Vol. 34 Issue 4 online Edition - The Council of Magickal Arts, Inc.

Vol. 34 Issue 4
online Edition
The CMA Newsletter
The Accord is an online quarterly publication for Wiccans, Pagans, NeoPagans, and other New Age
Philosophers. The Newsletter focuses on tradition sharing, all types of positive magick, poetry, rituals,
and many other items of interest to the Craft community.
Members can receive four issues a year of Accord, an e-zine found on CMA's web site. This exceptional
magazine includes articles on Pagan spirituality and the practices of the magickal arts, multimedia
reviews, Pagan parenting, online resources, magickal lore, religious tolerance, happenings in the Pagan
community and messages from CMA officers.
Editorial Policy
Opinions expressed by individual authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newsletter staff,
officers, or membership of the Council of the Magickal Arts.
The CMA Newsletter welcomes editorials and responses on topics pertinent to the pagan community. A
selection of responses received will be published in the interest of presenting balanced viewpoints.
Editor may hold over items submitted for the publication for following issues of the newsletter. These
decisions will be made based on seasonal appropriateness of the material and available space.
Please specify what name or magickal name to be credited under for publication purposes. We will gladly
respect privacy and use only magickal names as requested. Also if you would provide a short bio as well
that would be greatly appreciated.
Editor reserves the right to reject any material or ad that does not meet with the goals and purpose of the
Council of the Magickal Arts.
Submission of Factual Articles
Articles may be edited for length or content as needed at the discretion of the Editor. In case of editing,
all attempts to preserve the original feeling and content of the article will be made.
Please list information sources at the end of articles.
Submission of Art Work & Fiction
Art and fiction will be published without editing. If it is not possible to publish an item without editing
due to its content or appearance, the item will not be used.
Events Calendar
Free event listings are available for events occurring between issues. Material submitted may be
summarized. Please include dates, sponsorship, admission prices, location, a contact address and/or
phone, and general topics and activities that are included in the event.
Executive Director:
Assistant Executive Director:
Carolynn Zoll
Billy David
Director of Finance:
Gary Park
Director of Records:
Troy Lockwood
Director of Communications:
Megan Dobson
Executive Director:
Assistant Executive Director:
Carolynn Zoll
Carly McNamara
Director of Finance:
Gary Park
Director of Communications:
Megan Dobson
Director of Records: TBD
Troy Lockwood
William Stevens
Samhain 2014
Vol. 34 Issue 4
online Edition
Inside this Accord Issue:
Accord Guidelines & Info
2
2014 Board of Directors
3
2015 Incoming Board of Directors
4
Table of Contents
The Journey Continues...Musings from the Editor
5—6
7
The Auntie @ Crones Corner (On Hiatus)
7
Letter from the ED
6
Letter from the AED
9
Financial Report from the DoF—Registrar
10
Message from the 2014 Web Mistress….
10
Update from our DoC
11—12
Report form your DoR - Beltane 2014 GW Minutes
Sit A Spell
13—23
24
The Story of CMA by The Archivist
25
Member in Need
26
CMA Lineage
This Land is Our Land Samhain 2014 Festival Guide
Across The Fence by Rosethorn
Area Rep Reports
27—29
30 -51
52
53—54
A Cup of Tea
54
Musings—Sondra Cherico
55
Many Passions, One Flame—The Labyrinth by Alexandria
56—58
Team Leads and Senior Staff Reports
59—60
The Drummer’s Creed by Anonymous
Sacred Spaces
Texas Recipes by Gary
61
62—63
64
Summer 2014
Vol. 34 Issue 4
online Edition
Inside this Accord Issue (cont.):
Guilds & Society News
People & Passages
65
66
Announcements
66—71
Rosallinda
Have You Read ...-.Book Review by Valna
Ghost of a Flower by Anonymous
72—73
74
74
Musings by Sondra Cherico
75
Fall Craft For Everyone: Wooden Gnomes
76
2014 Workend Calendar
77
Musings from the Editor:
Greeting CMA Phamily,
Once again I want to thank everyone who submitted an article or who has a dedicated section in
the Accord. It is because of all of you and your submissions that our beloved Accord is evolving into this
wonderful piece of our written history. Without you this issue and all others would not happen, so once
again thank you. I am still looking for others who are willing to send in submissions.
Here are items I am hoping to include:
*Poets Corner (for poets of all ages)
* Artists and/or writers of all ages
*All call – Societies, Guilds, Covens, Circles, Groves
*Regular column for movie reviewer
* Other regular columns
I look forward to your contributions to our beloved Accord.
Upcoming Deadlines:
Yule December 6th Theme: Deities of Yule
Beltane 2015 April 6th Theme: From The Center of the Circle
Summer Solstice 2015 June 6th Theme: Totems
Samhain 2015 October 6th Theme TBD
Yule 2015 December 6th Theme TBD
Beltain 2016 April 6th Theme: TBD
If you’ve not liked our CMA Accord Facebook page please go to it here www.facebook.com/CMAAccord
in order to like it and keep informed of deadlines and Accord needs. In the mean
time you can contact me here [email protected].
Pamela DragonFlame
From the desk of The Auntie @ Crone’s Corner
My apologies, I do plan on returning as
soon as life returns me from the current
life lessons.
-A
Hello, Hello, Hello, Happy Stewards of Spirithaven!
The Wheel of the Year turns on and on and here we stand and come together again as a community
for Samhain, 2014 This Land is Our Land.
As you know, this theme was chosen after we PAID OFF THE LAND and now Spirit Haven is
completely ours! What an amazing thing! First we hit 33 years and NOW (at 34 years) we are landowners!
What does that mean for our future? Where will this take us? My goal is to take this and add to
what has been given to us to build on the legacy we leave for those who follow us. It is our job to continue
to weigh our needs and desires for not only the now, but for the generations of our CMA family who will
occupy and care for Spirit Haven in the future.
We can no longer say we are a community of 2 times a year or only 8 days a year. WE have a duty,
an obligation and an HONOR to be the caretakers of this Land as owners. Let us instead, revel and reflect
on what has been handed to us as we remain conscious to the legacy we build for our future.
Now let us join in circle Hand to Hand and step lively in jubilation as this moment will only come to
us this one time. Then we can look forward and work together to get to the next great achievement!
Blessings,
Carolynn Zoll
Council of the Magickal Arts
2013-2014 Executive Director
Council of the Magickal Arts
www.magickal-arts.org
Hello all you wonderful CMAers,
Your ever doting AED Billy here. Many people are asking if I am running again for AED as they are
not seeing me listed on the ballots. Tis true. This will be my last festival on the Board. I have some things
in my life that I would like to give more time to. I told myself that I would stay on the board till the land
was paid off and now it is, so now its time to focus elsewhere for me.
That being said THE LAND IS OURS! THE LAND IS OURS! THE LAND IS OURS! We own the land, and
so this festivals theme is “This land is OUR land.” The board and I have labored heavily to make this
festival about the land that we all call home. We have booked in a favorite entertainer for Friday night
that is always a hit, don’t miss Ginger Doss for sure. The schedule is looking great, better than normal. I
see many workshops that I hope to make it to myself. David Springer is back and prepared to talk on the
issues that face people who wish to take up a life of servitude in the role of being a priest(es). Saturday
nights ritual is being conducted by your Board of Directors in celebration of the property. But there's
more in store than just a ritual. We have extended the invitation to all past directors to come and
celebrate with us that evening. Come and say hello to them, and shake their hands for their past
service. I personally would like to extend a warm welcome to Greg Evans, who served as Executive
Director and actually chose this parcel at great personal expense. Greg, your sacrifices are remembered
by this member of CMA.
I cannot wait to see you all and celebrate our home, our hearth, our navel together.
On a personal note, being on the board has been a hell of a roller coaster I will say. I have
developed unexpected bonds with people, and have lost some friends along the way. It has been a
wonderful experience to serve you all. Thank you for your confidence in me and my drive to accomplish
what we have. Making this my last year on the board was not a decision I made easily, and I will admit
some tears have been shed about the issue. All in all, it has been a wonderfully rewarding experience. I
have learned a lot about CMA, about its membership, and about myself. These experiences and lessons
will be invaluable to me for the rest of my life. You, the membership, have given me more than an
opportunity, you have given me a blessing. Words cannot express. Thank you all so much for this.
I’ll be seeing you all VERY soon.
Billy David
AED 2013-2014
Yours in Grace
Finance Report—Registrar
Its that time again!
This event we get to celebrate that our land is FULLY paid for, its OURS !!!
This is the only completely paid for Pagan owned land in the US we have found of this size and one of the
few if only that the membership paid for rather than inherit. Not only are we aid for but we paid off 5
years early at a per diem of 13.01 dally saving us approximately 24, 374 and change This was only possible
because of you the membership. THANK YOU everyone of you should be proud of your accomplishment.
The land still has far to g, we are still in need of finance to pay for roads, bridges, water issues, etc. sp
please keep finding avenues of fundraising, we cannot stop now.
Thanks to the Witch Fire events we will have enough money to purchase an ice freezer f by Beltane 2015.
We need to raise a few more bucks to retrofit and repair a non used trailer we have that can carry the
weight of the freezer and ice, plus water tank. Please consider a special donation this event!
Our bills are paid and we are solvent. We are in the process of updating our books and will complete that
task when we find another bookkeeper. I may have to go outside the organization to hire a firm, in order
to get timely updating and reports as paying for this service with people inside the organization is not
working out. I apologize that I have not been able to get reports to you, however until the updates occur
that is difficult to impossible to do and give you accuracy you deserve.
I will entertain suggestions I you know of a bookkeeper or service that may help us.
As always if yo have any questions regarding finances or registrations please contact finance first. We are
