, Valentine’s Day in Parkland, Fl. a young man named Nikolas Cruz, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School went to his alma mater and killed 17 students and teachers, and many others were injured in the mass shooting.

Many causes are being cited by the media, and political groups as to the cause for this

horrible tragedy, but this doesn’t give parents much comfort and leaves many of us with school aged children especially concerned not only for the safety of our children but it also begs the question; “How are our children being inducted into society by the public educational system?”

There are many choices available to parents looking for a school in which to enroll their child. And there are many different forms and methods of education to chose from: public, private, Montessori, alternative, religious, home schooling etc.

But what is available to parents who want a specific specialized constructive version of reality presented to their children? What if you want your child to be trained in the craft?

Brought up to believe in magic and the supernatural worlds?

Maybe you want your ideologies as a Neo-Pagan or Wicca family reinforced by your child’s school? Or perhaps you would

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more, well she was right.

As I began studying various authors that same nagging question kept popping up again and again and I wondered wow why don’t they teach this or that in the schools?

Well you probably learned like I did that if you think about something long enough it comes to you?

love to see your child just grow up to become a loving, curious, inquisitive, and gentle human being? So what do you do?

We know that in the way of ‘Mystery Schools’ there isn’t a “Hogwarts” as an option available to us, but is there anything close?

about educating your child at home.

Growing up I had a Dad that loved Science, and a mom that loved Science Fiction.

I am not sure how they did it but they made wanting to read, and engage a creative imagination easy. When I was Other than home schoolraising my own daughter it ing how can you expand your became obvious very quickly child’s imagination, give them a that it is not so easy to inspire passionate respect and reveryour own child. But fortunately ence for nature, and an under- I was successful in employing standing of the supernatural many of the lessons that my and unseen worlds? parents had taught me, and it motivated my girl to enjoy Many parents have taken reading, study art, and expand on the daunting task of educather talents. ing their own children by home schooling. And depending on It wasn’t until I began my your location parents need to own exploration into the esobe state certified or indoctrinat- teric, hermetic, magic and the ed by an established school supernatural that a big quesor charter in their curriculum, tion kept popping up into my methods, and testing. Believe mind… me unless you are Dr. Benja“Why didn’t someone tell me min Spock and can translate about this or that earlier?” the information, home schoolMom warned me that this ing as it is currently presented would happen, she said one can take away all of the fun day I would wish I had listened that you may have imagined 36

TPC - The Pendle Craft

Well the answer came to me when I was studying the story of Cain and Abel via a lecture given in Germany in 1912 by a philosopher named Rudolf Steiner.

Rudolf Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, playwright and artist who lived between 1861 and 1925. He founded a spiritual movement called Anthroposophy, which works on the basis that children’s creative, spiritual and moral dimensions need as much attention as their intellectual ones. Well I was impressed with how simply and succinctly he laid out life, spirituality, and the future of the human evolution.

I was so taken with this new information and how brilliantly he presented it. I had one of those moments like when you find a great new series on Netflix and you binge the whole weekend on it. I found my new ‘mentor’ and I went on to read several of his books, “How To know Higher Worlds”, “The Art of Esoteric Science”, “Intuitive thinking and the Spiritual Path” and many others. Here was the basis of esoteric information concisely delivered to set one on the path of Initiation if

one were so inclined.

I began seeking more of his work and discovered that there were schools and Colleges that followed his methods! A “Hogwarts” was actually out there, but in this case they were called the Waldorf schools.

I attended a Montessori of “enriched sciences” myself, and I loved the responsible self-guided autonomy, creatively inspired courses, and innovative modules. But it did not focus on personal spiritual development and integrate it in the way that a Waldorf school exposes. Fortunately parents have another choice that will best prepare their child as an Initiate in the esoteric and hermetic sciences. Like a modern “mystery school” without the cloaks, candles, stone circle, and darkness of a deep cave.

Finally what was once ‘occult’ is now respected in the educational systems as a valued science, not like the physical sciences but a verifiable science with a measurable training program.

While both Montessori and Waldorf schools believe children need a connection to the environment, they are different in that Montessori focuses on real-life experiences and Waldorf emphasizes stimulating the child’s imagination and fantasy.

Exactly the stimulus an up and coming witch or magi needs to master.

Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education is based on an

anthroposophical view and understanding of the human being, as a being of body, soul and spirit.

Now of course the school doesn’t advertise itself as a ‘mystery school’ but a trained eye can see the potential in the school’s tenants which it applies to it’s teachers: “The central focus for the Waldorf teacher is the development of that (spiritual) essence in every person that is independent of external appearance, by instilling in his/ her pupils an understanding of and appreciation for their background and place in the world, not primarily as members of any specific nation, ethnic group or race, but as members of humanity and world citizens.” –Waldorf answers

relate to the world, and what is beautiful in the world in the broadest sense of the word.

And in the upper grades and high school, this leads in steps to an ever more conscious cultivation of an observing, reflecting and experimental scientific attitude to the world, focusing on building an understanding of what is true, based on personal experience, thinking and judgment.

I wonder if this approach to education would have made a difference in the life of Nikolas Cruz of Parkland, Florida? If that young man could have experienced a different path had he been taught to cherish and revere life and himself? The

Thus, the Waldorf kindergarten cultivates and works in support of the pre-school child’s deep, inborn natural attitude, belief and trust in and basic reverence for the world as an interesting and good place to live in.

In the lower grades in elementary school, this leads over to more of a stress on using artistic elements in different forms as a means to learn to understand and

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goal of Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education is to enable students as fully as possible to choose and, in freedom, to realize their individual path through life as adults.

While anthroposophy forms the philosophical and theoretical basis of the teaching methods used in Waldorf schools, anthroposophy is not taught as such to the students in the overwhelming majority of Waldorf schools world wide.

I see the Steiner approach to education the closest to a holistic natural approach in the development of a human being.

Most of the almost 1,000 Waldorf schools world-wide are in different countries and are non-profit, independent schools, an increasing number of Waldorf schools are supported by government funding in different countries.

In the U.S., several schools have been established as Waldorf-methods “charter schools” within the public school system, locations can be found on both coasts. Currently there are some charters in the US that are cost restrictive for most parents. In the future, Waldorf schools may increasingly be based on school vouchers.

This will make a basic Waldorf oriented education freely available to all as one option among others, irrespective of the socioeconomic status of the parents.

There is also Steiner Home school curriculums for parents available.

For more information, see

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• Education Towards Freedom: Rudolf Steiner Education: A Survey of the Work of Waldorf Schools Throughout the World by Frans Carlgren • Why Waldorf Works (US) • The Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (UK) • The European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE) • Frequently Asked Questions about Waldorf education • The basic curriculum at one Waldorf school • http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com • The Education of the Child in the Light of Anthroposophy by Rudolf Steiner (essay 1909) • An introduction to Waldorf education by Rudolf Steiner (lecture 1919) • Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside out by Jack Petrash • Educating Children for Tomorrow by Jack Petrash So while there may not be a “Hogwarts” available to a Pagan, Wicca, or Woodcraft family, the Steiner method in my opinion will come the closet to opening your child’s eyes to a whole new world of brilliance, light, and magic.

Soror Seshat N. Aubi holds a degree in Sociology, is a practicing ceremonial Magician, Adeptus Minor, and an ordained minister, she is also the owner of ROTA Magic Wands, and a mother. You can contact her at: aceofwands777@gmail.com and info@rotamagicwands.com

THE WILDWOOD WITHIN

By Salena Shakti Radford The morning mist now gently kissed by the rising disc of the Sun nostrils flare and sniff the fresh dampened air listening now the horned one surveys all that surrounds before returning once again to the woodland of his grounds.

The owl calls from distant there within as the blackbirds begin to sing as the morning grows in glory as the dawn slips away.

In the meadow by the brook wild eyed hares leap and play.

Enchanted by the wildwood`s call touched by the very sanctity of life called to a wild place within to far forgotten days when robin in the hood the spirit of the wood and those that dwelled amidst the green were more closely understood.

As the pipes of Pan begin to play the horned one some call Herne and some call cernunnos with great vigour leads the way to the primeval part of us that knows the very essence of nature that shall ever flow within our hearts within our blood and within our bones to the balance of all things that the Goddess has ordained as sacred in her name.

* Robin is an old English word for spirit *Hood is an old English word for wood

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What is

“Steampunk is...the love child of Hot Topic and a BBC costume drama” - Gail Carriger, author.

Airships, submarines, mechanical apparatus, trains, all driven by steam.

But what is “Steampunk”?

According to the website of “The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences“, http:// www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com/what-is-steampunk/ “Steampunk is an inspired movement of creativity and imagination. With a backdrop of either Victorian England or America’s Wild West at hand, modern technologies are re-imagined and realized as elaborate works of art, fashion, and mechanics. If Jules Verne or H.G. Wells were writing their science fiction today, it would be considered “steampunk.””

So there we have it, in brief; in a nutshell, steampunk is a subgenre of science-fiction, and both authors mentioned in the above quote could very well 40

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be considered fore-fathers of steam-punk. There were many other authors who also wrote in this genre, but to me, Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, was the best of them.

The imagining behind steampunk is amazing, although sometimes somewhat eccentric and I often wonder if this is what steampunk followers are trying to aim for, a touch of eccentricity.

Today it has grown not only into a sub-genre, but also a way of life or culture for many people around the world.

The word “Steampunk“ originated back in the 1980’s when author K. W. Jeter wrote to a magazine called “Locus Magazine“, asking them to define what genre his works (Morlock Night), and the works of Tim Powers (The Anubis Gates) and James Blaylock (Homunculus) fell into. While K. W. Jeter coined the word “Steampunk“, it was William Gibson and Bruce Sterling who brought people’s attention to the actual genre with the book “The Difference Engine.“ The book centers around the struggle between the working class Luddites who fear technology, and the upper-class enhanced elite.

With the Victorian era or the American Wild West as a back-drop, Steampunk has gained momentum since “The Difference Engine“ came out, almost avalanching into people’s lives, gathering more and more followers as it went along.

For thousands of people it is a life-style choice.

It extends into aspects of everyday life - fashion, engineering, and music.

Bands such as Abney Park, Steam Powered Giraffe, Frenchy and the Punk, and Rasputina are just a few of the artists that come under the sub-genre Steampunk Music.

Steampunk brings to life inventions that some would consider fantastical, such as the giant mechanical spider driven by the crew under wheelchair driving Arliss Loveless in the movie “Wild Wild West”, starring Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Salma Hayek.

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Obituary Page: Famous Faces Who Have Passed Away This Year, 2018 Gone but never forgotten Stephen Hawking b.8th January, 1942, Oxford, UK d. 14th March, 2018, Cambridge, UK Known For: Hawking radiation, Penrose–Hawking theorems, Bekenstein–Hawking formula. Hawking energy, and much more.

Image By NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Jim Bowen b.20th August 1937, Heswall, Cheshire, UK d. 14th March, 2018, Melling-with-Wrayton, Lancashire, UK Known For: Comedian, radio & TV presenter Image By SteveR- (https://www.flickr.com/photos/git/2765294456/) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy b.20th February, 1927, Beauvais, France d. 10th March, 2018, near Paris Known For: French Fashion Designer image By Castrum avisani (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ken Dodd b.8th November, 1927, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, UK d. 11th March, 2018, Knotty Ash Known For: TV-Comedian, Musician Image By walsyman (Own work (Original text: self-made)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Lari White B: May 13, 1965, Dunedin, Florida, U.S. D: January 23, 2018, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Known For: Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Actress image By Dave Hensley [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Olivia Cole B: November 26, 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. D: January 19, 2018, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Known For: American Actress Image By CBS Television (eBay item photo front photo back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Reg E Cathey B: August 18, 1958, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. D: February 9, 2018, New York City, U.S. Known For: Actor - House of Cards Image By Rach [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Roger Bannister B: 23 March, 1929, Harrow, England, UK. D: 3 March, 2018, Oxford, England, UK. Known For: Athlete, Neurologist - ran the 4-minute Mile.

Image Š Pruneau / Wikimedia Commons, via Wikimedia Commons

John Mahoney B: June 20th 1940, Blackpool, Lancashire. UK. D: February 4th, 2018, Chicago, Illinois, US Known For: Actor - Frasier.

Image By Alan Light [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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A

riadne and the Labyrinth. Dionysus sacrificing himself at the grape harvest. Bull-leapers, dolphins, and snake goddesses. The images, symbols, and art from ancient Minoan culture still evoke powerful responses in the modern world. More than that, they represent an ancient spiritual path that still speaks to many of us across the chasm of time.

