Silver RavenWolf
Submitted By MoonRaven

Wiccan Lineage: Gerald Gardner to Raymond Buckland, Buckland to Michael Ragan (Seax-Wicca), Ragan to Lord Serphant, Serphant to Silver RavenWolf.  Caledonii lineage by Ariel Morgan can be found on their site.

Elevation History: First Initiation - Lady Breid FoxSong of Buffalo, NY. Second Initiation, Lord Ariel Morgan of the Caledonii and Lord Serphant of the Family of Serpent Stone. Third elevation, Lord Ariel Morgan of the Caledonii and Lord Serphant of the Family of Serpent Stone. Eldering - Lord Serphant. First and Second Elevations in the Druidic Order of the Divine Circle of the Sacred Grove, Arizona, performed by Lady Jeanette Copeland and Lord Kalman Mannis.  Additional training in southern folk magick received from Ray Malbrough, Llewellyn Author, initiated by Raymond Buckland.  Coronation earned in Spiritualism on March 17, 2002.  Pow-Wow lineage from Eli Guide to Gertie Guise to Preston Zerbe to Silver.  Silver is also currently studying for a Horary Astrology degree.

Author: Eighteen Titles (18) -- To Ride A Silver Broomstick; To Stir A Magick Cauldron; To Light a Sacred Flame; Teen Witch;  Angels - Companions in Magick; Beneath A Mountain Moon(fiction); American Folk Magick - Charms, Spells, and Herbals; Silver's Spells for Prosperity; Silver's Spells for Protection; Silver's Spells for Love; Murder at Witches Bluff (fiction); Halloween! - Customs, Recipes, and Spells; Teen Witch Kit; Witches Night Out (Teen fiction); Witches Night of Fear (Teen Fiction); Witches Key to Terror (Teen Fiction);  The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation Solitary Witch.

Best known for her down-to-earth writing style, Silver's RavenWolf publicly entered the magickal community in the early 80's with a chapbook style newsletter entitled Witch Press!  Her innovative, practical ideas on religion and magick gave rise to her popularity in the early '90's among grassroots Pagan publishers. From progressive considerations in publishing to her staunch support on discrimination issues, Silver concentrated her attention on assisting newcomers in Craft society, thereby gaining the recognition of her peers. In 1990, Llewellyn World Wide contracted her manuscript entitled "To Ride A Silver Broomstick", rocketing Silver from "that Witch in Pennsylvania" to world wide distribution. The Teen Witch! kit is produced in five languages making it the first alternative spirituality teen product with world wide distribution.

With her first book release, TO RIDE A SILVER BROOMSTICK, Silver began a journey that has taken her across the United States and into Canada to audiences of thousands. Her books have become a standard reference for persons studying Witchcraft, including use in the study of Witchcraft in colleges and Universities, and can be read in eight languages (English, German, Spanish, Danish, Portuguese, Armenian, Russian and Polish). She is a favorite guest on media talk shows and grants hundreds of interviews every year to broadcast, magazine and newspapers across the United States. Whether the New York Times, or a home town publication, Silver has always been ready to share her knowledge with those interested in the Old Religion and its new prototype, Wicca, and defend the freedoms of Wiccan and Pagan people. For over fifteen years she was the Director of the Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance and the publisher of the organization's quarterly newsletter -- Of Writers and Witches and served as the Director of the now defunct WADL (Witches Anti-Discrimination League) for five years.  

As of 2003, Silver has 35 covens in 11 states and one Canadian coven  that are specifically designed to train Pagan clergy. The ranks of Black Forest Witches are made of nearly all walks of life. Teachers, medical professionals, students, blue collar workers, college professors, law enforcement, writers, actors, business owners - many personally selected by Silver and her husband during their travels around the country. Approximately two months before his death, Lord Serphant performed her final elevation ceremony. Silver is now the Director of the Black Forest Clan and Circle Seminary.

While writing for Llewellyn World Wide, Silver RavenWolf became fascinated with a unique Pennsylvania healing tradition called "Pow-Wow." Pow-Wow Magick is not related to Native American Indian studies, spirituality, or lineage, but is a historically accurate magickal system devised by the German settlers of rural Pennsylvania. While conducting intensive study of this system of healing, she received direct training from Preston Zerbe, who was himself personally trained by the legendary Gertie Guise, who, at the age of 17,  was taught the art by Eli Guide, her father-in-law who lived between Gardners and Aspers in Adams County.  This Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow magick is a unique element of the Black Forest Clan. Third degree initiates and elders of Black Forest are also considered "Pow-Wow Artists" and are the only Witches in the United States to hold this particular lineage. All members can be verified through the Temple Roster, held by Silver and her family.  Black Forest members do not hive, but remain part of the focused whole.