the only guaranteed source of accurate information.
We are preparing a new registration process that will be beta tested by select members after Samhain.
This system promises to be easier to use and faster. We will no longer mail tickets to you by mail. This
process has become cumbersome and is very expensive. The new system emails you a ticket with a
barcode, all you need to do is arrive and they will scan you in at the gate More to come in the next News
and Notes and Accord.
Message from the 2014 Web Mistress….
Hello all!!
Your Web Mistress~Rain
[email protected]
CMA Bulletin - BREAKING NEWS regarding Spirit Haven!
Attention Stewards of Spirit Haven!
If you didn't already know, this is a truly amazing community. We are a community which has broken
boundaries and beaten the odds in so many ways.
We are a member-run organization which has continued as a non-profit organization for nearly 34
years. A non-profit which has never hired a professional Board of Directors. THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY!
We are a non-profit which is run by member volunteers, which purchased land that has multiplied its
value several times. THIS IS UNHEARD-OF!
Finally, we are not only a member-run non-profit with land holdings and a volunteer Board of Directors. As of 0506, 28 June, 2014...the check has cleared the bank and...
WE OWN SPIRIT HAVEN!!!
Yes, Stewards of Spirit Haven! WE OWN SPIRIT HAVEN!! YOU HAVE DONE THIS AMAZING
THING! And we, your current Board of Directors, are humbled to be a part of what you have done and
what you have allowed us to do for you in our service.
Join us for Samhain 2014 as we come together, the awe-inspiring community that has made this happen! Join us on that Saturday night for our main ritual, led by the Board of Directors, as we celebrate
the magicks which have allowed this to happen. Join us as we call to this land that is now OUR land OUR HOME - Spirit Haven.
With much Joy and Gratitude,
Your 2014 Board of Directors
Carolynn Zoll - Executive Director
William David - Assistant Executive Director
Gary Park - Director of Finance
Megan Dobson - Director of Communications
Troy Lockwood - Director of Records
As the current Board of Directors at the moment of the mortgage payoff, Carolynn, William, Gary, Troy
and I have the opportunity to take the victory lap. But we’re not the ones who accomplished this
monumental task. We’re simply the anchor team in a relay over three decades in the making.
Every Director who served on every Board, every volunteer who worked a shift or came out to a workend,
every festival attendee who showed some monetary love to the Bridge Trolls, everyone who promoted or
contributed to any of the myriad of fundraisers we’ve had over the years, everyone who hung in there
through good times and bad, everyone who believed and saw the possibility… EVERYONE that showed up
has made a difference and has made this moment possible.
And because of you – all of you, all of US – when we come through those gates at Samhain 2014, when
we cross the Troll Bridge, make our way through the grounds, set up our camps, and take that first
deeeeeep breath… we’re all truly coming Home.
Welcome Home, CMA.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
If you have any comments or concerns about CMA communications, I’m always ready to listen at
[email protected]. Have ideas or suggestions about new initiatives or ways to improve our
existing efforts? I’d love to hear from you!
Megan Dobson
~ 2014 Director of Communications
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014
IN ATTENDANCE:
The following members of the Board of Directors were present.
Carolynn Zoll, Executive Director (ED)
William (Billy) David, Assistant Director (AD)
Gary Park, Director of Finance (DoF)
Troy Lockwood, Director of Records (DoR)
Megan Dobson, Director of Communications (DoC)
Others in Attendance:
Membership of CMA
MINUTES RECORDER: Troy Lockwood, DoR
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER:
Carolynn Zoll, Executive Director, opened the meeting at 11:39am on April 20, 2014. Carolynn then
turned the floor over to Cliff Camacho to do the open Prayer.
DETERMINATION OF QUORUM:
Currently there are 410 active members. Quorum would be 41. In attendance at the Great Works
Meeting there were 45 members and 93 proxies creating a total of 138 voting members. A quorum was
declared and the meeting proceeded.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the Samhain 2013 Great Works meeting were read aloud by Carolynn Zoll to check for
accuracy. Several spelling errors were found and will be corrected. A motion to approve the minutes was
made by Jennifer Ramon and seconded by Noah Ramon; motion was passed at 12:45pm by all
members in attendance.
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
BOARD REPORTS:
Carolynn, Executive Director:
Hello, Hello, Hello, Stewards of Spirit haven!!
This has been an amazing festival! Being a part of Team CMA is an exhausting, exhilarating and
completely fantastic week!
That said, I must sadly report; due to what can only be described as a comedy of errors. I was unable to
complete the community service report for Samhain, 2013. I will be working diligently to complete that as
well as the report for you and will have them published through the DoC and in the Accord.
We have a lot of business to complete today and I know we are all tired and smelly and ready to move
forward; and we ARE moving forward!
We began as nomads…moving from home to home until our numbers required more. We continued as a
larger community of nomads moving from state parks to lands we would rent to hold our community and
our worship. Then an idea was born. An idea that held the concept of a land which we could hold, Could
shelter our community and would continue to hold our magicks. Thus was the beginning of the dream
that became Spirit haven.
Soon we will have completed that dream and Spirit haven will belong to us!
Samhain this year will bring to “This Land is Our Land” (October 16-19).
(Yeah)
I want to also announce the Graphic Contest for Beltane 2015 which will close October 1, 2014. The
Theme is “From the Center of the Circle”.
We have wound through this journey which began as nomads and will be landholders…beginning a new
journey together “From the Center of the Circle”
Blessings,
Billy, Assistant Director:
The Raffle, Date & Whipping auction raised $993.00 combined. These funds have been ear marked to
be used to purchase an ice cooler so that we may once again have ice available for sale at the festivals.
This is not enough to make the purchase just yet, but does put a major dent in that expense.
No major issues to report.
Did everyone enjoy Tuatha De? Should I book them again?
Need recommendations for guest speakers for Samhain 2014.
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
Gary, Director of Finance:
Happily CMA is financially solvent and has its current bills already paid.
We are still recovering from the Samhain we had to cancel due to the Bastrop fires and poor weather
last Samhain which reduced income slightly but we are recovering well in that area.
The Lifetime event and membership program is going strong and we will be able to pay off the property
by the end of the year, probably sooner and depending on developments today possibly very soon. We
still have slots available in the program so please contact me if you would like to participate. My email is
[email protected]. Currently we have about 30 sold of the 50 available or in pay out process
with 4 on temporary hold.
We are in the middle of major changes in operating methods to streamline registration and land
operations and hope to have those changes completed well before Samhain.
Financial reports will be available after the 2nd quarter of 2014 on the website and will be published in
the Accord.
Troy Lockwood, Director of Records:
DoR: Hello everyone I am working on changing a few things. One is the way we do reports I cannot
hear everything and to have them given to me makes things lots easer to attach them to the minutes.
We in the past have missed things and then no- one catches it till much later and then it is too late to
make corrections. I am trying to make our records as clear as possible so that these mistakes do not
happen.
Megan Dobson, Director of Communications:
Lightning has stepped down as our webmistress and Rain Land has taken the position. She is working
on a completely new website, targeted to roll out early summer. In the interim, the current website will
continue to have only minimal updates.
Pamela continues on as our Accord Editor. June 6th is the deadline for submission for the summer
edition of the Accord. Please send all submissions to [email protected] .
In 2013, we retired the CMA Announce Yahoo list and replaced that with Constant Contact. We will
soon Begin Putting out a Monthly newsletter to keep people informed of the general goings-on in CMA,
as well as a few more targeted emails (eg., workend announcements) for people who want information
from specific areas.
Facebook has been firmly established in our communications toolkit. I will be working on cleaning up
CMA’s Facebook presence to streamline communications.
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
SENIOR STAFF REPORTS:
Safety Staff: Mathews healing station was dedicated this event. Badger is the new Safety Services
Manager. Meredith is the Assistant Safety Services Manager and the healing coordinator. We had 12
new guardians this event.
Front Gate:
Having trouble with staff showing up for shifts. The members really have enjoyed the new gate hours
this has reduced stress on getting in after hours. Traffic issues will improve next event.
Bridge-Trolls:
Bridge Trolls raised just over $1,000 dollars from member donations this festival. The personalized
Troll Tags were not available this festival, but they should be back for Samhain.
CMA1: no report submitted
Fire Crew: MOOP (matter out of place ) is better at fires making cleanup easer for the next fire setup.
Sacred Spaces:
The sacred space coordinator was absent this event and Gary Park was asked to stand in for her. We
determined an acceptable location for the Ganesh altar. The dragons nest altar has been consecrated
as has Volt Ve. The medicine Wheel location has been finalized and design will begin this spring. If interested in participating in the design please contact Gary at [email protected] for further
information and discussion about joining the design team. Remember if you wish to make any changes
to an existing space you must first run the changes by the sacred space committee.
Ranch Crew:
We’re making changes in the ranch operations and how we operate by streamlining how we accomplish things. Plans are still in formulation and will be in the next Accord. If you’re able please consider
coming to a work end and to help with the ranch operations. You can find our page on face book by
searching Spirit Haven Ranch Team by contacting [email protected]. Maintenance on the