There’s only so much we can know about the Minoans of ancient Crete and their fascinating Bronze Age civilization. Archaeologists have uncovered their cities, temples, and tombs but we still can’t read their writing; the Linear A script remains undeciphered, so in a sense the Minoans are mute. We can, however, connect with their deities and their mythology to bring them alive in today’s world. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in Modern Minoan Paganism.

Just to clarify, the Minoans weren’t Greek even though the island of Crete has been a part of the modern nation of Greece for about a century now. The Minoans were an independent Bronze Age people who interacted with the Mycenaeans (the early Greeks) for a few centuries toward the end of their civilization. DNA testing of ancient remains shows that the Minoans were part of Old Europe, the people who spread out around the continent during the Stone Age, long before the Indo-Europeans entered the scene.

Even today, the people of Crete will tell you they’re different from the Greeks.

So who are the Minoan gods and goddesses? Fragments of their stories have come down to us through classical literature, often purposely altered by the later Greeks for their own benefit (yes, even ancient people knew the value of a little good PR). But we can work our way back to their original faces through both research and ritual, scholarly work and personal experience.

You’ll find a lot of Minoan gods and goddesses tangled up in Greek mythology, in much the same way that the Greek deities intertwine in Roman mythology, though with new names.

I mentioned a few of them up at the top of this article: Ariadne, whom you probably know from

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MODERN MINOA y r r e P a r

By Lau

AN PAGANISM

the story of Theseus, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur.

Though the Greeks insisted she was a mortal, Ariadne was originally a Minoan goddess associated with the coming of the rains and the beginning of the growing season in the Mediterranean. She also has Underworld connections, and many of us who practice Modern Minoan Paganism experience her as a psychopomp.

Theseus is actually a Greek culture hero so he doesn’t belong to the Minoan pantheon at all. But the Labyrinth and the Minotaur sure do. Many modern people, Pagans and non-Pagans alike, enjoy walking labyrinths as a meditative practice. This ancient symbol is a special type of maze, called a unicursal (one path) maze.

There’s only one winding path to the center and the same way back out. It’s not a place to get lost, but a place to find yourself.

And the Minotaur at the center of that Labyrinth? He’s a god, one of a cadre of Minoan Horned Ones who help us connect with our own inner wildness and darkness. If he eats you alive, it’s only so you can be reborn to start fresh once again.

Along with the Minotaur you’ll find the cow-goddesses Europa and Pasiphae. The Horned Ones also include the goat-goddess Amalthea, renowned for the cornucopia made from her horn, and her billy-goat consort whom we call the Minocapros (moon-goat) because we don’t know his original name. Rounding out the “herd” is the deer-huntress goddess Britomartis, sometimes also called Diktynna, and her stag-consort, whose ancient name we’ve also lost. We call him the Minelathos (moonstag) and honor him that way.

You’ll also find Dionysus among the Minoan deities.

The Minoan mother earth goddess Rhea births him in her cave every Midwinter with help from the midwife-goddess Eileithyia. Then he offers himself as the sacrifice at the grape harvest in the autumn, the ecstatic death of a dismembered shamanic god as the grapes are torn from the vines and stomped to pieces so they can be made into wine.

Because we don’t know a lot of the original deity names from Minoan times, we’ve had to piece some of them together from later sources. These are the names and faces that work for us in modern Pagan spiritual practice. But there’s no way to tell whether the people of ancient Crete called them the same thing.

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The sacred trinity of land, sea, and sky is important in Modern Minoan Paganism, as it was throughout much of the ancient world. We honor the three goddesses who represent this triplicity: Rhea (the Earth, the island of Crete itself), Posidaeja (the sea), and Therasia (the sun and the sky). Many of us also call to the Serpent Mother, the goddess we see represented in the famous figurines from Knossos of the women holding writhing snakes. Some of us call this goddess Basilissa. There are more, both goddesses and gods, but I’ll stop here for now. That’s enough for a good taste of the Minoan pantheon.

That’s a lot of gods and goddesses. How do we honor them in Modern Minoan Paganism? In many of the same ways the ancient Minoans did.

Like modern Pagans, many of the people of ancient Crete had altars and shrines in their homes. They lit oil lamps (candles hadn’t been invented yet), burned incense, and made offerings. What they offered probably depended on the deity, just as it does for us today. Fruit, bread, saffron, and poppyseeds are among the more common food items we give to our gods and goddesses. We also pour a lot of libations: milk, honey, wine, mead. The ancient Minoans were so fond of libations, they had quite an industry making all kinds of ritual pitchers (rhytons) just for this use.

The modern eightfold wheel of the year didn’t exist in ancient Crete, but they did celebrate a lot of seasonal festivals based on their mythology. We’ve discovered some of these because the Minoans aligned their temples and tombs to the equinoxes, solstices, and other times of the year. So we celebrate the beginning of the Mediterranean growing season in the autumn and harvest in the spring (the Mediterranean agricultural cycle is “backwards” from the northern temperate zone that encompasses most of Europe and North America). We also celebrate Dionysus’ birth at the Winter Solstice and his death at the grape harvest in late August. And many of us also celebrate what we believe to be the Minoan precursor to the Eleusinian Mysteries, a set of rituals that tell the story of the seasons and of the goddesses giving of themselves to both the living and the dead.

Unlike the ancient Minoans, we don’t have big temple complexes or public shrines we can visit to make offerings and attend public rituals. But we still have plenty of ways to connect with the Minoan deities in the modern world, both as solitaries and in groups. They may not be as well known as the 50

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Celtic, Egyptian, or Norse deities but they’re more than happy to have us develop relationships with them. I’m glad we’ve found so many ways to honor the gods and goddesses of ancient Crete. Each of us walks our own path in our own way, but together we’re bringing the energy of the Minoans alive in the modern world.

Modern Minoan Paganism is a welcoming path, happily open to people of any race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability level, disability, geographic location, language, education, or socio-economic status. We’re all in this together.

In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen.

Laura Perry is a Pagan artist and author with an abiding interest in the ancient Minoans. She walks the path of Modern Minoan Paganism every day of her life. You can find her online at LauraPerryAuthor. com and leading the Facebook group Ariadne’s Tribe.

Model: Stacy Photographer: John Robinson of Frameousfotos

BOOK REVIEWS

featured book of the month Reviewed By Winter Anne McKelvie Where We Begin “Chocolate, magic, mystery & a hint of romance, what more could you want?

A cozy mystery with the perfect blend of magic and mayhem. This series has me completely bewitched! “A witch, a kitty and dark chocolate magic...When Caitlyn learns that she was found as an abandoned baby and adopted by her American family, her search for answers takes her to the quaint English village of Tillyhenge - where a man has been murdered by witchcraft and a mysterious shop selling enchanted chocolates is home to the “local witch”...

Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!

When she’s dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves? WARNING: May contain traces giggling!” This book follows British English spelling and usage.

Honestly, once I get started I have a hard time

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putting the book down, I just love this writer!

Just like chocolate I can not get enough. Set in rural England like all great mysteries this is no exception. At first, I just was not sure of how much I could like the story as begin a Mid-sumer Murder lover, but I was won over by the second chapter. It all starts....

A witch, a kitty and dark chocolate magic...

Caitlyn’s world changes when she learns that she was found as an abandoned baby and adopted by her American family. Now, her search for answers takes her to the tiny English village of Tillyhenge where a man has been murdered by witchcraft - and where a mysterious shop selling enchanted chocolates is home to the “local witch”...

Soon she finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!

When she’s dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves?

It is a pity I must work the next day for I would love to read all day tomorrow.

featured author of the month

T. A. Moorman When you become a Mom, you begin to put yourself last, and your combat boots begin to collect dust. Going to your child’s PTA meetings in full Gothic, especially industrial, regalia is pretty much frowned upon. Especially by your own children, and your teens would die of a heart attack. But, one should not have to completely stop being themselves, uniqueness is greatness. So all of that darkness is put into words in her books, and designs in her jewelry sold in her Gothic Moms Dark Charms shop on Etsy and Rebels Market.

Single mother of five beautiful children, but by far more than just that. T. A. Moorman is an artist, a former violinist, a seamstress, a crafter, a writer, a blogger, a reviewer, a dark confidant and a darkly dangerous, fiercely protective friend. She still hopes to one day find her Dark Knight in shining armor, since Prince Charming would never be able to handle her. And currently broke, so go buy something of hers. Lol.

Author Links: https://www.facebook.com/MoormanTA https://www.facebook.com/GothicMomsGraphics https://www.facebook.com/GothicMoms https://www.facebook.com/GothicMomsDarkCharms/ https://www.facebook.com/GothicMomsAvon/ https://www.pinterest.com/gothicmoms/ http://gothicmoms.blogspot.com/ https://twitter.com/GothicMoms https://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/14851642.T_A_Moorman https://amazon.com/author/tamoorman https://www.facebook.com/groups/DementedDivas/ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/t-a-moorman http://eepurl.com/cELB79

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BOOK REVIEWS WARNING!!

MATURE CONTENT

18+

The Succubus, The Demon, & The Witch Prologue

U

nderlayes is another dimension where all sorts of nocturnal creatures reside; witches, vampires, fae, shifters, werewolves… The dimension was created by all these creatures working side by side to escape the scrutiny and danger to their existence that stemmed from the human world.

All throughout time humans have been known to fear anything they do not understand and have almost always tried to eliminate what they fear. Even though most of these mystical creatures appeared to be as humanoid as humans, though more enhanced, the powers they possessed struck a fear in humans like nothing else ever could.

When God created the earth, He had some help along the way. While there is only one true God, He has many underling goddesses and gods who help Him. Let’s think of God as the CEO. Just as God created man in His image, He allowed His goddesses and gods to create certain races in their images as well, though they weren’t allowed to create as many as He. Only their images had nothing to do with color, for their races come in every color, shape, and form there is. No, their images were more so based on…characteristics. Like, for instance, Hekate and her necromancers or Aphrodite and her beautiful sirens. They are more nocturnal

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than humans since most of these creatures are more powerful and not ruled by the moon.

Also, some of these beings have a very deadly reaction to the sun, while others are equally as powerful by night or day.

Some of these creatures may indeed become quite deadly, although usually only when provoked. And, yes, there are some who tend to be more violent and sadistic, but regular humans can be, too. After all, most serial killers, though not all, are indeed human.

Originally, the intention was for these nocturnal creatures to have their time at night and keep to themselves, while regular, mundane humans were to rule the day, unawares. Well, as all good plans go…

For three hundred years, these nocturnal beings have lived peacefully amongst themselves, or have they? Has that peace been nothing more than superficial, a mere illusion? Let’s face it, people do tend to see what they would like to see and ignore what is going on right before their eyes if and when it suits them. See, there has never been anyone, or any group, to truly rule all Underlayes. Though most factions have their own leaders, or kings and queens, no one race rules the entire realm. And with so much power rolling around unchecked and unbalanced, the so-called peace unsurprisingly came to a brutal and bloody bitter end.

A battle that had been prophesized, the

Witch Wars, finally came about, and Queen Tialanna of the House of Sekhmet, an elemental witch/vampire hybrid, rose victorious, and became the Queen of all Underlayes. But nothing comes without a price, and for Queen Tialanna, the price was a great one indeed, one she continues to pay even now.

Before the beginning of the Wars, during one of the battles meant to break her spirit and shatter her soul, the Queen became pregnant.

Not all battles are fought with swords. Some of the deadliest ones involve magick. Though in the end, one of the outcomes worked out in her favor. Queen Tialanna was captured, drugged, and enchanted into doing things she otherwise may have thought more than twice about doing.

Giving in to her baser inhibitions, she made love to not only the demon who turned out to be one of her mates, and to the wolf who had stolen her heart, but also to a vampire and an incubus who were also invited to play. The magically enhanced drug did more than that. It also put her into ovulation, and when the demon’s seed impregnated her, it took the essence from each of her lovers as well, creating one of the most powerful hybrids in existence. A hybrid someone had planned to use.

Synopsis In Underlayes, a dimension separate from our own, where all mystical creatures reside, lies an orphanage for seemingly cast-off children, known as the Abbey. There, children who are born from two or more factions learn both who and what they truly are, and what powers they have lying within. What these children do not know is they were put there for their own good, for their protection, not because they were unwanted or unloved. In fact, the very opposite is true. Many would kill to get their hands on these children.

As Jelissa comes of age, she is about to learn the hard way to what lengths one such being is willing to go.

For most, turning twenty-five is the age at

which they can finally drink legally. For a hybrid orphan, it’s so much more. Jelissa has been a resident of the Abbey for as long as she has been alive. For that same amount of time, she has never known what she is, besides being part witch.

At the age of twenty-five, she will learn just what types of blood run through her veins, finally discovering what she truly is. She will also find out much more—that she is the long-lost princess no one even knew existed. Well, almost no one. Those who do know of her want to either love, protect, keep, cherish, and smother her, or kill and maim her, or just plain shackle and control her.