Born on September 11, 1956, (Virgo, Gemini rising, Sagittarius moon) Silver's organizational abilities in combining practical and spiritual methods have helped her rise above Craft politics to offer a flexible path of religious study. Mother of four initiated teens, Silver's progressive ideas led to the composition of Teen Witch!, a stunning foray into the world of regular publishing, offering a clear inroad to the spiritual study of Wicca for young adults. This book brought positive media attention from such mainstream publications as the New York Times, US News & World Report,  Publishers' Weekly,  and recently, Teen People Book Club, Chicago Woman, and the teen magazine J-14.   Her cutting-edge, innovative courage has opened the door for spirituality seeking teens through her release of the Teen Witch Kit and her teen fictional series entitled Witches Chillers.  Silver also appears at book trade shows as an author, but more importantly, as a representative of the Wiccan community.

Silver spends her time in writing, interviews, spiritual discussions, personal appearances and her new interest -- Silver's Attic on Ebay and her Veiled Crossroads On-Line Store. She and her husband of twenty-three years, Mick, are both involved in Wiccan studies and conduct the Black Forest Family from their home in Pennsylvania. Silver teaches Magick, Witchcraft, Pow-Wow, Astrology, Tarot, Hoodoo, Hypnosis and other alternative endeavors. Not a stranger to community service, Silver organized and ran the first summer playground activities in her town for elementary school children and served as an assistant Girl Scout Leader for several years.

Silver's group, The Black Forest Family, is considered Euro-Wiccan, drawing from Silver's German heritage, Seax-Wicca lineage, Gardnerian training, Caledonii lessons, and Pow-Wow instruction by way of the excellent teachings she received from her Old Guard Wiccan magickal teachers, as listed above.

MoonRaven

Roses (Rosa spp.)

Gender: Female
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Healing; Health; Love; Luck; Creativity; Balance; Anointing; Divination; Clairvoyance; Protection; Psychic Awareness.

Spiritual or Magical Properties:

Rose water is used in gourmet dishes and in love potions. Petals are used in healing incense and sachets, and burned to provide a restful night's sleep. The essential oil is used in ritual baths to provide peace, love, and harmony within the self. The hips are strung like beads and worn to attract love. Rose petals sprinkled around the home will calm personal stress and upheavals in the home. You can also place a single rose in a vase on your altar as a powerful love-drawing aid.

Roses are a group of herbaceous shrubs found in temperate regions throughout both hemispheres. Roses of all varieties are adaptable to most soils as long as they have adequate water, and are occasionally fed through the growing season. There are varieties that will grow throughout North America. Plant them where you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance.

Medicinal Uses:
The fresh petals can be ground with a little boiling water and strained, and the liquid combined with honey. The resulting liquid is a natural laxative and a tonic for the stomach. The rose hips should be gathered after the first frost. They will be ready for drying or making into jam. The jam or jelly is used or coughs. The dried hips are opened, the seeds and hairs removed, and the skins used for an excellent sore throat tea; use two teaspoons per cup of water and simmer for ten minutes. An infusion of the petals, one ounce to one pint of water, makes a soothing eye lotion; strain it first through cheesecloth.


MoonRaven

Cleansing a Crystal

There are many methods of crystal cleansing. Below I have listed the best ones.

1. Sunlight: Place the tired or full crystal in a place where it can receive a full dose of sun for a few hours. If it still "feels" bad, then leave it there for a full three days thus allowing it to soak in the lunar and solar energies.

2. Moonlight: Place the crystal where it can receive the light of the full moon for a night.

3. Smudging: Pass the crystal through the smoke of burning herbs. Some popular herb combinations are A) sage, sweetgrass and cedar; B) frankincense and myrrh; C) sage alone. Again, go with your intuition.

4. Earth: Bury the crystal in the earth. Sometimes, when the crystal is through with you, burying it in the earth is a way of releasing it.

Methods of Charging a Crystal
Once your crystal is clean, then you may want to charge it for a specific purpose. You can also just allow the crystal to be and enjoy it as it is. It is up to you.