land is very important to CMA , however we need your help and support to accomplish this task. There
is plenty to do, even from home (crafts, Internet research, data processing, etc.). If you can set aside
one or two hours per week please consider helping us out. Contact any director or
[email protected] .
Registration:
We are still working to smooth out the registration process for events and will issue tickets for Samhain
in 2014 specifically because Samhain will be a major celebratory event and souvenir tickets will be
important. Beltane 2015 we will change operations and use a ticket process. In that process you will
receive your tickets by accessing a link sent to you by email when you register. Mailing tickets is
expensive for CMA. We spend approximately .75 cents per ticket to mail not considering labor. This
change will save a huge amount of money for CMA. The current plan will also allow you to check in
with your smart phone or any device that can display an electronic image (barcode/Smart code) if you
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
prefer not to print out your ticket.
Vendor: No report submitted
Happy Pagan Café:
Everything went well and they loved the new setup for them. The storage that was provided was better
than the trailer.
Policies:
Policy 1: Policies and Procedures
Moved to vote by Carol Green
Seconded by Sheila Moore
Passed with no abstentions or no’s
Policy 2: Tree Culling
Moved to vote by Scott Pearson
Seconded by Mike Miller
Policy moved back to committee to be reworded.
Policy 3: Board Manual
Moved to vote by Carlas Smith
Second Ken See
Passed with No abstentions or no’s
Policy 4: Community Service
Moved to vote by Kevin Arnold
Second by Jennifer Ramon
Policy failed no votes for yes
Recessed for a 5 minute break from 2:05pm until 2:10pm
New Business:
Fundraisers:
Smash Spencer, she was sent a Vermont teddy bear, and we tied pink ribbons around the property.
Chopper requested help with his fundraising for another round of medical tests.
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
Leases:
Freezer Burn;
Frozen snowflake was a huge success we hosted approximately 703 people at the event. This is one of
the largest events the LLC has held. There are always a minor issue when families merge, however the
LLC is very good at handling those issues and extraordinarily good at property care and cleanup. The
issue of firewood is really a non-issue; the LLC was told they could burn existing wood as part of the
contract with the LLC and that CMA would replace the materials used which it has. The people
attending were impressed with the feel of the land and that CMA obviously has a strong spiritual
presence here. During the event we noticed that our water stations were turned into an impromptu alters
by the freezer burn attendees which we found interesting. Will be open for comments later in the
meeting please.
A motion was made to allow the Board to Negotiate and execute future or multi-year leases with Frozen
Art Collective, LLC.
Motion to vote by Laura Johns,
Seconded by Ken See
107 votes yes
0 no’s
A motion passed to allow the Board to Negotiate and execute future or multi-year leases with Frozen Art
Collective, LLC.
Oil and Gas lease:
Crew Land Research, Ltd.
Per phone conversation enclosed you will find a copy of oil, gas and mineral lease covering the interest
owned by the Council of magical arts Inc. In the above description land in Fayette County, Texas the
terms that we are offering for the Oil, gas and mineral leases are as follows:
1. $350.00 per net mineral acre(101.55 net acres X $350.00=$35,542.50)
2. 1/5th royalty
3. 3 year primary term with a 2 year option
4. $350.00 per net mineral acre for 2 year option if exercised
The above average calculations are based on the assumption that you are 100% mineral interest in the
described tract of land. Please understand a complete title search will need to be performed to confirm
mineral ownership prior to any payment.
The board asked to make a vote to negotiate with the Oil Company.
107 yes
1 no
CMA Great Works Meeting Beltain 2014 (Continued)
The board is given permission to talk with the Oil Company.
The members were then asked to vote to give the power to the board to make the decisions for the
best interest for CMA
138 yes
1 no
The Board of Directors is given the power to negotiate in the best interests of CMA to get the best
lease.
Proposed Amendment to the Lease Agreement written by Phillip Rainwater.
This policy will go to the Policy committee and then presented to the membership.
Proposed Bullying Policy
We need to ask you a question:
We need to know what you would like the board to do in the following (not hypothetical) situation:
Should a member become menacing (define menacing) to another member, commit sexual assault,
threat or an individual or to the Corporation, or bodily injury to another member we have decisions to
make. In the event something of this nature should occur and we can verify to the boards satisfaction
the actions did occur in the correct parties are identified, they of course will be removed from the event
immediately. Our question is what guidelines as members would you like us to follow afterward with
respect to the offending individual? We cannot “ban” individuals, and a sales situation that option is not
legally definable. We can refuse services to anyone for any reason as long it is not discriminatory.
What rule would you like us to follow?
The members voted unanimously to allow the Board of Directors to handle any Bullying Complaints
with best judgment until the policy is voted on.
Winners of the Drawing:
1 CD Mike Peavy
1 lease Morgau Rowley
1 Festival ticket Marshal Warren
1 GC to vendor row 25 Ryan Merrit
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:15pm
Motion made (unavailable name)
Second made (unavailable name)
Vote was by acclamation and was unanimously
Troy Director of Records Council of Magical-arts 2013-2014
Sit A Spell
In a recent conversation someone stated, “Well really anyone who can cooks even if just
for their family is a Kitchen Witch.” I will admit that my first instinct was a sarcastic comment, as that
would be equivalent to saying that anyone who puts a bit of paint on some paper is Picasso or Van Gogh.
Instead I took a deep breath and put on my ’wise woman’ educator hat so I could enlighten them.
Still the conversation stayed with me which leads me to this issues entry because if one person believed
that other’s might as well. I want to share what I shared with my friend. Let me start by saying, in case
there is a doubt, just because a person cooks it doesn’t make them a kitchen witch. So then what does
you ask. A kitchen witch is someone who uses practical magic, they do things with a specific intent more
than just cooking a meal, for their home and family or friends. Simply put kitchen witchery is domestic
magick. It is simple and does not require long incantations or even spoken words. The food or drink is
made with the right or specific intent and feeling, to bring about the desired results.
Intent is the main ingredient for everything that a kitchen witch creates. They do not set up a circle and
an altar nor do they invoke the elements or deities per se as they have made their kitchen sacred already.
Kitchen witches don’t just prepare food they brew potions and make medicine. Also there area still some
kitchen witches who are in the closet and need to keep it a secret. They use kitchen witchery as a way to
practice magick and do spells without making it obvious.
The next time you wish to practice some kitchen witchery of your own remember that when you stirring
in a clockwise (deosil) direction is to draw good energy, and that if you are stirring in an counter-clockwise
(widdershins) direction is to send out negative energy. For example stir clockwise to bring in money, love,
luck, health, etc. Stir counter-clockwise to banish, get rid of or send back.
In the meantime keep the fires burning and the
magick flowing...
The people would come together and listen to the stories of their beginnings. Listen now to the words of
the keeper of our story. The story of CMA.
What are you? What am I? Interacting cycles of water, earth, air and fire; that is what I am, that is what
you are. And Spirit - ever and always there must be Spirit to balance and clarify the gifts that the elements give us.
There were gifts in abundance and thoughtful change began to emerge. New voices joined the old,
malleable in expression but predictive in alliance. We became known beyond the fellowship of our
gatherings; sought out for the companionship of simple communication of like-minded souls, the vision
broadened. And our inherent truths expanded to give weight and clarity to the vision.
A firm foundation grounded us and granted a sense of true stability - though we were still nomads. The
purposeful building could continue. Fueled by passion, guided by mindful vision and cooled by
compassion, intent became action and the promise became true purpose.
Let the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart and the actions of my life be as one,
Mary Wolf
Archivist
Members in need
http://www.gofundme.com/f24q4w
This story started the end of September. As you may have heard, our friend Scott Olmstead has had a
medical emergency while training for a job as a truck driver. Scott found himself alone in the ICU, at a
hospital in Kingman, AZ. Unfortunately the doctors found a blockage in his vein in his upper left thigh,
blocking blood flow to the rest of his leg.
Scott's wife, Karen Olmstead, you might know her in community as Rain, was home in Sealy, TX trying hold it
all together on her own. This all comes at a precarious time for Scott and Karen. Scott finds himself withy out
a salary as he just started a new job with the hope of pursuing greater financial freedom as a cross-country
truck driver. He also finds himself without insurance, and is stranded in a hospital 1300 hundred miles from
home.
There have been several incidences and changes since then. At the time Scott had been in the hospital for
seven days, and is anticipated to be in at least another ten. He was released and sent home then they had to
call the ambulance to take him back to the hospital. He had surgery then he was moved to ICU after the
surgery because his blood pressure was very low. He is currently on a ventilator. The doctors found Scott has
diminished kidney and liver function. They believe this is due to the added stress to his system caused from
the infection in his leg. If his liver and kidney functions don't improve, the doctors told Karen Scott might
loose his leg.
Karen asks we send healing energy and prayers that Scott's condition improves. Let's light up his leg and his
whole being with healing light and love. Let us nourish his liver and kidneys that their function improves.
Scott and Rain are good people. If you could help ease their burden by making a donation, it would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you!