As most do when they come of age, Jelissa will learn the hard way that adult life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Chapter 1 Birthday Wishes I awoke with a start, gasping for air. Considering the situation, I’m surprised I didn’t come to and start screaming my head off like a banshee.

Oh, I also woke up not knowing where the Hel I was, or how I got there. Some birthday this was turning out to be.

See, I went to bed like any other normal twenty-four-year-old. I was turning twenty-five, would be able to drink, legally anyway, and had finally saved up enough to move out on my own. I even went to bed early because my girls and I were supposed to celebrate all day and all night. The celebration was to include getting rid of my virginity. Growing up in a house full of orphaned witches, vampires, werewolves and other types of shifters did not make a dating life easy, believe me.

Well, one thing’s for certain, I no longer had to worry about losing my virginity. Oh stuff it!

You stuff it. You’re the one who got us into this

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mess! Well, arguing with you isn’t gonna help us remember jack!

Great, I was having a mental battle with myself; that’ll really help me figure out what the fuck happened.

First thing I did was take in my surroundings, eh? I was stark-bootie-butt-naked besides some damn collar on my neck, in a huge bed with three just-as-naked men with collars on their necks. Thankfully they’re still blissfully sleeping. Thank Goddess for small favors. Hopefully, I could figure this out before they woke-up.

And from the smell of things, I’d better act fast. I could smell shifter, vampire, and holy shit!

A damn demon?

Hookay, Jelissa, let’s pull it together. The only thing I was missing, as of right now, was any memory of last night. Well, that and my damn clothes.

Time to answer the question I’ve been dreading—did I still have any powers? Screwed up as they may be, anything was better than nothing at this point.

See, I’m a witch. Well actually, I’m more than that, but that’s all the orphanage seers could see clearly when I was brought to them as an infant.

That, and the fact I was pretty much a mutt. They ended up having me sniffed out to try and figure out what I was. All that concluded was I have four different bloodlines within me.

Talk about multiracial. The orphanage wasn’t an uncommon place for something like that.

It was pretty much what made up the whole place, unwanted cross-breeds, misfits, or true orphans whose parents have 56

passed on. Well, okay, there were usually only two things kids were cross-bred with, not four, and the seers usually had no problem figuring out what those were. Guess I was just special. So, I became a great guessing game, and the seers were biding their time waiting to see what powers, if any, I developed. So far, I had the ability to call insects, which came in quite handy in school, and some telekinesis (I say some ’cause if I got too upset, I blew up whatever I was trying to move), which would come in handy right about now.

I tried to use magick to open the door, not wanting to wake up any of the sleeping-beauties at my side if I didn’t have to, since I didn’t know yet if they were as innocent in all of this as I was just yet. But it must have been locked from the outside. Next, I focused on the lock itself, whether it unlocked or would simply blow up, who the Hel cared, as long as it opened.

So, I focused, and focused some more, and the only result I got was a little dizziness and went cross-eyed and nauseous in the process.

“Damnit,” I muttered.

Maybe I could do a past visualization. If I couldn’t get out, maybe I could at the very least figure out how I’d gotten there in the first place. A prayer to my Goddess that nothing else happened while I was in a trance was probably in order first though.

As above so below, I began chanting, show me the events I need to know. I let go of all and any other thoughts. As above, so below, show me the events

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I need to know. Taking in deep breaths, letting my physical body go. As above so below, show me the events I need to know. Letting my spirit slide into the black stillness of the astral. AsabovesobelowshowmetheeventsIneedtoknow, as above, so below, as above, so below…

“Aww, shit,” I gasped, realizing I’d overdone it, like I did so many things. Because instead of seeing what happened last night, I’d ended up in the back of my own mind and would not only watch the events that took place, but get to relive them, without being able to stop a damn thing. *** Well, at least I didn’t go too far backwards. I was back in my bedroom, putting on the black leather and lace corset that Genie, my best-friend/ wizard/siren, had gotten me for my big day. I was determined to figure out how to work the damn garter belt. I mean, really, who invented this crap? Oh yeah, a sorceress who could just flash her clothes on with no prob, not thinking about poor lil’ misfits who have had terrible incidents while trying to do so. Yeah, so not going there.

But, anyway, I was looking pretty damn good. The corset was perfect, hiding my love handles just so, shaping my big-ass boobs quite nicely with just enough cleavage spilling over. The leather of the boy shorts was the soft kind that was smooth as butter and didn’t ride. I even had my

odd-colored hair cascading down my back. No, I am not exaggerating. It’s long and wavy and dark brown with some blonde, red, and black highlights. Like an anime style hairdo gone all wrong.

As I sat on the side of my bed, preparing for the dastardly task of working with the forsaken garter belt, something on the end table next to my bed caught my eye. A tall, skinny, frosty glass with something that looked like smoke coming from the top, and a note underneath from the third of our little triad, best-friend/wolf/sorceress, Deelah.

Hey Lee, Just a little something to calm your hectic nerves and start the night off right. A wolfmist spritzer. Don’t worry, there’s only just enough liquor in it. It won’t knock you on your ass too hard. LOL. Just enough so you can relax through the twelve o’clock mark and not worry so much about what the rest of your bloodlines might have you turning into. LMAO. We love you girl and want you on your WORST behavior tomorrow.

Love, Deelah “Sweetness,” I said to myself.

I gingerly took a small sip, because you never know what you might end up with when it came to D. Good intentions and all that. She may have been mixing liquor and potions all at the same time and might have given me the wrong glass. You get the picture. But after a few delicate sips, it went down nice and smooth, with a touch of bite to it, so I

decided to throw back the rest.

Big mistake.

I didn’t realize I was feeling anything until I tried standing up and plopped right back down on the bed. Suddenly, I got a major head rush and my legs couldn’t even hold me up, which was weird. I may be only now turning twenty-five, but this sure as Hel wasn’t my first drink. I chalked it up to drinking too fast. I ran a hand over my face and tried to shake the feeling off. That so did not work. At that point, I just wanted to get some water or something, anything, because this feeling was so not right.

Second attempt at getting up was even worse than the first; I went to stand and landed on my knees. Bracing my hands on the floor, I tried to pull myself up, only to end up on my hands and knees, barely able to hold my head up. It was like a boulder on top of my shoulders. I would have fallen flat on my face had I not been grabbed from behind, none too gently, by a pair of rough, strong hands.

The stranger picked me up, then sat down on my bed with me in his lap. My eyes were rolling to the back of my head, and I fought desperately to keep them open.

“Who…the fuck…are you?”

I rasped.

“Never you mind,” answered a deep, gruff voice.

“Who I am is unimportant.”

“The…wards.” It was such a struggle to speak, to stay conscious. But every room in here had wards. No one was allowed in anyone else’s room without permission, except for the headmistresses of course.

“How?” “Those shabby sigils placed around here? Don’t make me laugh.” He began touching me then, and I was helpless to stop him. “Let’s see what merchandise the master has me picking up now, shall we?”

“Don’t…please…don’t touch…me.” My words fell upon deaf ears. I tried to open my eyes wider, hoping to see what this man looked like, but it was pointless. He wore a cloak, and there was no way I could try to pull it back. Holding me up by one arm, he took his other hand and roughly grabbed my breast through the corset. Then he slid his hand slide down my abdomen, then lower. I started breathing heavier, and though I should have felt violated, I didn’t. For whatever reason, it was as if his hand belonged there.

“Mmm…very nice equipment you have here, but that’s just the outside.” Using his thumb to push my underwear aside, he jammed one finger inside me, hard. I wanted to scream out, but I couldn’t find my voice. He took it out and a second later I heard him popping his finger out of his mouth.

“Tastes lovely. But sadly, I have to hand you over to the others, for now.” He began laughing then, a sick, sinister chuckle, though the sound was fading in my ears, as if I was falling down a tunnel. Everything dwindled away.

No! Don’t black out! I shouted to myself, frantic, Then blackness. *** When I came to, I was being carried by the stranger. I

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couldn’t get a smell on what he was exactly; my mind was still too foggy. My entire body was hot from the inside out, as if I was coming down with a fever, but sickness wasn’t a very apt description. I just knew that I needed something, but what?

As he continued carrying me down a long darkened-stone hallway, my terror grew, but my fear was nothing compared to the unbearable heat I was filled with.

The farther down the hall we went, the louder the sounds of fighting grew. I could hear jaws snapping, snarling, the sounds of flesh pounding on flesh. We were going towards it, not away. The sounds became so loud they were almost deafening.

It was too stifling to breathe.

My breasts began feeling so tight and heavy it was almost painful. The ache didn’t stop there. Instead it travelled even lower along with a liquefied heat, down past my abdomen, all the way to my core. My clit was throbbing, pulsating. I was tempted to ask my captor if he felt it too. Though I knew he couldn’t have; he was walking with not a break in his stride, carrying me as if I were no more than a ragdoll. I peered up at my captor, trying once again in vain to get a glimpse of him, but I couldn’t see past that damn cloak. It kept his face hidden in shadows.

We finally came to a stop, and from the sounds of it, we were about to enter right where all the fighting sounds came from.

Setting me on my feet, with his arm still around my waist, my captor leaned down, put58

ting his nose in the crook of my neck and inhaling deeply.

“Mmm…smells like everything is kicking in quite nicely.

Seems as though all your bloodlines are ready to merge together and come out and play. I think you and your… roomies will get along just fine.

“Can you stand?” he asked, as he eased his arm from around my waist, slowly stepping away from me. Surprisingly, I was able to stand on my own, though my brain was a jumbled mess. “Very good then, off you go.” With that, he pushed open the massive mahogany door we were standing in front of and shoved me inside, closing the door firmly behind me.

The room was enormous; stone walls painted black with drips here and there running down looking like blood. The only illumination came from the few sconces on the walls.

Though that didn’t seem to matter—somehow, I was seeing everything with crystal clarity. I mean sure, I already had good eyesight, but this was something totally different.

I could make out every shape, every shadow, every crease on the satin sheets that covered the huge bed in the center of the room.

But that’s not what I was focusing on right then. It was the sheer silence engulfing the room as I entered. In the corner of the room a werewolf in wolf form, in all his silver glory, stopped in mid-swipe, scenting the air. His head jerked in my direction as he inhaled deeply and took a step back from his combatants. He threw his head back and howled, and I heard an answering howl in the

TPC - The Pendle Craft

back of my mind. Sparks in the air indicated he was about to change form.

An incredibly beautiful male, no, vampire, who was on the receiving end of the would-be swipe, pivoted in my direction. He had gorgeous red hair with silver streaks flowing down his bare back. A pair of deadly yet sexy fangs protruded from his mouth, and his eyes bled a dangerously violent red. Tilting his head almost catlike to the side, he looked directly into my eyes, hissed, and took a huge jump back.

While I stared at him in wonder and awe I felt my gums begin to ache.

Looking down on the floor beside the vampire, I saw a demon with his gaze transfixed on me. And not just any demon. He was an incubus. With hazel, bedroom eyes shining in his cream-colored face, which was chiseled to utter perfection. Some foreign part of me had recognized him as an incubus, and that part seemed to want to get closer to him.

He jumped from his back to his hands and knees, crawling towards me.

They all started towards me slowly, with curiosity and hunger in their eyes. Even the wolf who had finished changing into a gleaming, sweaty, muscular male the color of hot chocolate with no hair on his entire body from head to toe. I began to walk towards them, drawn to all of them.

Once they reached me, there were no words; none were needed, not here and not now. It was like a well-choreographed dance. Each male knew exactly where to go, and

none of them so much as flinched if they accidentally touched one another.

The demon reached me first. He stood and took my lips in a devouring kiss, one meant to steal souls away in glorious agony; only that wasn’t what happened. And I began to realize what my captor meant, because the succubus in me came to the forefront to devour him as well. Our souls did sensual battle with each other, almost causing us both to climax right then.

We broke the kiss on a shocked gasp. He then went behind me to work the lace of my corset.

The vampire was suddenly there, capturing my face in his hands and staring into my eyes.

Fangs still protruding from his gums had fangs of my own ripping through my gums. I had no time to feel the pain though, and as if he knew I was about to, he pressed his lips against mine, sliding in his tongue to glide it against my gums, coating them with a healing salve I had only heard about. He began kissing me in earnest, until we were nibbling at each other with our fangs drawing just a taste and oh, how sweet it was. He dropped to his knees, then began to work my underwear off my hips.

There was no gentleness with the werewolf.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head to the side to sniff at my neck. Whatever he smelled there must have pleased him, because he crushed his mouth to mine. His kiss was hard and demanding, as he explored my entire mouth with his tongue. Then his inner wolf melded with the wolf I never even knew I had.