1. Holding the crystal in your power hand, ground and center yourself. Once you are settled, begin to pull energy up from the earth. Feel it pour into your body. Consciously channel this energy into your stone while thinking of your purpose. It is important to remain focused on your intent. For instance, if working a justice spell, you don't want to think about cleaning the cat's teeth.

2. Smudging the crystal while focusing on the smoke imbuing the crystal with energy for your work.

You can see that the whole point here is focusing yourself. Do remember that a crystal is no more than a tool just like your athame, boline, wand, robe, etc. You do not need props to work magic.

Handfasting and Wedding Rituals: Welcoming Hera's Blessing
by: Raven Kaldera &Tannin Schwartzstein

Handfasting and Wedding Rituals has everything you need to plan the perfect Pagan wedding. You'll find advice and examples to help you with basic wedding planning, writing vows, and ritual construction, along with practical tips and great ideas about everything from low-cost wedding favors to candle and bonfire safety.

Handfasting and Wedding Rituals also includes sixteen full rites honoring a wide variety of Pagan traditions. Rituals in their full form can be used exactly as printed or modified to fit your needs. Each rite is categorized as level one, two, or three depending on their level of overt Pagan content and degree of participation expected from your guests.

Excerpts from Handfasting and Wedding Ritual: Chapter 1

Getting started
Have your ceremony planned out as far ahead as possible. You, your clergyperson, and the participants may find it much less stressful to have copies of it months ahead of the wedding date so as to be familiar with it when the time comes. When Raven and Bella married, their complex ritual was put on paper literally two days before the wedding date, and poor Tannin, who was marrying them, only got handed the final copy an hour beforehand, and she stumbled through the complicated wording as best she could. Be kind to the people who are helping you make this day special, and give them plenty of time to get familiar with it and not make fools of themselves - or you.

You will also want to think about how long you actually want your rite to be. Once you've decided on the wording and plan of action, do a walk-through with people reading the parts and making the motions (this doesn't have to be the actual people who are in the ceremony; you can find friends for stand-ins) and see how long it takes. Take note of how your vows sound. The vows that seemed perfect on the page may be wrong or awkward when read aloud. Remember that juggling props like chalices and knives and scrolls and cords takes more time than you might think, and candles can suddenly refuse to light. Don't keep people standing in a circle for longer than half an hour, and provide chairs for the elderly or disabled and those with small children. Don't rush through it, either; slow is better. People are actually going to want to hear what's going on. With this in mind, if it reads as an hour in a simple rehearsal, it's going to be an hour and a half in real time, and you might want to shorten it.

We've found, by trial and error as Neopagan clergypeople, that anything under twenty minutes feels too short for people who may have come a long way to watch a ritual happen, and anything over an hour and a half can be too long for an audience to remain focused. Also, the more people present, the shorter the ceremony should be. (We've found that the more people in a crowd, the shorter the attention span of everyone in it.) Use the above time guideline for a crowd of fifty onlookers, and subtract a minute for each additional person until you get down to an hour, and then subtract a minute for each two additional people. If you have a really big crowd, keep it at about half an hour. If it's an elaborate ceremony, practice with props and restrictive costumes in advance. Don't overschedule things to do; for instance, one couple wanted to plant a tree as part of their ceremony, but someone pointed out to them that they would both be clad in flowing silks and probably didn't want to go digging holes and shoveling dirt in their expensive and fragile outfits.

Candle Cans
By AmberSkyfire

Imbolc is a time to light many candles in celebration of the lighting of the world and the new warmth. Candle Cans are a wonderful and safe way to decorate for this holiday.

You will need:
tin can
water
hammer
nail
paper
scissors
pencil or crayon

Save tin soup cans or other tall metal cans to use as candle holders. Fill the cans almost to the top with water and freeze them in the freezer. Cut a piece of paper to fit exactly around the tin can so that it covers the entire can. Have the child draw a picture on the paper the way that they want it to look on the can using dots as if it you were making a dot-to-dot picture.. (example: stars, flowers, suns, moons, etc.) Once the picture is finished, wrap the paper around the frozen can.

Take a nail (adults will need to do this for smaller children) and hammer it lightly over each dot on the picture, so that it will be transferred to the can. When finished, remove the paper and let the ice melt. Put tea lites inside of the tin can through the opening in the top so that they sit on the bottom of the can. The pictures drawn in dots on the can will glow with the light of the flame and will be projected onto the walls of a dark room.