1980 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) Established: November 2nd was
the first organizational meeting. The first to suggest this was Lady Phoenix from Dallas during the
previous Summer Solstice. In attendance were De and Tom Gilliland, Samantha and Sean McColl,
Bertie and Robert Estes, Herman ‘Elksinger’ Nelson and Pattalee Koentop. Originally CMA was named
the Council of the Mystic Arts.

1980 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) ED Bertie Estes

1981 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) ED Bertie Estes

1982 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) CMA changed name to Council of
Magickal Arts at Samhain Meeting. ED Judy Carusone

1983 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) ED Judy Carusone (Judy got the
membership to agree that having the Newsletter Editor and Director be the same person was a bad
idea so the positions were split.)

1984 (Accord March 1992 Volume 12, Issue 2 Future-History of CMA) ED Edwina Honc,
Editor Judy Carusone

1984 (Accord Fall 2000 Volume 20, Issue 3, from article CMA turns 20) ED J. T. Darwin

1985 (Accord March Volume 5, Issue 2) ED J. T. Darwin

1986 (Accord Fall 2000 Volume 20, Issue 3, from article CMA turns 20) ED Carol Price

1987 (Accord September Volume 7, Issue 4 & December Volume 8, Issue 1) ED Karen McPhail

1988 (Accord June Volume 8, Issue 3) ED Karen McPhail

1988 (Accord December Volume 9, Issue 1) ED Valerie Cannon

1989 (Accord Fall 2000 Volume 20, Issue 3, from article CMA turns 20) ED Craig Pierce

1990 (Accord June Volume 10, Issue 3) ED Craig Pierce

1990 (Minutes Beltaine GW 1990) (Acting) ED Craig Pierce, (Acting) AED J. T. Darwin, DoF Thorn. DoR
Linda ?, Newsletter Editor Judy Carusone

1991 (Accord December 1990 Volume 11, Issue 1) ED Valna Asterman, AED Carol ‘Sirocco’ Green,
Newsletter Editor Lila ‘Lillith’ Harmon

1992 (Accord March Volume 12, Issue 2) ED Valna Asterman, AED Judy Carusone, Editor of Newsletter
Lila ‘Lillith’ Harmon

1992 (Accord June Volume 12, Issue 3) ED Valna Asterman, AED Judy Carusone, DoF Thorn, DoC Linda

1992 (Accord December Volume 13, Issue 1) ED Ka’leen, AED Carol ‘Sirocco’ Green, DoC Linda
Sepulveda, DoF Larry ‘Ari’ Carson

1993 (Accord March Volume 13, Issue 2 & Minutes Samhain GW 1992) ED Ka’leen Reed, AED Sirocco
(Carol Green), DoF Larry ‘Ari’ Carson, DoR Linda, Newsletter Editor Lila Harmon

1993 (Accord December 1994 Volume 15, Issue 1) ED Ka’leen Reed
Newsletter

1994 (Accord December Volume 15, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 1993) ED Ka’leen Reed, AED
Shonnie ‘Ahriana’ Bray, DoF Larry ‘Ari’, DoR Linda Sepulveda, Newsletter Editor Lila Harmon

1995 (Accord December 1994 Volume 15, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 1994) ED Shonnie
‘Ahriana’ Bray, AED R. A. “Tiny” Peterson, DoF Lisa Collins, DoR Seshen, Newsletter Editor Lila Harmon
NOTE: By this time the previous years DoR had resigned and Seshen started at Samhain.

1996 (Archivist records) ED Ahriana Bray, AED R. A. “Tiny” Peterson,

1997 (Accord Fall Volume 17, Issue 3) ED R. A. “Tiny” Peterson, AED Lou Mancel, DoF Susan ‘Zana’
Milam, Scribe Ray ‘Couggar’ Fagan, Newsletter Editor Marilyn ‘Rohana’ Dillon

1997 (Accord Winter Volume 17, Issue 4) ED R. A. “Tiny” Peterson, AED Lou Mancel, DoF Susan ‘Zana’
Milam, Scribe Ray ‘Couggar’ Fagan

1998 (Accord Spring Volume 18, Issue 1) DE R. A. “Tiny” Peterson, AED Lou Mancel, DoF Susan Milam
“Zana”, Scribe Ray Fagan “Couggar”

1998 (Accord Summer Volume 18, Issue 2) ED R. A. “Tiny” Peterson, AED Lou Mancel, DoF Susan Milam
“Zana”, Scribe Ray Fagan “Couggar”

1999 (Accord Spring Volume 19, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 1998) ED Lou Mancel, AED Greg
Evans, DoF Susan ‘Zana’ Milam, Scribe Charlayne Elizabeth ‘Charlie’ Denny, Newsletter Editor Marilyn
‘Rohana’ Dillon

2000 (Accord Spring Volume 20, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 1999) ED Lou Mancel, AED
Charlayne Elizabeth ‘Charlie’ Denny, DoF Susan ‘Zana’, Milam Scribe Niki Ficarra, Newsletter Editor
Marily ‘Rohana’ Dillon

2000 (Accord Summer Volume 20, Issue 2) ED Lou Mancel, AED Charlayne Elizabeth ‘Charlie Denny,
DoF Susan ‘Zana’ Milam, Scribe Niki Ficarra

2000 (Accord Fall Volume 20, Issue 3) ED Lou Mancel, AED Charlayne Elizabeth ‘Charlie’ Denny, DoF
Susan ‘Zana’ Milam”, Scribe Niki Ficarra

2000 (Accord Winter Volume 20, Issue 4) ED Lou Mancel, AED Charlayne Elizabeth Denny, DoF Susan
Milam “Zana”, Scribe Niki Ficarra

2001 (Accord Spring Volume 21, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 2000) ED Greg Evans, AED Sara
Riley, Dir. Of Land and Facilities Gary Park, DoC Marilyn E. Dillon, Dir. of Finance Debbie Huffman,
Scribe Willow Masters, Newsletter Editor Marilyn E. Dillon

2001 (Accord Summer Volume 21, Issue 2) ED Greg Evans, AED Sara Riley, Dir. Of Land and Facilities
Gary Park, DoC Marilyn E. Dillon, Dir. of Finance Debbie Huffman, Scribe Willow Masters

2001 (Accord Fall Volume 21, Issue 3) ED Greg Evans, AED Sara Riley, Dir. Of Land and Facilities Gary
Park, DoC Marilyn E. Dillon, Dir. of Finance Debbie Huffman, Scribe Willow Masters (At Samhain
meeting Marilyn Resigned from all her positions)

2002 (Accord Spring Volume 22, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 2001) ED Greg Evans, AED Sara
Riley, Dir. Of Land and Facilities Gary Park, DoC Kerridwen, Dir. of Finance Marek Ryciak, Scribe Willow
Masters, (Willow resigned - Interim Scribe Seneca)

2002 (Accord Summer Volume 22, Issue 2) ED Greg Evans, AED Sara Riley, Dir. Of Land and Facilities
Gary Park, DoC Kerridwen, Dir. of Finance Marek, Scribe Seneca

2003 (Accord Spring Volume 23, Issue 1 also Minutes Samhain GW 2002) ED Sara Riley, AED Seneca,
DoC Lara Winsor, Dir. Land and Facilities John Gerace, Scribe Dana Abernathy Newsletter Editor,
Registar Elizabeth

2003 (Minutes Beltaine GW 2003) Interim Board ED Gary Park, AED James ‘Bran’ Langley, DoF Susan
‘Zana’ Milam, DoC Steve ‘Skelter’ Suehs, Director of Land and Facilities Bill Singleton, DoR Elayne Cook

2004 (Minutes Samhain GW 2003) ED Maeven Eller, AED James ‘Bran’ Langley, DoR Jennett Wildie,
DoF Anita Kasdorf-Meyer, DoC Bruce Denny, Director of Land and Facilities Bill Singleton

2005 (Minutes Samhain GW 2004) ED Maeven Eller, AED James ‘Bran’ Langley, DoR Cathy Eddy, Director of Land and Facilities Bill Singleton, DoC Bruce Denny, DoF Gary Park (In August Interim DoR Mary
‘Wolf’ Gray, Interim AED Donna ‘Blaze’ Johnson, Interim Dir. Of Land and Facilities Joe Rose)

2006 (Minutes Samhain GW 2005) ED James ‘Bran’ Langley, AED Donna ‘Blaze’ Johnson, DoC Bruce
Denny, DoF Gary Park, DoR Mary ‘Wolf’ Gray

2007 (Archivist) ED James ‘Bran’ Langley, AED Merideth Chaffin, DoC Lynda ‘Rain’ Land, DoF Susanne
‘Dragonwolfe’ Ambuhl, DoR Judy Kay Kraft (Interim Panther)

2008 (Archivist) ED Bill Singleton, AED Merideth Chaffin, DoF Susanne ‘Dragonwolfe’ Ambuhl, DoC
Lynda ‘Rain’ Land (Interim Lisl Krieger), DoR Mike Miller

2009 (Archivist) ED Merideth Chaffin, AED Rachel Allen, DoC Lisl Krieger, DoF Donna ‘Blaze’ Johnson,
DoR Mike Miller, (Starting July—Interim Pamela ‘DragonFlame’ Allen)

2010 (Minutes Samhain GW 2009) ED Merideth Chaffin, AED Mary Ellen Rainwater, DoC Lisl Krieger,
DoF Donna ‘Blaze’ Johnson, DoR Pamela ‘DragonFlame’ Allen

2011 (Minutes Beltane GW 2010) ED Mary Ellen Rainwater, AED Merideth Chaffin, DoC Lisl Krieger,
DoF Robert Webb, DoR Pamela ‘DragonFlame’ Allen

2012 (Minutes Samhain GW 2011) ED Mary Ellen Rainwater, AED Carolynn Zoll, DoC Ken ‘Skywise’ Hall,
DoF Gary Park, DoR Pamela ‘DragonFlame’ Allen

2013 (Minutes Samhain GW 2012) ED Carolynn Zoll, AED William ‘Billy’ David, DoC Ken ‘Skywise’ Hall,
DoF Gary Park, DoR Pamela ‘DragonFlame’ Allen