Somehow, we all ended up on the bed, all of us naked, all of them kissing or licking some part of my body. It was glorious. Being part succubus had every one of my holes hot, wet, and ready, and seemed to have the three beings in the dungeon with me hard, stiff, and waiting.

On my knees, I was kissing the vampire as he kneaded my breasts and tugged and twisted my nipples. The demon was on his back, his tongue working wonders inside my heated entrance while his thumb played with my clit.

He rubbed at it in a motion that made my body clench at his tongue, the friction throwing my mind into a tailspin. He worked his tongue in, out, and around. He was kissing and sucking as if he had discovered the finest wine—lapping at my juices as though he didn’t want to relin-

quish a single drop. The werewolf on his knees behind me worked his fingers into yet another hole, stretching me, preparing me for what was to come. I screamed an orgasm into the vampire’s mouth as the were began to nudge into me from behind. The demon got to his knees as the vampire began to work his shaft into my core. Both the vampire and werewolf began thrusting into me at the exact same moment, slowly at first and then faster, both going at a synchronized rhythm, inducing both pleasure and exquisite pain inside me. I grabbed onto the demon by his ass and brought him closer so I could fit his entire long, thick shaft in my mouth until it touched the back of my throat.

Which was how I bonded with him first.

When he spent his seed inside my mouth and it trickled warmly down my throat, our souls went in and out of each other’s bodies, the souls of our demons pledged to each other for all eternity.

I tightened and clenched around the vampire and wolf as they grew even larger inside me, and I bonded with them too. The vampire and I savagely latched on to each other’s necks and our fangs sank in so deep I was sure we both had hit bone before his hot, tangy, succulent blood flowed down my throat, and mine his. We marked each other both inside and out. The wolf sank his own fangs into my shoulder, and my wolf eagerly answered his with claws that sprang from my fingertips and latched on to his thigh deeply enough I was sure the wound would not completely heal. Not without leaving our mark embedded on his skin. And we all climaxed as one, going over the edge together in pure unadulterated bliss.

There were no thoughts or question as to what had happened, not the how or the why.

Just a contentedness in what we had done. No worries about the sheer chaos that might be the end result. *** Coming back to where I’d started, all I realized was I was even more screwed than I thought. I was bonded with a wolf, a demon, and a vampire, and we didn’t even know one another’s names. Not only that, how were they going to feel about being bonded when

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they woke? Had they been drugged like I was? Would they remember everything that happened?

I finally knew everything I was, and it was a truly messed-up combo; a witch, a vampire, a wolf, and a succubus. What good did it do me when I

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was being held captive by who knows what, or why? And a collar on me that I surmised blocked me from using any of those powers.

Dear Goddess, I needed help!

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CONTRIBUTOR OF THE MONTH THORA DORN

Rites of Passage Wiccaning

A

Wiccaning or Paganing is a Neopagan ritual analogous to the christening or baptism of an infant. Specific groups may have alternate names for this rite.

In accordance with the importance put on free will in Neopagan traditions, infants are not necessarily expected to choose a Pagan path for themselves when they grow older. The ceremony, like its Christian equivalent, is focused on the parents’ beliefs and the family’s communal commitment to look after the child.

A Wiccaning can take many forms, drawn from older pagan traditions, folklore, and the more modern beliefs of the individuals involved. In most the central event is the presentation of the infant to a God and Goddess usually through being held up by its Mother, a High Priest, and/or High Priestess in sight of the sky.

Other aspects of the ritual may include sprinkling silvered water on the infant’s forehead as part of a saining (Scottish rite for blessing and consecrating) or passing the child over a fire.

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Coming of Age The Rites of Passage Institute of Cleveland, OH notes that: “The final entrance into adulthood has been provided from time immemorial by the ‘coming of age’ ceremony. Like the other major life chronicle ceremonies accompanying birth, marriage and death, the coming of age ceremony located the individual anew within the surrounding community and indeed with the universe as a whole. It was a critical moment of expansion, the entrance into larger responsibilities, larger privileges, larger secrets, larger institutions, and larger understandings. It amounted to a second birth, entry not into physical life but into higher life of culture and the spirit. Accordingly, it called for the society to display itself to full effect, giving presence to its myths and traditions, physical expression to its animating beliefs.”

Some cultures believe the magical age occurs at puberty. Others set a common age at 13. To pagans, 13 is seen as the number

of transition or change.

Here the “1” represents an individual person stepping onto the divine path of the “3” Goddesses.

The Coming of Age rite is a confirmation of faith. If a young adult has chosen to follow the pagan path, they are accepted into the Coven or Clan. The Coven will conduct a rite for the young adult to dedicate themselves to the beliefs and principles of the pagan life and are welcomed into the coven as practicing members. During this rite the child chooses their identity within the Coven family by announcing their magical name. The name they will be known as within the circle, to fellow members and to the Gods.

If they were born into a family of Pagans, they may have gone through a Paganing or Wiccaning, which is the pagan equivalent of a Christening.

At that time their parents may have given them a magickal name. Now the young adult can retain that magickal name or chose a new one that has more meaning for them.

For boys, this ritual is usually done after 12 solar cycles or 13 years of age.

(Some wait for boys to get their first pubic hair.) For girls, within the first lunar cycle the onset of menses.

Because this is a celebration of sexual maturity, fertility gifts are generally given at this ritual (painted eggs, pine cones, etc.)

Watches, birthstone rings and cameos are also appropriate.

This ritual also acknowledges the changing relationship between parent and child. The father/ mother/child relationship is growing to an adult relationship that is more friendship than the younger child parent relationship. The young woman or man who has gone through this ritual is generally treated as an adult by member of the coven.

In many traditions, there is also some type of ordeal that the child must do prior to the ritual. Generally, this ritual is done by the mother for a girl or the father for a boy and three or four same-sex friends of the family. Ordeals may include marking of some kind, a re-birthing, and/ or a series of questions that require some form of agreement. After the ritual, there’s a feast, wine and other drink, gifts, stories of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, etc.

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ic, to the W lf e rs e h r and himself o Goddess k a e blic m th u [P to ) k d r n dy (Own wo unity, a

By Gaura n and stu a can Comm c ic W t u ant arn abo g a Dedic in God, to le e B . ft ra nt, yet n and C commitme the religio f o l e v le at ertain bership th m e m shows a c ll fu e confirm th does not oes.

Initiation d its own roup has g d n a ndn itio gnized sta o c Each Trad re t a h and-aa somew st a yeara rules, but le t a t a dicant ca is th s from De s ard in Wic re g ro p vers pass to training co day must n a c ic W te. Since ca, includ ia ic it n W In f o o i to e t c practi /Dedica n o i ligion and agick, eth t re m a f e i o th t e i c n ti I ay e prac ossibly th d a day m nt rite of p n a a rt g r o in a p e y im n ition, a seen as a ot only many Ded and divina n t , s n u o B ic ti .

Initiation is ia rt it o h In eir eem s veIdeally, an died on th d/or achie metimes s tu n o s s a y g passage. d a in e rn a rtant ,a ave alr tage of le . An impo nts may h or triggers rt a , ta c s s e marks a s g d d a e le h w ave a stical lso ackno roup’s wn, and h efinite my o d ment, it a a arning a g is le re is e h n o T ti . r, so ia ithin art of Init uzzwords , and a pe p b n o e change w ti th ia , it e In g tively show langua a good hen they icate effec technical w n element to u n e m k m ta o c s n can inner tion ha the perso me deep o son's Initia s f o Tradition. e fe li th ir f e o re a th rs s e in itiation with oth evidence hange. In c r ia/o . d s n n a e which Init t Cov a r o e , g s revelation a p d u ro ny o specifie ly within g wever, ma o h There is n , n done sole o ti p s an o into their n become le from rs o tt o li ti in r e m iff w d o r not all nd tuals may and also fo e words a roups will e g s th u t Initiation ri l u o b h , o n to alc Inimay to Traditio roups due -year-old ace of an g n rf e u Tradition e s ft e fi th A . ction hat ugh are only legal prote rience is w ature eno e ceremony m p x d e n l a a d n , but forme dere perso be fully in gious path not be un li tiation. Th n a re c f o is e th ic to nt, and ake a cho e person st be lived u m th m w to t o u ll is importa b a , t g reay no ugh readin parents m t. All these Wiccaning e s s th re A te . stood thro d in t te a ung ue tha ome nd assimil g most yo tively purs in n will bec c tt o a u c rs through a e in p lt a can an resu nd guarantee ility of Wic trictions c training a ib s s e s k does not o ta p e to ore from th f e choice takes a m rtant rite o people off o ty Wiccan, th p ie c im o n s l a ill ut unti iation is trictions w s re e training, b th get an Init , a w of Wicc benign vie passage. exist. ntinue to n o o c ti a ly ic b d a e b pro tion. D hin is Dedica p a te s s a t resses wit r rs g o fi , ro p p u d The ro n g a a s; learns one within Initiaa person themselve s s A te a may be d ast three ic le d t e a D re ry a hat ta Soli . A somew icca, there y cannot le e W b th a Solitary. A il p a u v a ro e egrees y join a g First Degre A tions or D , unless the s te ta s phrase . common self-initiate on ent a pers m it m m o c n is the Dedicatio ommons imedia C ik W ia v es to domain],

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is responsible fo r themeach Wiccan will selves. A Second train and Degree study at least enough to is responsible fo r others get a First Degre of their immediate e. Wicca, coven as it is currently or group, and a th practiced, ird Deis a religion of 'P gree is responsibl rie sts' e for the that is , each Initiate is community as a whole. considered to be Each group and a PriestTradition ess or P rie st in his or her has its own defin itions ow n rig ht an d fully capaand levels of lear ning and ble of co m m un expertise for each icating with level. their Gods direct The minimum tim ly. Some e period Wicca n Traditions rese for progression fo rve r First to the tit le 'High Priestes Second, and Sec s' ond to or 'High Priest' fo Third, is again th r people e usual who have been in year-and-a-day. itiated to the Third Degree.

Some us e th at tit le for the leadNot all Wiccans will get all ers of a co ve n. three Degrees, bu t ideally

ing

Handfast

en a comes wh h ic h w e ssag eyes the life pa ner in the is rt a g p n ti a s to fa Hand onded r Paths es to be b ur in othe h c c is o w s n ie a n c Wic rremo a legal ma Similar ce . e s b d o o ls G a e t itted o of th or may n iew comm y v a y m e th is h w T ho ted just as in ra r b e le as well. d e a c ro e b ay b artcans are nerships m multiple p rt in a p riage. Wic te x a e ip -s ic n be s part ips. Same fasting ca w Wiccan d fe n partnersh a A h .

A re . a n and ommo ual ones or a year uch less c “f r heterosex m o ” is ts is s th if the s love la though “as long a ermanent nerships, p ,” e rt d a a p m e n be th do w e bond ca “until dea th e m ti h ipants. er whic the partic to p u a day,” aft is It o choose. dings, partners s ay as wed w e m a s much the dings. Wic d d e te w ra rn b e le d e in mo ngs are c ouple tyles seen s d Handfasti n ort. The c a s s e n o m ti o a s ri f a o ther ev in a Circle ound toge b with all th te e ri b e y a th n nds m lly hold . They the n their ha e ip cans usua h th rs d e n n a l rt , eir vows ld they wil of their pa o l h o e b s m u y o s shares th h sa g the e cial cord a symbolizin s may hav r, th e a p th t e n g with a spe to re ' s. s. Diffe the broom ast follow w set rule fe fe d n re a may 'jump a y rt re rt of pa erwise the , some so e rs share. Oth u o c f ustoms. O different c

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erve also s n a c t I al nd. unbou the emotion een er tw to sev ical ties be g g a n i can go m t h d c r n a a a e so e Handp rtners, fe free of th a o p m e r i is e ce hal g is th mark the on wit nfluence. Th n i t r a p i Hand ans use to other's t mean the or the e c c r c i o o d, v ny W e of di ted relation does n hip is denie g a s s life pa f a commit s a magi- relations forgotten, o i r ending handfasting the cere- ignored o ch pera s e e is t that ship. A so should b tionship, s u j o go h t a , l e e e e t r r i f r cal ing a fore son is wn way. of end emnized be y o n o m or her ity. here is metimes s sol t n a s u w e m h m i m Co whic t, so e le to Somet d feas ost desirabl ds and not possib r n o a G y t e r th fo it is ym cia pa imes, gether usuall ho offi s i w t I n .