Jade (Tremolite)

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Tremolite is a calcium, magnesium and iron silicate. When the iron content is high, it is called actinolite. The chemistry is Ca2(mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2. The streak is colorless, although the mineral itself can range in color from white to dark grey, yellowish, pink to lilac. We commonly tend to think of "jade" as green, but as you can see, it is actually available in many colors. The hardness is between 5 and 6.

ENVIRONMENT: Tremolite is a product of metamorphism and occurs with calcite and grossular in hornfels of contact metamorphic rocks and with talc in serpentinites of hydrothermal metamorphic rocks.

OCCURRENCE: There are many localities where fine tremolite specimens may be obtained. Crystals of up to 3" in length occur in marble at Haliburton and Wilberforce, Haliburton Co., Ontario and granular masses of pink tremolite (hexagonite) at De Kalb, St. Lawerence Co., New York. White and greenish crystals occur in calcite at Canaan, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.

GEMSTONE DATA: The Amphibole mineral nephrite, which consists of combined tremolite and actinolite, is dense, compact, tough. Semitransparent to translucent varieties of nephrite are called [jade.] Nephrite jade colors are white, all shades of green, gray, grayish (with tinge of blue, red, or green), brown, and lavender. Value increases with transparency, intensity and evenness of color, and freedom from flaws. Jade is fashioned into beads, earrings, and cabochons for rings and brooches, or carved into ornamental or religious objects. Nephrite jade comes from Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, China and Siberia.

NAME: Tremolite is from the occurrence in Val Tremolo in the Swiss Alps. The word 'jade' is derived from the Spanish [pietra d'ijada] which means 'colic stone'. In China, where jade has been venerated for thousands of years, over a hundred different names are in use for different color varieties.

LEGEND and LORE: Jade ornaments and implements of great antiquity have been discovered both in those parts of the world in which the mineral is found and in places far distant from these. It is the 'greenstone' so highly esteemed by the Maoris of New Zealand who carved it into pendants, sometimes representing their hero Tiki, and into chieftains' war clubs. It has been carved in Central America for well over a thousand years and the ancient Mayas prized it above gold. In ancient China a prospective bride would present her betrothed a jade butterfly to seal their engagement. Likewise the bridegroom would give his sweetheart a gift of jade before their wedding.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: Jade is considered one of the most important symbols of purity and serenity. It is also revered as an ancient symbol of love. The Maoris regard Jade as a stone that brings luck, especially specimens that are dark olive-green in color. The ancient Chinese felt that Jade helps to inspire the mind to make quick and precise decisions. The ancient trader would often hold this gem in the palm of his right hand while he engaged in business transactions. Carved into a scarab, Jade is said to bring its owner a long and prosperous life. It is also said that wearing Jade while gardening will improve the health of the plants. Similarly, small pieces of Jade can be buried along the perimeter for this purpose. It is worn for protection during defensive magical workings.

HEALING: Jade has been called "colic stone", "spleen stone" and "stone of the loins". It is said that by tying jade to the arm, stones in the kidneys can be expelled. The ancient Greeks used this mineral for healing ailments of the eyes. Wearing Jade helps the body to heal itself while working on the underlying, nonphysical problems which cause the disease in the first place.

Rhi's Imbolic Cake
Rhi's Imbolic Cake
Serves/Yields: 8
Prep. Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 30-45 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. poppyseeds
1 tbs. lemon peel
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
powdered sugar

Directions
You can do this in one pan! Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix
flour, sugar, poppyseeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in
an un-greased 9"x9"x2" baking pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven & cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Source: Rhiannin

Whithering Roses
By Grace K. Gasper

They tell me, love is blind.
Should that mean something to me?
Love will never come to me, I'm the one rose the gardener
Never seems to pick, never seems to care about.
No one ever wonders, on the outside we're fine.
Inside we're dieing.
People don't notice till our petals whither away,
And the snow covers and kills us.
By then it is too late.
If you could,
Would you save me?
Or let the snow cover and destroy me.

Written from the heart and soul of: Grace K. Gasper

COTC's newsletter staff is constantly looking for fresh ideas, articles and writers of all ages and backgrounds. If you have an opinion or would like to write an article, contact us. We have been blessed with a tremendous subscriber base so Be Heard! Submit all articles and poems to moonraven@childrenofthecircle.com or submissions@childrenofthecircle.com

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of those that have made their contributions to COTC's Newsletter in the past and continue to do so. As always, we enjoy hearing from you so keep up the great work!

COTC Newsletter Staff