2014 (Minutes Samhain GW 2013) ED Carolynn Zoll, AED William “Billy” David, DoF Gary Parks, DoC
Megan Dobson
Across the Fence
Eating foods that are in season in a good way to stay healthy – there is a reason why
certain foods are ready to eat during certain times of the year. The bounty found at
the grocery stores is beautiful to look at, but eating foods out of season can confuse
the body (and out of season food just doesn’t taste as good as those in season).
Here are some seasonal food, for this time of the year, and some suggestions as to what to do with it.
1. Squash: high in vitamin A and C, squash will help ward off winter illnesses. Butternut squash contains
quite a bit of sugar, so if you are counting calories, stick to acorn and spaghetti squash. Quick recipes
for acorn and spaghetti is to cut the squash in half, de-seed both halves and put cut side down in a thin
layer of liquid. Stick in the oven or microwave. The liquid will be soaked up by the squash, and the
result is a soft squash side dish (or with the spaghetti squash, the beginning of a Italian meal!).
2. Sweet potato – this little gem is full of potassium and fiber, as well as vitamin A. Considered a starch
due to its high sugar content, the sweet potato is a welcomed warm addition to the meal. One of the
easiest recipes (besides cooking it like a ‘regular’ potato) is to make fries. Take the potato, cut into long
strips and combine them with olive oil and salt. Lay them out onto a cookie sheet and bake until
golden brown.
3. Apples – the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” does have merit. It is high in both
vitamin C and fiber. When munchy, reach for an apple instead of sugar. A fast way to make a great
snack is cut up an apple into bite size pieces and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top. Stick in the
microwave for a minute – check for softness and microwave for another minute if not soft enough. Let
cool a little bit and enjoy.
4. Pears – the pear is also high in vitamin C, but it has more sugar than the apple. Still a good snack, alone
or with cinnamon (like the apple above).
5. Carrots – a vegetable that is so high in vitamin A, C and B6, it’s no wonder rabbits love it. It is also a
wonderful source of potassium, thiamin and fiber. It’s good in stir fries (think thinly sliced strips), but I
like them raw with yogurt dip or peanut butter.
There are so many good vegetables and fruits that are in season, there is no need to go ‘outside the
season’ to find great items for your table. Other seasonal goodies include figs, cabbage, cauliflower, beets,
tangerines, blood oranges, clementines, mandarin oranges, white potatoes and broccoli.
Till next time!
Rosethorn
Austin: Hello! Austin has the following to report for the next Accord:
To keep up with local events, join the CMA Austin Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/
groups/523531024350569/ and the Austin Pagan Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/
austinpagan/! You can also reach the reps (Candyce and Janis) at [email protected] for any
questions.
Austin has our Fourth Friday Pagan Night Out on the fourth Friday of every month at the Austin Java near
12th and Lamar, usually on the back patio. We begin at 7pm and are usually there until close, so come
enjoy food, beverages, and good conversation! To keep up with this event, you can join the Facebook
group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/362468705164/.
San Antonio: PNO’s are held at Candlelight Café on the 13th of every month. Since the Candlelight is
closed on Sundays and Mondays if the 13th falls on a Sunday it happens on the Saturday the 12th instead; if on a Monday it happens on Tuesday the 14th. This year’s PPD was a great success. There was a
CMA booth manned by our lead rep.
Central Texas: Has a Pagan night Out in Killeen on the 13th of every month at The Hardback Cafe inside
of Hasting's on Lowe's Blvd from 7-9pm. Announcements at PNO include upcoming events, Pagan
services and shops and local covens and classes available. Our area also includes the diverse population
of Pagans on Ft Hood.
We attended Austin Pagan Pride Day and represented Central Texas Area at the CMA booth.
Lisa Langdon, Area Rep
Melissa McGee, Lead Area Rep
North Texas: There is a lot going on in North Texas! I am working on touching base with local event
planners to get the word out to CMA members about local events. If you have anything you would like
added to the list, please let me know.
The Arlington UU church hosted the DFW PPD on September 27th.
http://arlingtonuu.org/ http://dfwpaganpride.org/
Groovy Goods hosts Drum Jams and Open Mic nights https://www.facebook.com/GroovyGoodsTX
There is a weekly Drum Jam in Dallas at the Green Elephant http://www.greenelephantdallas.com/#!
Sacred Journey Fellowship in Garland hosts celebrations http://www.sacredjourneyuu.org/
I believe that we are better as a community when we spend time with one another face to face, and I am
committed to spending face to face time with CMA members in the North Texas area.
Thank you for allowing me to serve this community.
Willow
Brazos Valley: No Repot
Outlands: No Report
South East Texas: No Report
NE Texas: No Report
Coastal Bend: No Report
If you don’t see a report from your area rep here let them know.
A Cup of Tea
There is a process for making a good cup of team. The process has five simple steps.
1. Watch your water—Your perfect cup deserves more than tap water. Filtering tap water reduces your
exposure to carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
2. Choose the right herb—Got an ailment? There’s a tea for that—you just need to know which one is
best for what. This is where your knowledge of herbs will come in handy.
3. Brew it yourself—Home-brewed tea has more antioxidants than bottled convenience tea.
4. Skip the milk—Tea is packed with antioxidants but a simple splash of milk addition can negate their
benefits.
5. Avoid sugar and instead add spice. Stir with a cinnamon stick.
Happy journey as you go to your magickal
place and start your blending…..
By: Sondra Cherico
Thoughts about the coming of Samhain. Yes, it's a celebration of the Turning of the Wheel. It's also our
conscious beginning of the Dark Side of the Year. We celebrate both. Samhain is a Fire Festival and
known as "Witches New Year". It's also the time we think of as the beginning of the Dark Side of the Year.
While the Dark Side began at Mid-Summer, we collectively begin to think of the Dark Time beginning
November 1st. Living in the Southern part of the U.S. has something to do with it, I think. So what does
the Dark Side of the Year mean? The Harvest is complete, the slaughter is done and winter is coming.
Well, somewhere "winter is coming". What does this mean to you, emotionally, spiritually, mentally?
For me it means looking at my emotional "garden". What did I plant in my garden that flourished? What
did I harvest with joy and smiles? What did I plant that withered and died? What limped along without
growth or death?
Spiritually, Samhain for me, is a joyful time to spend with the Ancients and speak their names with love
and gratefulness in my voice and heart. There are so many of them on my back porch right now that I
have a hard time finding a seat. "Hello, old friends".
Mentally, it's a time of reflection. Thinking of the Year just past and what I am thankful for and what I
could improve upon. It's a time when I want to become introverted and reflect upon those things that
need healing, loving, and banishing. Never Conjure What you cannot Banish! We all have conjured
demons that have become such a part of us that we don't even know they are not us. This is a time of
Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual cleansing. Painful as it may be, it clears the way for healing and self
loving that can be nurtured during the Dark Side of the Year. The Celebration of Yule and the Beginning of
the Light Side of they Year can be free of negativity and a good ground (Earth) for the planting of the
Spring "Garden".
Your Thoughts???
Many Passions, One Flame
The Labyrinth
Submitted by Alexandria
It was winter 2005. The day was cold, clear, and crisp. Mary Wolf and I were walking the land way back in
the woods beyond Refugee Camp. We were near the fence that separates us from our neighbor when we
struggled out of a thick stand of trees and found ourselves at the edge of a beautiful clearing. The crystalline
drops of dew strung on the tiny silk strands of hundreds of spider webs caught the filtered light of the early
morning sun. We were bathed in a shower of twirling rainbows. They danced around us enticing us to play
the day away.
As the sun rose higher, the giggling around us grew louder and we realized we had been drawn into the
world of the Fae. The magick bid us follow a path. We smiled at each other, knowing it would be useless to
resist. We soon found ourselves on the road at the back
edge of Spirit Haven. The Fae danced around us as we
made our way back to the rest of the campers.
All day, we had the feeling that something extraordinary
had happened, but we couldn’t quite articulate it. The
Fae seemed expectant and insistent, but about what, we
didn’t know. After the days work was done, we settled
around the fire and listened to the land. Everyone that
night seemed more playful than usual, silly, yet somehow more connected.
Mary and I awoke the next morning, both of us having dreamt of distant and far-away worlds, with that
same feeling of expectation and insistence. During breakfast we spoke of circles, sacred spaces, and
improvements to the land and came to the same conclusion – the land needed a Labyrinth. The feeling of
that “AHA!” moment sent both of us into a giggling fit.
Seeking an escape from the startled looks of our fellow
campers, Mary and I went scouting and found (or, more
accurately, were led to) a place we thought would be perfect
for a Labyrinth. And wouldn’t you know? It was directly
across the road from the path we had taken out of the woods
the day before. We stood in the middle of the clearing,
grinned like idiots, and both got goose bumps. The laughter
around us resumed and we knew this was the spot.
Many Passions, One Flame The Labyrinth (Conti)
After a brief search, we found Joe Rose (who was Land Director at the time) and asked if he could come with
us for a few minutes. On the way to the clearing, we told him about the idea for the Labyrinth. Once we
arrived at the spot, he experienced the same shivery feeling that had overcome us earlier in the day. He
agreed with the idea, but told us there was one provision: The membership had to approve any major
changes to the land.
So, at The Treasures of Beltaine, 2005, I found myself addressing
the membership. Reading from a proposal that Mary Wolf had
written and trying to ignore the Fae giggling all around me, I
somehow managed to get it all out. After only a few questions,
the proposal was unanimously approved.
All the following summer and into the fall, we worked; clearing
the space (some brush, a couple of small stands of mesquites),
placing the gates, surveying the exact layout of the Labyrinth,
gathering materials, and mowing all the paths in and out. There
were so many people who put their passion into the Labyrinth
before a single stone was laid, that I knew the community as a whole would love it as well.
At Samhain, 2005 the first stones were laid. At every event since, the line of stones has grown more
complete and the spaces between the stones are slowly disappearing. Each time I walk the Labyrinth, I see
new stones. I see individuals within the whole; handmade stones, crystal clusters, river stones, statues, and
more.
Now here we are, nine and a half years after the membership approved this project and I see a beautiful
representation of the Samhain 2014 theme – “This Land is Our Land”.
All of us together have built, and continue to build, the Labyrinth. The
Fae showed us the way and we followed.
Where there was only a clearing, now there is sacred space.
Where there was silence, now laughter fills the air.
Occasionally I get the question: “Will the Labyrinth ever be finished?” My
answer is: “I hope not!” For it is in the act of building that community is
found, not in the act of completion.
When all the stones touch one another on all the lines of the Labyrinth,