Oftent partners to ny. But o t no ers cio th e the p dfasting offi v a get bo arting cerem remony h o t p e han also. ce d at th andparting a hand ssible, the oncrete e t a c po eh when g closure, a or come at th t a in e artcan br o a marriag handp e t A g . n i p i d th en rsh partne le, and mitted ne in a Circ nd, are ou do ing is were b h c i h w hands

Elderings, Croning Saging

and

Eldering is a relatively new tradition and rite of passage in Wicca. Modern western society has relegated older people to positions of obscurity. Wicca is openly and consciously honouring and valuing those who have lived and learned and are now valuable resources for the greater Wiccan Community. Perhaps because Wicca is for the most part a chosen religion, there are currently few Elders who have gone before and had the same experiences the younger Wiccans have. Those who do exist and who have been in the Craft for 20 years or more, are being valued. They become the wise counselors to the active leadership. They tell the stories of the times before and what it was like for them when they were young. They share their knowledge 66

TPC - The Pendle Craft

and insight. They are honoured for their achievements and accomplishments.

A ceremony of Eldering is sometimes done for those who have been around for a long time and who have gravitated to the role of Elder. Sometimes the Eldering ceremony happens at menopause for women, and a similar age for men. Retirement used to be a good societal marker, but with the changing society, few can actually count on a full retirement at a set age anymore. An Eldering ceremony is similar to a Wiccaning, a party celebrating the individual and the individual's place in the family and community of Wicca. Eldering is also seen as an Initiation of sorts, though not a Degreed Initiation.

Eldering can mark the time when a person gives up active leadership and gains a seat around the council fires.

Death Wiccans, and Pagans in general, vary widely in their views as to what happens after death.

However, we tend to all agree one thing: Death is a doorway into a new life.

For us, Life is represented as a circle, a form which has neither a starting nor ending point.

Each quarter of the circle flows naturally into the next experience, and each turn of the circle, or wheel, brings new permutations of those experiences. In this way, we learn and grow - eternally.

The "Wheel of the Year", a Wiccan calendar of Sabbat celebrations, corresponds to how we view our lives, both on a physical level of "life, death, and rebirth," and as a metaphysical outline towards our own spiritual growth.

Briefly, in keeping with the Wheel of the Year, we start life in darkness, grow to the peak of maturity, and decline until we once again greet the darkness before rebirth. Death, therefore, is not an end. It is simply a transition between births; a change of form.

passing away. It may provide a great deal of comfort for them to have their life honoured by their friends. But check with the person before you plan such an event. They may be too ill to participate.

In some traditions, a prayer is said directly to the deceased right after death, to speed them on their way. After this time, a memorial service may be held.

On a practical note, it is important for Pagans who strongly wish to have a Pagan funeral rite to make those wishes known to family and friends. Include instructions in your will.

Remember, funerals help those left behind to accept the loss of your love, friendship, and guidance, and to begin to work through the mourning stages. If family members are Christian, the service may be held in the Christian faith, especially if there is no will.

You can always arrange for a second, pagan, service to also be held by your pagan clergy and friends if necessary.

Most Pagans believe in some variation of reincarnation or transmigration. Many of us Wiccans believe we cross over to "Summerland," a place of rest and peace where we are reunited with ancestors and friends who have passed before us but have not yet traveled on. Here, we renew bonds, review our past lives, and set out lessons to experience and learn in the next life. Here, we know and understand all connections and all mysteries, and we rest in the peace and beauty of the Blessed Lady and Lord.

The rites performed at death can either be in remembrance of the person who has died, or passed over, or can be for those who are left behind. The rites can be a celebration of the person’s life, or a somber remembrance of everything they did and what they meant to others.

This rite of passage may also be held for a person who is still alive, but who will soon be

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There’s a D o nut in the Parking Lot Dealing with Burnout....

By Aurielle Sage

W

ell, how does a donut get left in the middle of a parking lot? Obviously it wasn't’ just walking around doing donut things and said “hey, here’s a good place for a nap.” Someone had to place it there. Does whoever placed it there know they left it? Do they care? Obviously they had planned to eat it, but for whatever reason, now it sits, lifeless on a patch of dirty asphalt. It will never serve it’s one main purpose for existing.

Will you ever serve your purpose? How did you get here? Who left you? Who forgot you? The donut can’t control it’s fate, you however have the ability to rise above your circumstances.

How many times have you laid the blame on where you are, on someone else’s carelessness? Truthfully, you control your own outcome.

You can control so much more than just the outcome, you can control the journey, and those who take it with you. The donut is frustration.

Don't be overwhelmed with the frustration of

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you life and circumstances that you throw you donut out of the car window.

So many times in our path, the frustration hits us. New spells don’t work, the bale fire didn’t light appropriately. Often times, you blame yourself. You weren't grounded enough, or the tools themselves are to blame, they were bad, or not charged enough. Sometimes we blame the powers that be and claim they don’t hear our songs, they care not for our rituals, or that they don’t exist. As sure as the sky is blue, birds sing, and the clouds dance silently in the breeze, they do exist. So what is really going on here? Well, you’re experiencing burnout, be it spell burnout, witches’ burnout, whatever you call it, you’ve literally burnt all of your elemental energies. When you throw all of your energy on spells that don’t work, sing prayers that never come to fruition, you begin to doubt your abilities, and even whether or not there is actually power in Mother Earth.

There are a variety of reasons a witch may experience this type of burnout, so let’s discuss them.

1. A lowering of energy.

Energy is vital to your work. You need to be at your best when practicing. Stress and Depression will suck that very energy out of your soul.

Now there’s no easy way to fix this problem.

Depression takes a significant amount of treatment. Maybe you need a vacation. Maybe you need to destress, maybe you need to actually seek the help of a trained medical professional.

Whatever you need, keep in mind, your energy levels are affected during this time, and that will cause spell failure.

2. You are trying to work with an element that you are not skilled with, or do not possess the ability to use.

3. Using improper equipment.

Seriously, you’re trying to summon a fairy using tree bark, match sticks, and a diet coke? While possibly the beginning of a nicely smoked Jack Daniels cocktail, not likely to call the fae. Chaos magic only works for Chaos Magicians, those who have trained to perfect that art, if you call it that. They may be able to summon a demon by lighting birthday candles with a Bic, but that won’t work for the rest of us. While there is a lot of truth in the “if you believe it, it will be” you still have to know what you are doing in the first place, and part of knowing what you are doing, includes the use of the right objects. Take stock of what you have, and make a list of basic necessities you don’t. Also, use things you are drawn to. Just because a spell says to use a pink candle, doesn’t mean you can't use red or

4. Not doing proper research.

Make sure you’re properly researching and preparing items for you spell prior to trying to cast it. Don’t go into these things half cocked. The spell will fail. Make sure you have all necessary tools and ingredients. Even if it is something that you cast frequently, always make sure that you are in the presence of mind to properly cast it. Make sure you read, then re-read your spell.

Being properly prepared will greatly improve your chances of success.

Because the best of us get burnt out. Sometimes you’re an educated, experienced, well rounded witch, who has practiced for decades, and you experience the burn out. You then throw your frustrations out, and blame this, that, and the other, and stop practicing, and writing, and participating altogether. Then you realize that you are burnt. You take the time to realize what has happened, and how to fix it, and sometimes it’s as simple as seeing a damn donut in the parking lot.

Whatever your reason for burnout, keep in mind, this too shall pass, and no, let’s not discuss where that quote comes from. Take a break, take a walk, recharge. Spend time with friends, find your niche, find a group to practice with to rebuild your energy and confidence.

Take current stock of your life, and see where you are. Do your research, and study before trying to cast again, and remember “whether you believe you can or you can’t, you are right.”

image provided by Aurielle Sage

Elements are extraordinarily picky. If you’ve had success with Earth based magic, but not Fire, it may simply be that your skills will always be Earth based. It will take a lot of training, practice, and study for you to use fire magic, and even then, it may still only work a small percentage of the time, or even not at all. Try to focus on what you are drawn to, or be prepared to put in the work for it.

purple, if you feel a stronger attachment, but a Glade Clean Linen candle likely won’t work, unless you're trying to summon a laundry sprite.

I still wanna know how that donut got in the middle of that parking lot.

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Ostara

Ostara represents the first day of Spring. This is the time of balance between the hours of daylight and darkness as Mother Earth awakens from her long winter’s sleep.

Goddesses - Eostra, Isis, Lady of the Lake Gods - Adonis, Lord of Greenwood, Osiris Foods - Eggs, honey, bread, seeds, sprouts Herbs - Crocus. daffodil, honeysuckle, jasmine, rose Incense - Jasmine, violet, rose, sage, lotus, magnolia Oils - Magnolia, ginger, lotus Colours - All pastels Stones - Rose quartz, aquamarine, amethyst Animals - Hares, rabbits, snakes, unicorns, Pegasus Altar Decorations - Coloured eggs, seeds, earth

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OSTARA CRYSTAL

Aqua qua Marine arine ou olding y h s g in h t to be elieved back. s e e come r u in r s a a e m r t a the Aqu tin aqua a in L s e id h t a from of merm ich this , e r lo inus, wh t r n a ie m c n a aters of crystal w t “ n s e n c a ifi e m magn ughts .” o h t s e the sea evok f urity o of the p s e water crystallin Uses: xhilarae e h t d an n relaxatio situatio d n a n ns. tio . a h e s is crystal Carry o pen o e h t is f r wear associa o with th this cry ted any rine is a e m stal on t h a jo u r u o q r a n A t e c y h g a a in and aid s it is s kra lm a c t h is ly a s n id stone is those w that roles in not o ho a prote clude p ing but h t t r a c o t v o u o e s b r llers wh lic spea of such a and ether th king, se s lectu ruth to t r s a a e e t r ir – s b p , teach e by alleviat orators ins ers, ing fea , etc. T t, trust in water – u r o h o e e f t m c he believe rystal is or by p co ou, d to be lane or round y a a le c b p a le o r p . erson t to lift th pe f o such e ing go o t t a le s d c t n a onscio a te of u

B

T

sness that the fully aw y are are of t h e ir own wisdom truths, , and fe elings, they ar that e then able to them w s peak ith suc h clarit convict y a nd ion.

Aquam arine b estows tual pro intellec wess, p erseve discipli rance, ne, and light he ness. artedIt is a s tone of natural giving justice, words o f comp and ne romise gotiatio n, aidin g difficu lt

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OF THE MONTH ional: a water t o m E g stal is

y in his cr , mak e T n o t nt s or ng: eleme erful tool f Heali al otion pow : a l m e t a i e , c mng th Physaicrystal of breatnhd ng co eansi i l n c e p ,a do Being y tract dy an r o o d t i b a a r s i n. p is nicatio the res , this stone n u ntle e e m g e s s s h t t g i attern the lun oblems with ugh- Through p l a n tio co l pr , emo to the surquent to hea y e r g f r d e n ht sa her sinuse ever, and ot broug is said to e r a f yit ing, ha of old e, and c o tions. a g c f a g a e r c aqu ld ttin allergi r aid in le hat you ho stone, o f g n i d l o o o ts t e go at As a c - though ns th id to b e r a r e s o t s t s i , a rt -throa o or p ing fo marine t p v e o r n t d o i s m u yro itis, . and th nes prevent yo laryng y r a t ur life i u o t o i y p m cr h , t t balan throa ting ho aid rd wi a a a l s u w i g e e ,r rin lps so s issues uama , which he It is al q .

A h t d w o ystal issues eth an r t e c and gr t s r a g o p f n i ay ood ear aw , physical, to be g es. l c l l o a t al l su g of otion s wel gum is s the healin m a e , f e c s o s, e ort abu sive erbal It supp tory problem v r d exces o n a g a , n s i m e c lan , hiv inflam with as ba r fear. oriasis s p l p e , h a zem ant to ger o y also t c a n s a u M e l p e . r a e , are r rosace eak of the h hange f you c I r r o b t tal ion any ou e crys e ransit t n h t o s e i n is sto rin virus. e this h then th s Aquama c c a a l e p , s y ute all u, a Finall 20-min eyes ny or for yo a r o f y a s aw n. tired eyelid clears he unknow ide in b a o r o t p t ft nary nigh fear o e visio m o s and lems.

Chakra Healing / Balancing Energy: This is the most powerful crystal to use when cleansing and activating the throat chakra; it stimulates energy from the heart to the throat which allows one’s deepest and most heartfelt desires to be communicated.

Always remember that the throat chakra is the voice of the body, a pressure valve that allows the expression of energy from all the other Chakras, and if its

blocked or out of balance then these other chakras can become blocked, out of balance, or even sick. When the throat chakra is in balance, then it allows us to freely express and communicate how we feel and think. We can put forward our ideas, beliefs, and emptions without any fear. In balance we can bring our personal truth forward into the world around us. The energy that flows around our body, springing upward from the lower chakras, can continue its path, enabling freedom of expression and natural release.

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tion:

Medita

tal nt crys e l l e c x ing of is an e ling: a awaken marine e e a h u H t q t d A i in an Spir helpful itation , Aqs d i e e k t i I l m . a r s fo traomen bilitie d some l that ormal a n and w n a e a n t a , s m r s y a r n h c p t our o i l For bo to see y er revelat owerfu e p w g l o n a b i p i c s s l i l s u a ne ind t is po t not auamari claim i an Aqu wer in lize tha s o a h n e p g r o i s u i s t o i u r e d r he h makes e. The angel t ng nts to t c i i r n o d o l a p f i e i t d i y r m a fro when ilient, - gu comes crystal the res g truth e h n t i n i i t r o w a m g m in pro alignin unicaife and l m f m o o north. y c t i s n vital e onate i k s a s a w p com stone a ful and n, this e m ies, and o w or e abilit v i t i u t tion. F in the ngth in spelling i d n the stre i s ulty , it aide d diffic n e n a m s r s o e f or bn cating i al num n n u o i m t o em in com n have e gs. m t a h t ir feelin e h t g n i express

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75

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

By Helen Libby Davidson

What is it you see when you look up into the sky and you see the clouds passing by in their ethereal beauty? If we look to nature there are so many elements that can inspire us. The bark of your favourite tree, is it silver and smooth like the birch? Is it thick and deeply furrowed like our might Oak trees? Do you have a favourite stream where you could sit and listen to the water trickling past you for hours? We each have things within nature that inspire us, that make us feel comfortable, that can teach us and our children in turn.

It these things that we find inspiration it can also teach us a very unique form of divination. Divination itself is very much about finding what is suited for you. I am certain there are very many books and websites that can tell you a multitude of facts about it and how you can gaze into a crystal ball, indeed I have books on my own bookshelves that cover this subject.

Divination of one form or another has probably been around for as long as humans have been.

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There are many forms of divination too as it is a very broad spectrum indeed, most people you encounter will know the most popular ones such as crystal ball, black mirrors and bowls of deep black inky waters. Though of course there is a but‌.. It’s not for everyone, just because its popular does not mean it is right for you, what I ask of you here reader is that you use your inspiration within nature itself. What do I mean?

Think back to your childhood days did you lie on the grass looking up at the sky and find yourself seeing faces and creatures in the clouds? It is part of our nature to make sense of the images we see, and it is that very thing in each and every one of us that can be used in your very own and ultimately unique way of divination.

Many of you will practice some form of meditation be it daily, once in a while or something you did in the past, it is taking and utilising this skill to help aid you in your own personal divination within nature.

Find your happy place there, sit in your field gazing up at

the clouds, take a time out at your stream that sounds so tranquil, the place deep in the woods beside your favourite tree… your bare feet pushing into the sand of a beach as the waves crest and fall in front of you…. These are your starting points, they make you feel good, you are relaxed and you can let your mind drift away from your everyday life, it would be so easy to meditate here, you have no cares or worries.

Now, you can use this skill this time to begin your divination…

I will use the four elements as examples, you could try each of them, you may be drawn to one in particular, but only you can know what is right for you,

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be it a gut instinct or a subtle feeling that leans you in one direction.

Earth: There are a myriad of choices within this element, but I will example what I would be drawn to. The woods are cool and inviting, you can hear and feel life thriving around you, it matters not the time of the year, there is always an energy here that draws you to it, you have a favourite tree.. You may not know why exactly, but it feels special and you smile when you see it. You sit below its branches carving a beautiful silhouette against the sky, your eyes draw back down over the trunk marvelling at the patterns dancing a timeless dance. Let your eyes be drawn to one spot… be comfortable don’t stretch your neck too far if looking up.. You see it, a knot in the tree just above your eyeline, allow your eyes to become slowly unfocused, the knot and surrounding bark seem to become softer, the edges shimmering slightly… Take your time, does the pattern of the bark move?

Swirling and melding together? Do you see figures or shapes? Spend as long as is comfortable maybe no longer than ten minutes to begin with. Repeat this on a regular bases it does not have to be all the same spot, but what your eyes are drawn to. Keep notes on anything that you see change, you can go back and refer to them. What you see if your own, it is a little like a dream, nobody else has your dream and nobody else can see what you see. It may come 78

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to you instantly and you know what it means other times it will not be apparent, but it will mean something even if it is much later.

Air: This one really can be done anywhere including the comfort of your own home if you so wished. Dawn and Sunset can be a very beautiful and magickal time, the colours gracing the sky majestic and sometimes fleeting, I see a warm spring evening or a warm summer morning, gazing at the sky and clouds as they shimmer with silver, golds and reds.. A cloud catches your eye and you watch it as it moves lazily across the sky its shape changing and shifting as it moves, its pace reflects your calmness. It was so easy as a child to see shapes and faces in the clouds.. That never left you, you still can see them, take your time, there is no rush, watch as the change and move along the skyline. When you see something write it down, write how it made you feel, does it stir an emotion or a memory? It is these notes you can look back on and make sense of. Have you seen those books on the shelves with dream interpretations?.. That is one persons view as to the images you see… but you know who can interpret what you see better than anyone else?

You.. You have the answers, be your own guide use your instinct, it is a precious gift and it’s all yours.

Fire: Fire can be as simple or as elaborate as

you are able to make it. Do you have a favourite scented candle you use in ritual work? Or maybe it’s the one you use because it makes your room feel cosy. Do you have an open fire or wood burner. You could have a simple metal bin in your yard or garden that you use to have a fire outdoors, whatever it may be fire can conjure up some powerful visions. Out of all the elements that can be used in divination, fire is the most unpredictable and at the same time the most vivid of elements. Choose your fire, keep a safe distance but that flickering heat is almost hypnotic it dances in your eyes, it has a million faces and none. Do you see? A momentary glimpse and then it’s gone, record any feelings or glimpses that you have. For some fire divination may take a little longer because of its fast and fleeting nature, but don’t give up the element of fire is powerful yet fleeting. It will reveal itself to you when you least expect it to.

Water: I am from Cornwall, a county almost surrounded by the Atlantic, Its cost ranging from harsh crags to serene bays. The sea calls to me no matter where I am, so for water I choose the sea itself.

If you do not have the sea, a stream, a river, a garden water feature.. Anywhere you can see the movement of water. With this element you can not only see it, you can hear it, you can feel it, it swirls and rushes, crests and falls.. The

smell of the sea air, the cool calmness of a lake, the gentle trickle as a stream runs beside you.

Water can appear to be many different colours..

Can you gaze at the sea as the waves crest and fall onto the beach the crash it makes..

You see movement within the water, you know it’s not a creature. It’s the water itself, it’s so full of vital energy, you feel connected to it too, those movements you see.. It’s a pattern, it’s a shape.. Do you see its connection the space around you? How do you feel, A sense of awe at this powerful and often unpredictable element? Is it calm and gentle the sound soothing to your soul?... Record your feelings, anything that you see no matter how fleeting it may be.. It matters .. It is yours.

Divination…. It never has to be elaborate unless that is what you wish, start simply, it’s as much about recording your feelings as it is to see something that may have meaning in your life.

As you delve in deeper, you will find divination within many aspects of life, things we have forgotten, gifts left long ago. Never rush, never feel pressured. Walk your path with confidence and a brave heart. Know what you want, harm none along the way and this world will show you its wonders… The greatest divination of all is you. You are the key… It is in the eye of the beholder.

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WI

BIR BI PE

PLE

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ILL THE

IRMINGHAM RMINGHAM EAKY BLINDERS

EASE STAND UP!

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When TPC’s photographers, John Robinson and Amy Adamson, came to us to talk about the idea of putting together a photoshoot of the Birmingham Peaky Blinders, I must admit, I was more than a little hesitant. But as John put his reasons forward, I thought why not. So, the shoot went ahead, four great Brummies’ travelled up from Birmingham the day before, went to the location beforehand to check it out, and finally it went ahead. It was then that I realized I had no story to go with the shoot. Tasha and I scratched our heads and then asked each other what we knew of the TV-show. The answer was nothing. Neither of us had ever heard of the show or watched any of the episodes. So, we sat down and watched one episode, and unfortunately, it wasn’t our cup of tea, but that was just us. The show still had thousands of followers.

We tasked John to watch Peaky Blinders and give his perspective to us on what it was about. On the Sunday, day of the shoot, everything went smoothly, and afterwards, I contacted one of the group, Ikey Hall, and thanked him for agreeing to go up to Lancashire to be photographed at the magnificent Holmes Mill and Bowland Brewery.

Lancashire was renowned for its trade in the cotton textile trade due to the damp climate the county was also famous for. Holmes Mill came to life when the first multi-story spinning block was first erected on the site by John Taylor, in 1823. By 1853 the mill had grown substantially, housing 16,000 mule spindles and 707 looms. Today, the mill has become a lovely, unique venue that comprises a food hall, beer hall, bistro, hotel, and café. I must admit that I was worried about the “Peaky Blinder” shoot being shot in Lancashire and not in its proper home area of the city of Birmingham, but after seeing the photographs, my fears were unfounded. And when I talked to Ikey over Facebook, it turned out that a fantastic time was had by everyone, this is what Ikey Hall had to say about the guys of the Birmingham Peaky Blinders, the shoot location, and their everyday life out with following the TV-show and the actual gang.

“We all really enjoyed the photo-shoot with the TPC photographers, and a great location was chosen by John Robinson and Amy Adamson, especially the brewery. The Birmingham Peaky Blinders consist of myself, PB Paul, Roy Short, and John Brophy. We got together as a full group after I met Roy and John at the Peaky Blinder Pub in Birmingham; we were all dressed in our attire, each having the same thing in common, the love of the Peaky Blinders. We talked about our love of the gang, the heritage of Birmingham, well, the area where the Peaky Blinder gang thrived and grew up. Like Paul and I, John and Roy have been friends for many years; on most weekends we all meet up and go out meeting like-minded people. Birmingham is our home, we all live in and around the city, although most of it has changed over the years. The city still has areas and buildings untouched from the time they were built.

We’ve even been invited to premiers and met some of the cast members from the TV-show dressed in our Peaky Blinders’ outfits. What we 82

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really like is that its becoming more popular and more people are noticing us as a group.

But at the end of the day, we are all just ordinary geezers who live normal lives…I mean, through the week, I’m a pallet trader, and come from the travelling community. PB Paul is a window manufacturer, Roy works most days at the Old Crown Inn, Digbeth, and John is also self-employed. At the weekends, you can find Roy and John with Professor Carl Chinn MBE doing tours around the areas that were popular with the Peaky Blinders. Professor Chinn is a historian, writer and broadcaster whose working life has been dedicated to the popularisation of Birmingham.”

If you want to find out more about the Birmingham Peaky Blinders, then visit https://www. facebook.com/peakies.now2017/ and if you are a fan of the show, then why not pay a visit to the city itself and book a tour with the Peaky Tours at http://www.peakytours.com/

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Watch

A TPC

out for the next issue with

new writer coming on board with

SOPHIA My interests are predominantly esoteric and occult, however I have been told that I have a talent in translating my findings in lay-mans terms, to that which is easily understood.

Those with a keen eye for Latin will correctly surmise that I align myself with the Luciferian current, my wish as a delineative of the light bearer, is for the greater mysteries to be understood by the many, to free souls, (or at least create insights that make for deep and interesting conversation.)

I am eccletic and chaotic in my practice and beliefs and through this I know I can bring a wide range of topics to the surface.

Much of my material is relayed through the Jungian process, I am currently working on a system that combines the Jung theory with the Egyption theory of the soul, the astral .. and of course, these "undead," and awakened philosophies, inevitably, at times, raise the folklore of the vampire.

This particular concept is not fully formed for discussion, but I thought it worth a mention as an example of musings to come. I am a proponent and balance of the darkness and light.

For now I shall be revisiting and revitalising some of my earlier material. I seek to expand on earlier insights having escaped previous limitations as the crooked path doth twist and turn. I have a modest following, predomintly these seekers follow the left hand path.

My goal is also somewhat to raise the veil that shrouds the lhp, to introduce insight, and possibly dissolve some of the fears that the path brings to mind for some. Somethings that I write will resonate and be useful to all, and others may appear a little dark, I do hope that one will bare with me as I seek to shine light in the dark.

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THORA’S CHICKEN CURRY

INGREDIENTS 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. medium curry powder 1 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. garam masala 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground coriander seed 1/2 tsp. ground ginger or 1� piece fresh, grated ginger 1/2 tsp. ground cumin seed 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon or 1 small cinnamon stick 1 small pinch to 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, depending on how spicy you like it.