some will say it is complete, but not me. I will be the one to set the next
Many Passions, One Flame The Labyrinth (Conti)
stone on top of the last one and continue to build upon that foundation. I can only hope that others will do
so as well.
Through our work, everyone plays. And in our work, there is play. The Fae are ever present in the
Labyrinth, reminding us to play.
Come out and play with them.
Add your stone and continue to build upon community.
Add your passion and watch the flame grow brighter.
Ranch Manager:
It has been a VERY busy summer at the Ranch!
We have constructed a new building for CMA One (granted it is 90% complete at Samhain), added a ramp
and porch to the Guardian Station, added quarter pillars to Revel Field and are almost finished reorganizing,
a Pyro area is being added of Revel Field that will allow us to safely use pyrotechnics and met state
regulations. and straightening out the shop and storage areas long overdue This will save money and allow
us to access materials we have donated or bought with ease and certainty.
Work Weekends are busy and we ALWAYs need more participation and we FEED you! Come on out there are
things for all to do, skilled or skill want to be, from mechanics, to land work to construction and office type
work.
I am pleased to announce with that Joe Rose has agreed to become our Ranch manager in 2015!
The Ranch Manager is now responsible for the overall Ranch Caretaking, management of the work ends and
joint planning of future projects and needs including maintenance at the Ranch.
Construction, major planning and maintenance of rolling stock, tools and facilities will be handling by the
Engineering Group who will work with the Ranch Manager on all projects requested requiring construction,
maintenance and detailed planning. Even though separate they are closely tied together in their work.
Dividing responsibilities allows both jobs to become somewhat more efficient and less daunting
responsibilities.
You can find our page on Facebook by searching Spirit Haven Ranch Team https://www.facebook.com/
groups/LandCrew/ or members that desire to be part of the maintenance team please contact our Ranch
Manager [email protected] for details.
CMA 1: No Report
Front Gate: No Report
Historian: No Report
Fire Crew: No Report
Safety Services:
Hello lovely people!
Well, your cheerful friendly Safety Team is gearing up (and by gearing up we mean 'buying coffee') for another wonderful festival. We're pretty excited about the festival this time around, because we'll be
celebrating the fact that CMA has paid off the land! Congrats and thanks to all that made that possible.
It's been a nice peaceful summer, and we've definitely enjoyed the rain. Though we're not under a burn
ban, please remember that all fires must be attended, and be careful with your cigarette butts and other
flammable materials.
If you're thinking of returning to the Safety Team for your community service, welcome back! We'll be glad
to see you again. If you're thinking of joining us for the first time, we've got Guardian 101 trainings on both
Friday and Saturday for your convenience; please make time to attend one. Even if you're not part of the
Safety Team, and you just want to find out about us, feel free to drop in for one of the training sessions.
Speaking of dropping in, please also stop by for the Safety Services Opening Ritual on Thursday night. All
are welcome! Killina Rose will be facilitating the ritual, and it's our favorite way to begin the weekend.
Don't forget to stop by and share some stories and conversation around our fire. Everyone's invited to
come and visit with us. It's the best way to get to know your Safety Team, and check out some of the shiny
new modifications to the Guardian Station!
We can't wait to be back home!
Rowan Badger Safety Services Manager
Merideth Chaffin Safety Services Assistant Manager
Bridge Troll report:
Thanks to our members in attendance at Samhain 2014, the Bridge Trolls were able to raise over $1,200 for
the Spirit Haven Land Fund! HUZZZZAAAAAAH!!! Thank you all for making the bridge one of the best places
to be during festival, and we'll see you at Beltane 2015: From the Center of the Circle!
HUZZZZAAAAAHH!!!!!
Megan
~ Bridge Troll Matron of Dishonor
The Drummer's Creed
I am a drummer.... I do not worship my drum, but it helps me to connect
with
something that is spiritual.
I connect with my drum in my way, as many others connect with their drums in their
own way
My drum is something that is sacred to me, for it is more then an instrument, it is my
altar.
I will not touch other peoples drums without first asking their permission, for I
respect the relationship that someone has with their drum.
I will not assume that I shall be the loudest or the fastest drummer in a circle.
I will listen before drumming; I will merge my rhythms into what the group is playing.
I will not force the circle onto a specific path, but let it grow to where spirit takes
it.
I am a drummer and I will seek to constantly learn.
I will connect with others, remain open and allow them to join with me. I am a
drummer...
Author Unknown
Lothlorien Woods — Coordinator: Kenneth - Lothlorien Wood will be lit up in blue lights for Samhain 2014.
Ken will be hosting a ritual entitled, "Escape into Darkness." The purpose of the ritual is to rid participants
of energies that no longer serve them.
The spirits of Lothlorien Wood ask that poi and fire spinning be kept away from the altar.
The altar will be dressed and ready for use. Please email [email protected] so that Ken can make
sure your needs are met.
Ganesha Temple — Coordinator: Melissa—Temple Ganesh was dedicated
during the Samhain 2014 Festival, Friday at 2 pm with a Dedication Puja.
Everyone was welcomed! Located in the Meditation Woods on the path
to Grandmother's Grove, Temple Ganesh is the first Hindu Sacred Space at
Spirithaven. Dedicated to the elephant-headed Remover of obstacles, the
Temple celebrates Ganesha, the ruler of the Muladhara (Root) Chakra. The
Temple is a sacred realm in dappled sunlight within a beautiful ring of
trees. Anyone can offer puja (worship) to Ganesh with devotions, offerings, praise, chanting or song.
Whether you're there to break a coconut, offer sweetly scented flowers or incense, ring a bell, chant or just
meditate, Temple Ganesh will offer you a comfortable, warm place to worship the God of all Wisdom. Jai
Ganesha!
Namaste,
Melissa Honeybee
Council Oak Meditation— Coordinators: Gary & Joe Rose
When you arrive at Sprit Haven you will see a new area dedicated to Council Oak as a meditation area.
At the front of the meditation area you will enter through a large wooden arbor with hanging candle
lanterns and a footbridge into an area enclose by a cedar rail fence. As soon as spring arrives, evergreen
flowering vines fed by a drip irrigator will cover the split rail fence. The daughter for Council Oak which left
this plane in 2012 is doing well. In the middle of the area you will see a beautiful altar mounted on the
remaining stump of Council Oak. The altar is made of two pieces of the council oak trunk that was joined
together and finished with a deep gloss epoxy coating and marine varnish.
The grass has been fed and will be irrigated on a regular basis to keep it green and healthy.
The picnic tables in the area are being refurbished and we are adding several other features including a
butterfly habitat and fire fountain, gazing balls and chimes.
During the planning of this area on 3 separate occasions I had noticed Butterflies around the Oak area. This
was unusual as butterflies are scarce during the drought times. The other thing that occurred was when we
joined the two pieces of trunk for the altar and began finishing it became glaringly apparent that the altar
looks like a butterfly; this was not planned but was a surprise. This tells us that the spirits are happy with
Council Oak Meditation (conti)— Coordinators: Gary & Joe Rose
with what we are doing as butterflies are a sign of renewal.
We have determined that the Council Oak was approximately 116 years old when she passed the veil.
Join us in celebrating the new Council Oak Meditation area, any donation to the Council oak Meditation area
will be used to update and maintain the area.
Labyrinth — Coordinators: Alex, Richard & Alan— No Report
Bridhid’s Temple Complex — Coordinator: Carly — No Report
If anyone is interested in becoming part of the stewardship team for Brighid's
Temple Complex, please email me at [email protected].
Grandmother’s Grove — Coordinator: Bran & Laura— No Report
Volk Ve: - Coordinator: Chopper—No Report
Handfasting Grove — Coordinators: Colleen & Sticker Bill—No Report
Meditation Meadow — Coordinator: Goo—No Report
Sacred Fire — Coordinator: Fireman Bill - No Report
Spirit Fire — Coordinator: ? - No Report
Herne’s Hollow—Coordinator: Maeven Eller-Five—No Report
Dragon’s Nest Temple: Coordinator ?- No Report
Temple of the Sacred Harlots: Coordinator Mary Ellen—No Report
Coming Soon:
Medicine Wheel — Coordinator: Gary— No Report
Texas Recipes
Contributed by Gary
Texas Pralines
This is not your standard sugary or very chewy praline found in most stores and restaurants. This praline
is very creamy in texture and does not have a burnt sugar taste to it.
1 ½ cup Sugar
½ cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon Karo syrup (light)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecans shelled (halves preferred)
Combine ingredients except pecans, and cook slowly until it reaches a soft ball stage when dropped into
water.
Add pecans and beat mixture by hand until thickened.
Pour individual patties by large spoon full onto wax paper and allow to set.
Texas Peanut Brittle
Flavorful easy to make brittle without burn sugar taste to it.
1 ½ cup sugar
2/3 cup water
½ cup light karo syrup
1 ½ cup raw Spanish peanuts
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
¼ teaspoon soda
Combine sugar, water, corn syrup in a pan and cook slowly stirring
only until sugar dissolves and it reaches soft ball stage (238degrees).
Add peanuts and salt and cook until it reaches hard crack stage (290 degrees). Do not allow to burn!
Remove from heat, add butter and soda and stir until bubbling ceases.
Pour onto greased baking sheet and spread thinly, when firm flip candy to opposite side and allow to cool
until brittle.
When cold break into pieces, for variety dip some brittle in dipping (tempered) chocolate.
Make 1 ¾ lbs of brittle.
Arachne Society— Coordinator: Melissa—The Arachne Society is welcome to anyone and everyone who
performs or wants to explore performing web-weaving magicks! We are knitters, crocheters, spinners,
weavers, tatters, lace makers, Viking knitters, seamstresses... Any form of fiber craft is welcome. Anyone of
any gender, identity, age, spiritual path or skill level is welcome. We hold a society meeting every festival
and society members are encouraged to attend or host and facilitate a "Stitch & Bitch" sort of event
between festivals.
We bring the sacred web of Arachne to life at CMA by weaving our magick together.
Melissa Honeybee
Brewers & Imbibers—Coordinators: Mike Miller & Aarrick Barksdale —No Report
Chanters Chorus—Coordinator: Omorka
Temple of the Dancers—Coordinator: Meredith— No Report
Contact me at [email protected] for any questions or if you have trouble finding the FB
pages to join in the discussions!
Friends of Grandmother’s Grove—No Report
The Fig and Pomegranate Society— No Report
Contact [email protected] for any questions or if you have trouble finding the FB pages to
join in the discussions!
Men’s Society—Coordinators: Heath Spencer & Jason Wicker—No Report
In my research I found these societies if any of them are still active I would love to have the coordinators
contact me [email protected].
Family Society - Coordinator: Mary Ellen—No Report
Magickal Gardeners Society
Polyamory Society
Healer's Guild
Amethyst Camp
Triple Goddess Society
GLBT Society
Computer Shamans
Drummers & Dancers
Hunter/Gatherers
Martial Arts
Parenting (HEPPS)
Solitaries
Environmentalists
Warriors
Writer & Poets
Motorcycle
I know there are other societies and guilds out there. If you want your group to have coverage in the Accord please email me at [email protected]. Thanks Pamela DragonFlame
If you know of a birth, wiccaning, handfasting or brags please send the info to