1 tsp. coconut oil or peanut oil 2 T. butter or ghee 1 cup chopped onion 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 bay leaf, fresh is best 4 chicken breast halves (or 8 chicken thighs) cut into bite size pieces 1/2 cup Greek-style plain yogurt 1/2 can tomato paste (freeze the rest) 88

2 cups approx. peeled, diced Russet potatoes (these are bakers) 2 cups water 2 cups fresh spinach (optional) Fresh tomato, chopped, for garnish

5.

Add chicken. Cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently to cook on all sides. Add bay leaf.

6.

Add potato, stir, then add liquid mixture. Bring to a full boil, raising the heat if needed.

PREPARATION 1. Combine first 10 ingredients. Set aside 2.

In a separate bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water and yogurt. Set aside.

3.

Melt coconut oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.

Onion should be soft and translucent.

4.

Stir in spice mixture.

Cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes.

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7.

Cover, reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Potato should be tender when pricked with a fork or skewer.

8.

Just before serving (about 5 minutes), wilt in fresh spinach and remove cinnamon stick (if you used one) and bay leaf.

9.

Serve over basmati rice pilaf, topped with chopped fresh tomato and chopped fresh basil or cilantro. Accompany with Raita to cut the spice. Naan bread tops it off.

YELLOW RICE INGREDIENTS 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups basmati rice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, diced 1/2 cup carrots, diced 1 cup frozen peas, thawed and drained 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon garam masala 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper Salt to taste

cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 4 minutes. Add carrot; cook, stirring, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas, turmeric, cumin, garam masala and paprika; cook until heated through. Transfer mixture to bowl with rice, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PREPARATION 1.

Fill a medium saucepan with 3 cups water, and bring to a boil; add salt and rice.

Cover and cook until rice is just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain if needed, and transfer rice to a serving bowl. Or you can just use a rice cooker.

2.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and

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ABOVE IMAGE BY FATIMAHOPE (OWN WORK) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BYSA/4.0)], VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

RAITA INGREDIENTS 1 large English cucumber 2 cups plain yogurt (I prefer a full fat yogurt) 3/4 teaspoon cumin seed 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander seed 1/4 teaspoon garam masala 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Juice of 1 lemon Salt Coarse black pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (2 tablespoons of dried mint will work too, if you haven’t got fresh) Naan wedges, for serving

PREPARATION 1.

Slice the cucumber in half. Scrape out the seeds, then grate it onto paper towels.

Squeeze the cucumber in the paper towels to remove the excess moisture, then set aside.

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2.

In a bowl, stir together the next 7 ingredients. Add the cucumber, then stir in the mint. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

3.

Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours to allow the flavours to combine. Serve as a dip with naan wedges.

Note: Naan is available in most grocery stores. Pick your favourite flavour. Heat the naan in stainless steel frying pains on high – no oil! Or if you have a gas stove, just char them on both sides. Thirty seconds per side should see brown spots appearing. It’s done.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF INGREDIENTS USED IN ‘A TASTE OF INDIA.‘ PAPRIKA - ENERGY, STRENGTH, VITALITY CURRY POWDER - BANISHING, HEALING, PROSPERITY, ANTI- NEGATIVITY CHILI POWDER - PROTECTION GARAM MASALA - BANISHING, HEALING, PROSPERITY, ANTI-NEGATIVITY SALT - CLEANSING, PURIFICATION, GROUNDING, PROTECTION GROUND CORIANDER SEED - SERENITY, LONGEVITY, LOVE, HEALTH GROUND GINGER - LOVE, MONEY, SUCCESS, POWER, WISHES, BEAUTY, DESIRE GROUND CUMIN SEED - PROTECTS THE HOME, ANTI-THEFT GROUND CINNAMON - SPIRITUALITY, SUCCESS, HEALING, POWER, LOVE, PSYCHIC POWERS, PROTECTION, PROSPERITY, CLEANSING, MALE LUST CAYENNE PEPPER - PROTECTION COCONUT OIL - ALLURE AND CONFIDENCE, CHASTITY, DIVERSITY, FLEXIBILITY, PROTECTION, PSYCHIC AWARENESS, PURIFICATION, SPIRITUALITY BUTTER OR GHEE - SMOOTHING RELATIONSHIPS, SPIRITUALITY, AND TENACITY CHOPPED ONION - PROTECTION, HEALING, EXORCISM, MONEY, PROPHETIC DREAMS GARLIC - ANTI-THEFT, BANISHING, CLEANSING & PURIFICATION, HEALING, LUST, PROSPERITY, PROTECTION, REPELS NEGATIVITY BAY LEAF - HEALING, PROTECTION, PSYCHIC POWERS, PURIFICATION, REPELS NEGATIVITY, STRENGTH, SUCCESS CHICKEN BREAST - UNCROSSING, NEW GROWTH, FERTILITY, SACRIFICE, NEW BEGINNINGS, REBIRTH, GROUNDING, HEALING, PROTECTION, STRENGTH GREEK-STYLE PLAIN YOGURT - HEALING, SPIRITUALITY TOMATO PASTE - PROSPERITY, PURIFICATION, LOVE, ANTI-NEGATIVITY, CREATIVITY, HEALING, LOVE, OFFERINGS, PASSION, PROTECTION, REPEL EVIL POTATOES - ENERGY, HEALING, HOODOO, LUCK, MONEY, POPPET/IMAGE MAGICK, STABILITY, WEALTH, COMPASSION,

GROUNDING, PROTECTION WATER - PURIFICATION SPINACH - PROSPERITY FRESH TOMATO - PROSPERITY, PURIFICATION, LOVE, ANTI-NEGATIVITY, CREATIVITY, HEALING, LOVE, OFFERINGS, PASSION, PROTECTION, REPEL EVIL RICE - FERTILITY, LUST, PROSPERITY, PROTECTION OLIVE OIL - SPIRITUALITY CARROTS - DESIRE, DISPEL ILLUSIONS, GROUNDING, LUCK, FERTILITY, HEALING, LUST, SEXUALITY, PROTECTION, VISIONS PEAS - LOVE, PROSPERITY GROUND TURMERIC - PURIFICATION BLACK PEPPER - BANISHING, CLEANSING AND PURIFICATION, PROTECTION CUCUMBER - CHASTITY, HEALING, FERTILITY LEMON (FAITHFULNESS, FRIENDSHIP, HAPPINESS, LONGEVITY, LOVE, MARRIAGE) FRESH MINT - COMMUNICATION, ENERGY, HEALING, LOVE, LUST, PROSPERITY, PROTECTION, TRAVEL NAAN WEDGES - KINSHIP, SUSTENANCE

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EASTER MEAL PLANNER BREAKFAST Chocolate & Hazelnut Croissants Peanutbutter Chocolate Smoothie LUNCH French Toasted Hot Cross Buns DINNER Starter Lamb, Bean, & Tomato Soup Main Roast Lamb With Rosemary, Garlic, & Honey Glaze Dessert New York Cheesecake With Blueberry Sauce DRINKS Cocktails Speckled Egg Mimosas Easter Flip For Kids:- Easter Party Punch CAKES Simnel Cake Outlaw Carrot Cake Creme Egg Rocky Road

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT CROISSANTS INGREDIENTS 375g pack Puff Pastry 6 heaped tsp Chocolate Hazelnut Spread 1 large Egg Yolk 10ml Milk

METHOD Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.

Lay out the pastry and cut 6 diagonal triangles across the sheet.

Put a heaped tsp of chocolate spread on the pastry at the thick end of the triangle, then roll them up.

Place onto a lightly greased baking sheet.

Mix the egg yolk with the milk and use this to brush them.

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden.

PREP TIME: 10-Minutes COOK TIME: 60-Minutes SERVES: 4 Vegetarian

PEANUTBUTTER, BANANA, & CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

30g Smooth Peanut Peel the banana and cut into chunks.

Butter

Add all the ingredients to the smoothie mixer.

1 Banana Pulse for 3 minutes until well blended and serve.

150g Vanilla Fat Free Yogurt PREP TIME: 5-Minutes Serves: 1 1 tsp Cocoa Powder Double Ingredients if more is needed 1 tsp Honey 100ml Milk

INGREDIENTS 4 Hot Cross Buns 2 Medium Eggs 125ml Semi Skimmed Milk ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon 30g Caster Sugar ½ Orange Rind, Grated 75g Unsalted Butter 200g Plums 15g Soft Brown Sugar 60ml Specially Selected Maple Syrup

METHOD 1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.

2. Cut the plums into quarters, remove the stones and place them in a baking dish.

3. Scatter over the soft brown sugar and dot with 15g of the butter.

4. Bake uncovered in the oven for 15 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a bowl, add the cinnamon, orange rind, milk and caster sugar and whisk until combined.

6. Slice the hot cross buns in half.

7. Soak them in the egg wash for a couple of minutes.

8. Fry them in the remaining butter in batches until golden on both sides.

9. Keep them warm in the oven while you cook the rest.

10. Serve topped with the baked plums and drizzled with maple syrup.

PREP TIME: 10-Minutes COOK TIME: 20-Minutes

image by jamleanne, flickr.com under license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

FRENCH TOASTED HOT CROSS BUNS

LAMB, BEAN & TOMATO SOUP

INGREDIENTS 200g leftover Lamb (shoulder or leg, cut into chunks) 400g Chopped Tomatoes

METHOD

400g Cannellini Beans

Roughly chop the celery, onion and garlic.

500ml Chicken Stock

Heat the oil in large saucepan and add the chopped ingredients. Cook for 10 minutes until softened.

1 tbsp Olive Oil 2 stalks of Celery 1 Onion

Add the stock, chopped tomatoes and lamb and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.

1 clove of Garlic

Trim the green beans and add to the soup with the cannellini beans.

100g Green Beans

Leave to simmer for another 10 minutes.

1 tbsp freshly chopped Parsley (to serve)

Sprinkle over the chopped parsley and Parmigiano to serve.

40g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated (to serve)

PREP TIME: 10-minutes COOK TIME: 35-Minutes SERVES: 4 Gluton Free

ROAST LAMB WITH ROSEMARY, GARLIC & HONEY GLAZE

INGREDIENTS 1 Whole Leg of Lamb 2 Whole Garlic Bulbs 8g Fresh Rosemary 250ml water Glaze ingredients 6g Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped 3 large Garlic Cloves, peeled and minced 50ml Honey Juice and zest of ½ lemon

METHOD 1. Pre-heat the oven to 200oC/400oF/Gas Mark 6.

Put the leg of lamb into a roasting dish just big enough to hold it.

2. Cut the garlic bulbs in half and stuff around the lamb along with the rosemary. Pour over the water.

3. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes, then turn the heat down to 160oC/325oF/Gas Mark 3. Cover loosely with foil and cook for a further 3 hours.

4. Mix together all the ingredients for the glaze Turn the heat back to 200oC/400oF/Gas Mark 6, take off the foil and brush with the glaze.

5. Cook for another 20 minutes, basting every 5 minutes.

Great served with steamed spring vegetables and new potatoes.

PREP TIME: 10-Minutes COOK TIME: 240-Minutes SERVES: 6

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NEW YORK CHEESECAKE WITH BLUEBERRY SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

PREP TIME: 10-Minutes

150g Digestive Biscuits

COOK TIME: 55 Minutes

85g Unsalted Butter 900g Soft Cheese 200g Caster Sugar 200ml Soured Cream 3 tsp Plain Flour 3 Medium eggs plus 1 Egg Yolk Sauce 250g Blueberries 2 tbsp Caster Sugar 1 tbsp Water

SERVES: 6

METHOD Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.

Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Grease and line the base of a 23cm (9”) spring form or loose bottomed cake tin.

To prepare the sauce place the blueberries, caster sugar and water in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes.

Place the biscuits in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin until fine crumbs are formed.

Melt the butter and stir into the crumbs and mix well.

Tip into the cake tin then use the back of a spoon to flatten over the base.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Allow the tin to cool.

Reduce oven to 160°C/325­°F/Gas Mark 3.

In a large bowl beat together the soft cheese and the sugar.

Add the soured cream and flour and mix well.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin then bake for 45 minutes (the cheesecake should be just set with a slight wobble).

Turn off the oven, leave the oven door slightly ajar and allow to cool.

Allow to cool and serve with the cheesecake.

EASTER COCKTAILS REMEMBER: Drink Sensibly & Don’t Drink & Drive Hang Up Your Keys & Let Someone Sobre Take To The Road

spring forward 30ml vodka 20ml fennel syrup* 15ml fresh lime juice splash of absinthe 1 egg white sprig of fennel First dry shake the egg white on its own in the shaker to make is froth.

Then combine all 100

ingredients into the shaker. Add ice, and shake vigorously to chill all ingredients and emulsify egg white and create a foam.

Strain into specialty coupe glass or martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of fennel.

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Blood Orange Negroni 25ml Campari 25ml gin 25ml sweet vermouth blood orange soda Think slice of orange to garnish Pour the Campari, gin and vermouth into a glass filled with ice and stir. Then top up with the blood orange soda and stir again, then garnish.

Lemonade prosecco

4-6 cups prepared Lemonade (I used a low calorie kind from the grocery store), chilled 1/3 cup citrus vodka (you can substitute regular flavor) 1 pint blackberries (or your favorite berry), frozen 3 sprigs fresh mint 1 bottle (750mL) La Marca Prosecco, chilled Stir lemonade and vodka to a gallon size pitcher. Add blackberries and mint. Add the Prosecco. Serve over ice. The longer it sits the more the blackberries and mint infuse in the flavor, like sangria.

Store leftovers tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days, or freeze

tart cherry margarita

For the simple syrup: 2 cups water 1½ cups granulated sugar For the margaritas: 3 cups 100% tart cherry juice 2 cups fresh lime juice (I used about 15 limes) 2½ cups tequila ½ cup triple sec simple syrup

heat water and sugar in a large sauce pan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, stirring constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 15 minutes.

To make the margaritas, gently stir all ingredients together in a large pitcher.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To make the simple syrup,

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easter baking SIMNEL CAKE

CAKE 200g marzipan 225g plain flour 1tsp baking powder 1tsp mixed spice 175g unsalted soft butter 175g golden sugar 3 eggs 3 tbsp milk 175g mixed dried fruit 225g sultanas 50g chopped almonds zest of 1 orange zest of 1 lemon Topping 250g White Marzipan 300g Cooking Chocolate 4 tsp Camp Coffee 1 tbsp Cocoa Powder Yellow Food Coloring Paste 102

TPC - The Pendle Craft

Chicks 200g White Marzipan Yellow Food Coloring Paste Chocolate buttons Chocolate Balls 250g White Marzipan 300g Cooking Chocolate 300g White Cooking Chocolate Grass Stems Any left over White Marzipan Green Food Coloring Paste **Although I have stipulated Cooking Chocolate, you can use ordinary Confectionary Chocolate, ie. Cadbury or Bournville.

CAKE Preheat the oven to 150°c. Grease and line a 20cm round loose-bottomed cake tin.

Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, caster sugar and eggs - using an electric whisk, beat until creamy.

Whisk in the milk. Then fold in the fruit, nuts and grated zests.

Pour in the rest of the cake mixture, levelling off the top.

Bake in the oven for about 2 hours, until the centre is firm - if the top starts to brown you can cover it with baking parchment.

Leave the cake in the tin for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

Spoon half of the mixture into your prepared tin.

Roll out the marzipan to a 20cm circle and lay it over the mixture.

TOPPING

mocha taste that you desire, 1. Over a simadd more comering pot of coa and coffee water, place if needed. Stir a heat proof until thickened. glass bowl 3. Cut marzipan over the top, to shape and then add the size of cake chocolate, stir layer (20cm), constantly until place on cake, melted. then brush 2. Once meltover the mocha ed add comixture using a coa-powder palette knife and camp cof- 4. Sit in Fridge fee, stir until Until Set you reach the

CHOCOLATE BALLS 1. As the cake topping, melt the chocolate over the pan of water then set to one side. Don’t let it harden.

2. Follow Step 1 with the White chocolate and set aside.

3. Shape the marzipan into round balls then cover in to either chocolate mix 4. Sit in fridge until set 5. Add to top of cake in a pattern of brown chocolate then white chocolate.

CHICKS

BLADES OF GRASS

1. Shape Marzipan into 3 large and 3 small balls.

2. Paint balls with yellow paste and leave to set.

3. For the eyes, carve chocolate buttons into shape. Can be a bit fiddly.

4. Add chicks to centre of cake

1. Using any left over marzipan, shape into blades of grass and paint with the green food colouring paste.

2. Place grass on top of the cake in front of the chicks and decoratively around the cake.

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TPC’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH, MARCH 2018 Here is a list of 20 women we think deserve a mention.

Amelia Earhart: -

Born: 24 July 1897, Atchison, Kansas, United States Died: Pronounced dead on 5 January 1939 after two years missing.

Known For: Aviator – 1932, Flew solo over the Atlantic Ocean in a Lockheed Vega 5B. In 1935 she was first woman to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California.

Disappeared: July 2, 1937 (aged 39); Pacific Ocean, en route to Howland Island from Lae, Papua New Guinea, in a Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft, built to Earhart’s specifications. The flight was a second attempt after an earlier failed due to mechanical problems.

Rachel Carson: -

Born: 27 May 1907, Springdale, Pennsylvania, United States Died: 14 April 1964, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Age: 57 Known For: Finest nature writer of the 20th-Century; Marine Biologist; Published four books between 1941 and 1962: Under The Sea-Wind (1941), The Sea Around Us (1951), The Edge Of The Sea (1955), and Silent Spring (1962). Government and industry after World War II prompted Carson to reluctantly speak out not just about the immediate threat to humans and non-human nature from unwitting chemical exposure, but also to question government and private science’s assumption that human domination of nature was the correct course for the

future.

Awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Salena Fox: -

Born: October 20th, 1949 in Arlington Cty., Virginia Age: 69 Known For: a Wiccan priestess, interfaith minister, environmentalist, pagan elder, author, and lecturer in the fields of pagan studies, ecopsychology, and comparative religion.

Yoko Ono: -

Born: February 18th, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan.

Age: 85 Known For: Second wife of the late John Lennon from the Beatles; Artist, peace activist, singer, songwriter

Doreen Valiente: -

Born: 4 January 1922, Mitcham, Surrey Died: 1 September 1999, Brighton, East Sussex Age: 77 Known For: Wiccan Priestess and author; Wrote all the liturgy for Wicca, mainly centring on Gardnerian Wicca. Also helped to remove the centuries old Witchcraft act.

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Mary Daly: -

Born: 16 October 1928, Schenectady, New York, United States Died: 3 January 2010, Gardner, Massachusetts, United States Age: 82 Known For: Mary Daly was an American radical feminist philosopher, academic, and theologian.

Daly, who described herself as a “radical lesbian feminist” Taught at Boston University for 33-years, only females into her classes.

Marija Gimbutas: -

Born: 23 January 1921, Vilnius, Lithuania Died: 2 February 1994, Los Angeles, California, United States Age: 73 Known For: Archaeology – Researched the Neolithic- and Bronze-Age cultures of “Old Europe”, and for her Kurgan Hypothesis, which located the Proto-Indo-European homeland in the Pontic Steppe.

Eileen Garrett: -

Born: 17 March 1893, County Meath, Republic of Ireland Died: 15 September 1970, Nice, France Age: 77 Known For: Irish Psychic Medium who founded the Parapsychology Foundation in New York in 1951 Emmeline Pankhurst: Born: 15 July 1858, Moss Side, Manchester Died: 14 June 1928, Hampstead Age: 70 Known For: Suffragette; British Women’s Right Activist, helped win the right to vote for all women.

Harriet Martineau: -

Born: 12 June 1802, Norwich Died: 27 June 1876, Ambleside Age: 74 Known For: British social theorist and Whig writer, often cited as the first female sociologist

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TPC - The Pendle Craft

Nakano Takeko: -

Born: 1847, Edo Died: 10 October 1868, Japan Age: 21 Known For: Japanese Onna-Bugeisha who fought in the Boshin war; Died in the siege of Aizu, when she was shot and mortally wounded. Not wanting her body to be desecrated and her head put onto a pole outside the city by the Imperial Forces, she asked her sister to bury her head under a pine tree in Hokai-ji Temple and a monument was erected in her honour.

Tomoe Gozen: -

Born: 1157 Died: 1247 Age: 90 Known For: First female Samurai who fought in the Genpei War that brought in the Shogunate of Japan.

Grace O’Malley: Born c. 1530 Connacht, Ireland Died c. 1603 (aged 72–73) most likely Rockfleet Castle, Ireland Known For: First female pirate and supporter of the Irish Lords who rebelled during the Nine Years War.

Lozen: -

Born: 1840 Died: 17 June 1889, Mount Vernon, Alabama, United States Age: 40 Known For: Female warrior and prophet of the Chihenne Chiricahua Apache. Sister of Apache Chief Victorio. Both she and her brother escaped from the San Carlos Reservation in 1877 and raided across the territory, after her brother was killed in battle, Lozen allied herself with Geronimo and raided throughout Arizona and New Mexico.

Zenobia: -

Born: 240 AD, Palmyra, Syria Died: 274 AD, Rome, Italy Age: 34 Known For: Wife of Odaenathus, Ruler of the Roman colony of Palmyra, now modern-day Syria; When her husband and eldest son was assassinated, Zenobia declared herself queen and, not being content of holding one Roman colony, she seized Egypt and raided other provinces, declaring herself independent from the Roman Empire. Emperor Aurelius struck back in 274AD and defeated her at the battle of Emesa. Her fate is unknown, but what is known is that Zenobia was caught trying to cross the Euphrates into Persia and was sent back to Emesa for trial.

Marie Curie: -

Born: 7 November 1867, Warsaw, Poland Died: 4 July 1934, Sancellemoz Age: 67 Known For: Scientific research into the splitting of the atom alongside her husband Pierre Curie.

Both she and Pierre discovered Radium and Polonium.

Mary Anning: -

Born: 21 May 1799, Lyme Regis Died: 9 March 1847, Lyme Regis Buried: 15 March 1847, St Michael the Archangel, Lyme Regis Age: 48 Known For: was an English fossil collector, dealer, and palaeontologist who became known around the world for important finds she made in Jurassic marine fossil beds in the cliffs along the English Channel at Lyme Regis in the county of Dorset in Southwest England. Mary Anning died of breast cancer, however, due to the amount of Laudanum that she was taking for the pain, members of her community misinterpreted this and thought that she had a drinking problem.

Mae C Jemison: -

Born: 17 October 1956 - Decatur, Alabama, United States Age: 61 Known For: First African-American woman to go into space in September 1992 on the shuttle Endeavour.

Patricia Bath: -

Born: 4 November 1942 - Harlem, New York City, New York, United States Age: 75 Known For: ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic. She has broken ground for women and African Americans in several areas. Prior to Bath, no woman had served on the staff of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, headed a post-graduate training program in ophthalmology, or been elected to the honorary staff of the UCLA Medical Centre (an honour bestowed on her after her retirement). Before Bath, no black person had served as a resident in ophthalmology at New York University and no black woman had ever served on staff as a surgeon at the UCLA Medical Centre. Bath is the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose. The holder of four patents, she also founded the company of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in Washington, D.C.

Victoria Woodhull: -

Born: 23 September 1838, Homer, Ohio, United States Died: 9 June 1927, Bredon Age: 89 Known For: First woman to run for Presidency, doing so in 1827; An activist for women’s rights and labour reforms, Woodhull was also an advocate of being able to freely love whom you choose, with the nobility of free love, by which she meant the freedom to marry, divorce, and bear children without government interference.

Leader of the Suffrage movement in the America. In 1877, Woodhull moved with her children to England, where she became a champion for Education Reform in English village schools.

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NEXT ISSUE...

Some people have said to

spell-work both black and

me “What exactly is your

white, and ritual work. I

path? Are you a Christian

also believe in the Gnosis,

or a Pagan?” and when I

and I believe in the teach-

answer both, I get some

ings of the Albigensians

very odd looks. So, I try

who were massacred in the

and explain it this way:

great Albigensis Crusade in

Having been a Satanist, I

southern France.

believe in the devil and his

The Cathars first appeared

minions (no, not those yel- in the Languedoc region of low things as seen in the

France in the 11th century

movies), I listen to Chris-

but their origins are some-

tian music, I believe in

thing of a mystery and it is

Jesus Christ, and I am a

highly regarded that they

monotheist as I believe in

came from either Persia

the one true god. However, or the Byzantine Empire I also believe in the belief

by way of the Balkans and

of my ancestors – herbal

northern Italy. Records

medicines, crystal healing,

from the Roman Catholic

108

TPC - The Pendle Craft

Church have them under

created everything materi-

various names and in var-

al.

ious locations throughout

In the next issue I will be

that region. As Cathars,

covering the Cathar belief

we are dualists, this means

system; I will touch on the

that we believe in a “good�

Crusades, the murders of

god and an evil adver-

men, women and children

sary, what today would be

who refused to renounce

considered the devil. The

their faith, and I will look

good principle had devel-

at what Gnosis is.

oped everything immaterial So keep reading! while the bad principle had

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The Pendle Craft TPC Digital Magazine Ltd. © March 2018, Issue 14