[email protected].
Deaths
Births
Wiccanings
Handfastings
Brags
Charlie Denny’s new book is out
for your reading pleasure.
Chris ‘Laughing Wolf’ Green & Alicia White October 17th
Vashalla & Travis October 18th
Pixie & Grimm October 18th
Kenzie & Romaine October 18th
Help Wanted
We are currently soliciting applications for a member to serve as the CMA Society & Guild Coordinator. This volunteer will be responsible for maintaining a listing of current active Societies and Guilds, along
with their individual coordinator and contact information. S/he will also be the point of contact for general
society inquiries and for members who are interested in starting new societies and guilds.
If you are interested in serving as the Society & Guild Coordinator, please contact the Assistant Executive
Director at [email protected].
Help Wanted
CMA is looking for a truck for the heavy hauling and towing work required to maintain Spirit Haven, and
we're hoping a few of our members might have some ideas or leads! Ideally, we're looking for a 2.5-ton (or
larger) diesel flatbed with a gooseneck connection, dual rear tires, and manual transmission. (At the minimum, we would need a 3/4-ton or 1-ton pickup.) We're not looking for any fancy build-outs, just a solid
work truck with decent body and paint that will pass state/DOT inspection. It should be less than 10 years
old, and the lower the mileage the better.
CMA is willing to consider financing, if offered by the seller. CMA's 501(c)(3) status also allows for tax writeoffs/deductions of vehicle donations. If you have or know of the availability of a vehicle meeting these requirements, please contact [email protected].
Amazon Smile Helps CMA
Need some camping gear? Filling up your Kindle? Indulging in a bit of online retail therapy? Join the
Amazon Smile program and help CMA while you do it! With Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate 5% of your
total purchase to CMA with no additional cost to you! Just go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/76-0418187
to sign up, and use that link whenever you shop on Amazon.
Samhain Swag on Cafe Press
Looking for some new festival swag? Look no further than the Samhain 2014 items in the CMA CafePress
store. Need a tank to keep cool during the day or a hoodie to stay warm at night? We've got you covered! A water bottle for your walkabouts or a flask to pass around revel fire? All set! Everything from
phone cases to footie jammies, all with the Samhain 2014 festival graphic. Check it out!
"I heard it through the grapevine..."
From time to time, the Board of Directors becomes aware of rumors and scuttlebutt circulating through the
CMA community. In an effort to get accurate information out to the membership, we thought we'd take a
moment to address one that's recently come to light...
"The Burners are coming! The Burners are coming!"
The rumor: The Burners are taking over CMA! They never fully paid their rental fees, they didn't do land
maintenance that they'd promised to do, and they were NOT supposed to be invited back. But now, the
Board has invited them to lease Spirit Haven for another festival, and they're planning on having their
representatives run for CMA Board positions. They have the power to politically take over CMA!
The truth: Not only did FreezerBurn LLC pay for their rental in advance, they also invested about $1,000 in
rental equipment for us, moved the siding from Revel Field, cleared deadfall, did some road repair, and
spent time clearing and cleaning space that was approved by CMA. At the Beltane 2014 Great Works
business meeting, CMA members voted to allow the CMA Board to enter into subsequent leases with
The truth: FreezerBurn LLC for their future events. (There was no specification on number of events,
length of lease, or any particulars.) Their 2015 event has been scheduled, and they have already paid
CMA the rental fees in advance (July 2014).
Anyone that buys a ticket to attend a CMA festival is a CMA member, and there are a number of people
that visited Spirit Haven for the Scorched Snowflake event, fell in love with our land, and have chosen to
join us for our own festivals. However, anyone who wishes to run for a CMA Board position must be an
active CMA member for a minimum of a year and a day in the time period immediately preceding their
candidacy, as well as meet a number of other minimum requirements, per CMA policy. And, of course, it
is the membership's vote that determines who will serve on the Board of Directors. If you care about the
future of CMA, get informed, get involved, and vote.
Anyone who has any concerns or questions regarding this issue is welcome and encouraged to contact
the Board of Directors.
Update on Greywater & Showers at Spirit Haven
From the Land Manager: We are currently repairing the water system and making several design
changes in regards to the freshwater portion of the system. This includes adding fire suppression to the
revel area and improving the design to allow less stress on the pumps and better water pressure in the
system. The first step in handling the wastewater portion of the system (i.e., showers) is to hire an
engineering firm and work with them to determine the best and most affordable solution. This will
require several thousand dollars upfront; we do not have a current quote on a retainer, but we are
estimating approximately $10,000, based on previous loose quotes.
Money is tight at the moment, as the payoff of the property exceeded what we had available in our
designated mortgage-payoff account and the balance had to be pulled from other accounts. We now will
start actively building our war chest for the wastewater system. We will also look into the possibility of a
line of credit on the property, secured by the land.
A Message on Health & Safety from the 2014 Board of Directors
Hello, Hello, Hello, Happy CMA Campers!!
Samhain is almost upon is and we wanted to take a moment in your festival planning to address a very
important topic.
As most of you may know, there is a diagnosed case of Ebola in Dallas. The Board of Directors and Safety
Services Management are working together to ensure we are educated and take some precautionary
measures. YOU as the member are the most important part of making this festival fear- and disease-free.
1) If you are feeling ill, we love you and will miss you, but PLEASE do not attend festival if one of your
symptoms is a fever (even low grade)!! Your illness probably isn't Ebola, but no one likes to be at festival
and feel like crud.
2) Hand washing and awareness of what you are touching are KEY. We will have hand sanitizer located
around the campsite and always at the Healing and Guardian Stations and CMA1. You may also consider
carrying your own container of hand sanitizer. In the words of Meredith, our Medic with the Mostest,
"Prepared Pagans are Happy Pagans!"
3) Bring a cup of your own and cut down on drinking from the same vessel as others.
4) Educate yourself. You are your own best resource and defense against illness.
You can find more information on this disease on the World Health Organization website here:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.
Much love and many blessings to you all!
2014 Board of Directors
Council of the Magickal Arts
How CMA Elections Operate
CMA elections are now conducted online electronically. Voting for the 2015 Board of Directors will open
on October 1, 2014 at 12:01AM (Central). Login instructions will be included in the festival ticket packages. If you choose to vote onsite during the festival, a computer will be available for use at CMA1; an advocate may be present if you need assistance.
After logging into the voting site, you will see a separate voting box for each Director position (Executive
Director, Assistant Executive Director, Director of Finance, Director of Records, and Director of
Communications). Beside this box, you will see a list of candidate(s); for offices where the incumbent
Director is seeking re-election, the incumbent candidate will be listed first, with any other candidates
following in alphabetical order.
How CMA Elections Operate
A checkbox will be displayed beside each candidate's name; mark the box next to the name of the candidate for whom you wish to vote. There will also be a checkbox option for "abstain" and "write-in" for
each Director position if you do not wish to cast your vote for any of the candidates listed. You must
choose one of the three options for each Director position in order to cast your ballot (selected candidate,
abstention, or write-in). Once you have completed your selection, press "submit", and your vote will be
recorded electronically.
Once you submit your ballot, it may not be altered. Each login may only be used one time before being
locked out. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Records or the CMA corporate office
for guidance.
CMA Election FAQ
Q: Can my login be matched to my vote?
A: No. The system is operated by a company that specializes in voting. Your login information is only used
to allow access to the form area for CMA voting. The only record kept is one that shows that an ID number
and its associated password were used and then locked so that it could not be used again.
Q: Why must I select one of the three choices (candidate selection, abstention, or write-in) for every
position?
A: Members have a responsibility to the organization to vote for all positions when they choose to vote.
In order to keep the vote tallies simple and orderly, each position must receive one of these choices.
Q: What are abstentions?
A: An abstention is an indication that you do not wish to make a choice for a particular position listed on
the ballot. However, an abstention is not a no-impact vote; abstentions can, in some instances, alter the
vote percentage required to win a position.
Q: What is the "50%-plus-one" rule? What does "50%-plus-one" mean vs. 51%?
A: This is the process that the CMA membership voted and approved to use for our elections. The two
methods are essentially the same, as long as the calculated decimal percentage is greater
than .51. However, if the calculated decimal percentage is greater than .50 but less than .51, this
method removes the possibility of using number rounding to determine the final results of an election.
(Statistically speaking, this would be a very rare occurrence, but it is possible.)
CMA requires that a candidate receive 50%-plus-one-vote of the total votes cast for a candidate to win an
election. A candidate could lose an election, even if they are running unopposed, if enough voters select a
write-in or abstention for that position. If no candidate hits the "magic number" of 50%-plus-one of the
total votes cast, the election for that position is invalidated, and a special election must be held for that
position at the next Great Works meeting. Until then, the Board of Directors will appoint an Interim
Director to fill the position.
CMA Election FAQ
Q: How do I use the write-in feature?
A: Select the write-in check box, then type in the person's LEGAL NAME in the space provided. The caveat
to write-in candidates is that you MUST be specific and accurate.
First, secure the permission of the party you wish to write in and make sure that they meet the requirements of the office. (If you or the party is unsure, you may ask the Director of Records if that person will
meet candidate qualifications.) It could be very embarrassing to the written-in candidate if they are not
willing or not qualified to hold the position for which they've been unexpectedly elected.
Next, make sure you know the correct legal spelling of the person's name. "Terry Smith", "Teri Smith" and
"Terry Smyth" are all legally different persons on a ballot; those three write-ins would be counted as a single
vote for three different people, not three votes for the same person. There are NO exceptions to this rule.
Please do not waste your vote by writing in comical comments or cartoon names. It is insulting to the
general membership as well as the individual members who have stood up to offer their service to the
organization. If you do not wish to vote for any of the candidates running for a particular position, simply
check "abstain".
Q: Can I use a written (paper) ballot?
A: We will not deny you a paper ballot. However, it will delay your vote acceptance until we can verify that
your individual login and password have not already been used in the online system. If they have not, your
online credentials will be locked out and you may use a paper ballot.
Please note that the use of paper ballots will require us to convene a representative for each candidate to
be present when the vote information is uploaded to the electronic system. Once everyone is represented,
we will open the ballot, enter the information on a spreadsheet, and upload the file to the voting system to
be included in the final electronic tally.
Q: How is the final tally obtained?
A: The Corporate Officer or the Director of Records will download the tally file at the Great Works meeting
and immediately present the results to the membership. A copy of the
tally sheet will be available for member inspection.
My name is Rosalinda, I came to this realm in 1898 as a small oak tree amongst many trees on this
land. Our home was the wilds of central Texas outside a little town called Cistern. Cistern was originally a
league of land granted to John Whiteside by Mexico in 1835 and was known as Whiteside’s Prairie. Stark
Cockrill was the first settler on the hill and built a general merchandise store. At that point the developing
town was known as Cockrill’s Hill. In 1857 the town applied for a post office and named the town Milton
after Cockrill’s son. The application with that name was denied. The towns people then decided to name
the town Cistern. Since the water wells in the area had a high concentration of minerals, the town’s people
would come to the general merchandise to collect water from the cistern located there. It is said the towns
people came to the well so often, that when people asked “where are you going” the reply was “to the
cistern”. The Cistern Post Office was approved opened in 1858 and the town has been known by that name
ever since.
My home was on the wooded flatlands near Cistern amongst many trees. I grew and became the
largest of the tees on my home. Gaia asked me to be the guardian and I have watched over this land for
many years. My family Flores bought the land and Anchor Ranch road was built. They grew corn and cotton
here for several decades and we were oil barons for several years and raised a family.
In January of 1999 an unusual group of people came to visit my home, they were city folk for the
most part, but they had an unusual aura about them. They talked of my mother Gaia and of gods and
spirits, witches and sorcery. They walked every inch of my home looking, chatting and appeared to be able
to speak to Gaia. One member found me in amongst brush and overgrowth (we were no longer home to
cotton or corn) and suggested to the group they sit and hold council under my canopy. They spoke of how
this should become their home forever, about lay lines, energy, flora and how my grove area was green
and plush during the ongoing drought and how my home would make a perfect place for something call
CMA. I was apprehensive but soon found the people were genuine and respectful of the land. Their
discussions concluded they would purchase my home from my Flores family. One of the first things they
decided was that I should be referred to as The Council Oak as that is where council was held when the
decision was made.
My Flores family was very happy with these CMA people and granted them the right to purchase my
home. I learned that CMA was a short name for the Council of Magickal Arts. Gaia spoke to me and told me
they a group of people than held celebrations of earth at Beltane and Samhain each year and that they
would protect and nourish our home.
The members of CMA worked very hard preparing the land for their first festival at Samhain 1999.
Many pipes and conduits were laid, wells dug, electric power installed, roads repaired and building s built
during one of the worst droughts with temperatures of over 100 degrees daily that we had experienced for
many years. They worked very hard and a canine was sent by Gaia to watch over them at night while they
slept. Our home is in the wilderness and there were many creatures that roamed the night that these CMA
people might not be used to. They named her CeeMa, after CMA. CeeMa stayed every night at the entry of
the sleeping area on vigil. CeeMa left for home with Gaia when it was determined the CMA team would be
safe by themselves.
After a long hard summer the first celebration was amongst us and I was revered as part of the
festival. Stories were told of how the land came to be CMA’s. How Greg spent many weeks searching for a
home for CMA. How Tiny stood up at something called Great Works in 1998 raised money in his hand and
started the fund to raise money for CMA to find a home. How the Earth Vision Conservancy and Little
Acorns projects donated money they had collected for buying their own land and gave it to the fund. How
numerous volunteers, names of whom would fill many pages, spent many weekends and vacations, some
every weekend coming from around the state to work on our home. Many were also generous with money
and donations to develop our new home. I was in awe of the dedication of these people and how this
project of theirs was so important to them and the community.
We spent many years together celebrating and the good and the occasional bad, but always giving
members a memorable time in celebration of their faiths. In 2009 I became ill due to age, drought and heat.
My stewards made efforts to help me; however I passed the veil officially at Samhain 2011. In November my
limbs were carefully removed for safety reasons and stored. In 2012 my trunk was removed after a
celebratory ritual of my passing. I was honored that I meant that much to so many and my spirit decided to
stay and watch over my CMA people. In 2013 they planted another oak tree next to where I stood for so
many years which will one day become The Council Oak. Several of my limbs became arts of personal altars,
handmade pens and other items and I was glad my body was not being wasted.
A jolly medicine man had a vision of using part of my trunk to make an altar that could be placed on
the lower part of my trunk left where I stood for so long. That piece was left to allow me to connect my soul
to the land. The idea caught the attention of the ranch manager and visions were formed between the two
men and work begun. The medicine man spoke with me, asked my name and let me know what was going
to happen. The ranch manager, who has tree souls, developed a plan with the medicine man. A cedar rail
fence s was installed to protect my new area as a I would have a premier meditation space to honor my life.
A large arbor and bridge was built to allow access to the meditation area. I was told that flowering vines will
be planted along the fence, a butterfly habitat, fire/water and air feature will be installed, plus a few other
secret items.
The ranch manager explained to me why we would build a butterfly habitat in the meditation area.
On three different occasions while he was contemplating the design of the meditation area butterflies
appeared. He found this unique since the heat and drought were not conducive to butterflies in the area at
that time. When the altar top was meticulously cut and joined together out of two pieces of my trunk it was
noted (and this was not planned) that the altar top was the shape of a butterfly. As butterflies are a sign
from Gaia of transformation and CMA was transforming to full guardianship/ ownership this was taken as a
sign that Gaia approved of plans in progress.
Please enjoy my meditation area, I shall always be here as a guardian of CMA
and my stewards will always protect and maintain the space they built to
honor my memory. Remember that this home belongs to everyone and no
one, since no man can own parts of Gaia’s domain, only own the rights of
guardianship.
Have you read…?
Book Review by Valna Asterman
Hi Y'all,
I wish you a very happy Samhain, as we of CMA celebrate paying off our mortgage for SpiritHaven! I have a
very special book to introduce to you today, “Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines” by Kathy Cano-Murillo,
AKA The Crafty Chica. One thing people do, when they own their own home, is to craft items to make the
home uniquely their own. Altars and Memorials as well as “shrines to their ancestors” is a pagan way to
celebrate our different Sabbats.
This delightful book is filled with color photos and directions as well as wonderful suggestions on how to
modify her designs to make each project a personal expression of your own. I have also used some of her
instructions to create little focal items when doing energy work or candle magick. While this book may not
be for everyone, I urge you to look it over...it may inspire you to create something meaningful in your
home.
In Light and Love
and looking forward to seeing y'all at the next opportunity
Hugs
Valna A.
THE GHOST OF A FLOWER
"You're what?" asked the common or garden spook
Of a stranger at midnight's hour.
And the shade replied with a graceful glide,
"Why, I'm the ghost of a flower."
"The ghost of a flower?" said the old-time spook;
"That's a brand-new one on me;
I never supposed a flower had a ghost,
Though I've seen the shade of a tree."
-Anonymous
A Magickal Place to Be
By: Sondra Cherico
I heard about CMA Samhain Festival from a friend and was told it was too late for me to buy a ticket and
that I had to wait until Beltane 2002.
However, she said, you can sneak in with my boyfriend on Friday if he can borrow your truck to bring stuff
to festival. That was an arrangement I couldn't argue with! So I buried my self under a bunch of blankets in
the back of my truck (at the sausage factory) and off we went to Festival. We made it thru the gate and
thru check in. Whew!
I camped with them but I knew no one else out there. I was an illegal attendee and was on constant vigil
for someone to find me out and ask me to leave. Didn't happen! I had money to pay for a ticket. Cash,
Credit Card what ever they would want to allow me to stay.
I just wandered around looking at the various camps noticing how much each group meant to one
another. The camaraderie, the love, the joy of being together was amazing. I must admit, I was envious of
this and I wanted to have that experience.
Being an illegal, I wandered the fringes of Festival. I walked the entire land, visited vendors, bought stuff,
and watched as an "outsider". I fell in love with Spirit Haven, I fell in love with the Festival and I wanted to
become a part of this. Of course I would have to wait until I could become "legal". Six months. I didn't
want to wait that long.
Then Friday night came. As I walked out to Revel I was stopped in my tracks by the scene before me. The
fire was high, the dancers were circling, and the drums were in a great groove. I just stood there for a long
time, looking, listening, feeling. I began to weep and realized I had come home. It was a most magical
experience and one that I can call to mind and have the same emotions.
I continued to circle the fringe being on constant alert. I knew then there was no way I would leave until
Sunday.
The Magick was all around, the Land was giving her energy to everything that was happening. I wanted
more, I wanted to give back, I wanted to stay, I wanted to find a place in one of those camps I had seen.
I returned two weeks later for a workend and have been returning ever since.
I have a Phamily now. We have a campsite we love. And most of all we have each other to love and a
Magickal place to be.
Reprint from website:
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/easy-crafts-for-kids-wooden-gnomes/
Supplies You'll Need:
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Water colors
Wood dolls
Paint brushes
Felt
Needle & Thread
Sharpie marker (fine or medium tip)
Cup of water (for the water paints)
Q-tip
Directions:
Start by painting the base of the wood dolls different colors.
Then, using your sharpie, add dots for eyes and buttons on the dolls. Dab a little
red water color with a q-tip to make rosy cheeks on the gnome.
Cut out 3″ x 5″ triangles out of the felt. {I made a pattern, just to simplify things.}
Fold the felt triangle in half and sew along the long side of
the triangle.
Place the hat on the gnome and you’re finished.