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Welcome to the achive page. Here is where old articles are sent to pasture. It can also serve as a historical resource for all articles posted by CUmagical.

A Community Affair
(Originally posted on 2/17/00 by Heather)

There has been a lot of discussion about the interaction and roles of the Heaven & Earth as a store and the community which has evolved there. Recently there have been some conflicts which damaged the moral of the community and even the stores image. The real damaging point however is how these conflicts manifested themselves, in secrets, rumors and personal attacks.

The first reaction for much of the community was confusion with a pinch of panic, after which many people started to voice a wish to have the store and the community separate, I was one of them. Over time I have become increasingly troubled by this idea. The store and the community are connected and indebted to each other. Each group could stand separately, but neither would have the resources, or potential that it presently has. The store provides the community with a regular non-threatening meeting place open to new people, organizes events for our enjoyment, workshops to satisfy our curiosity and provides resources both for our public and private religious needs. The store gains volunteers, customers, and consignments though the community, as well as to insight on local pagan needs. Perhaps an even more convincing argument for the connection between the store and the community is the people involved. How ever we choose to look at it the people running the store are part of our community, an important part. They are many of the people who have already taken an active role in trying to provide what the community needs. If we continue to push the store out of the community these will be the people we hurt. These dedicated volenteers will be the ones who feel that they can not bring their concerns to the community. Secrets and rumors thrive in this divided environment. The best solution is to face these and all issues openly.

The community needs to be open and honest. It is unfair of any member of the community and/or store to expect someone to withhold information that effects the community. Please don't ask a friend to do this, it is unfair to everyone. If there is something that is important to the community then find a way to bring it out in the open. This newsletter is an ideal tool for just that. It is also important that we have some way of communicating both the needs of the community and the needs of the store to those involved. Presently the volunteers that run the store are also trying to coordinate the community events. What is needed is a few community volunteers, who work with and attend the meetings with the store volunteers. These community volunteers would be focused on issues involving the community, such as the community calendar, events, workshops etc. This would not only help relieve some of the stress placed on the store volunteers it would also provide a bridge for the community and the store. These same volunteers who help organize the community could also reach out to that community when the store is in need. I am hoping that people will consider what I have suggested here. I would love to see the conflictual relationship between the store and the community replaced with co-operation and joint respect. I really feel it would be a loss for both the store and the community if we allow ourselves to began to separate. I want to thank each of you for reading this, and invite everyone to voice their own ideas and concerns. I am also open to talking with anyone about these suggestions and / or any other serious suggestions for dealing with the present and potential conflicts surrounding our community and the store.
Blessed be, now and always, Heather.

Request for Assistance
(Origianlly posted March 2000 from email by Mike)

Greetings! I have been given permission to forward this to this list to look for donations of reading material for instruction and inspiration on pagan issues to interested prison inmates. Does anyone have any book duplicates? Magazines? Wise Words pamphlets? Print outs of their web sites? Mail 'em!<

Thanks and BB,
Drake Fey

(Original email to follow, eds.)
Hail and Greetings,
For the last several weeks we have been corresponding with an inmate and the Prison Chaplain at the Dalhart Unit of TDC. It seems that there are at least 12-15 inmates who are interested in studying Wicca and having some sort of religious worship service within the facility. There are, understandably, inherent restrictions in this type of setting; however, Chaplain Brown is concerned and committed to do as much as he can for these men in the context of his pastoral supervision. The problem is his admitted lack of knowledge about Wicca and lack of available resources. In our telephone conversation yesterday Chaplain Brown told me that there was virtually nothing available in the prison library, and he was personally trying to put together a small library through his office. Neither the inmates nor the Chaplain have access to the internet (check the map for Dalhart, Texas, and the reason becomes apparent). I am providing some material from here, including a copy of our Overview for Wiccans in the Military for starters. Both Chaplain Brown and the inmate with whom we have been corresponding have told me that over the last several months they have contacted several people and organizations looking for information and assistance. They have either been ignored, or treated coldly, and, frankly, they were quite surprised when we responded in a positive manner. Folks, here is an opportunity for us, collectively and as a Congregation, to do something constructive. One of our Five Tenets states that, "To the extent of available spiritual and material resources, we will: teach those who seek;..." We would like to propose the following: for the next Lunar Cycle (6 Mar thru 3 April), let's collect some educational and instructional material to help these people-- the inmates who are seeking, and the Chaplain who is trying to provide for their spiritual needs. Perhaps you have some duplicate books in your library, or some books that are no longer relevant to your current place on your journey, or some old magazines that still have useful and interesting information, or some material off of some good websites.

Please gather anything that you may have and send it to arrive on or before 3 April at:

Sacred Well Congregation
PO Box 58
Converse, Texas 78109

We will put it together and send it as a Congregational contribution to the Dalhart Unit. From a Danann ritual blessing, "As the Old Ones have given to us, let us always remember to share with those who have not." The timing is good on this one as we are leaving the Moon of Nion (Ash, limitations) and moving into the Moon of Vearn (Alder, abundance).

The second part of their request is that the inmates would like to have a meeting time on their unit. From Chaplain Brown's letter: "It is TDCJ-ID policy that any religious meeting must have a Chaplain or a free world volunteer from that particular religion present on the unit at the time of the meeting. If you know of anyone in this area that might qualify or can be State-approved through TDCJ-ID, this would help the inmates greatly." Dalhart is about 600 miles (1000 km) from San Antonio, and I think our closest members are still well over 300 miles away. Not a day trip by any means. If someone is indeed closer, or know of someone who is closer, that might be willing to work with these folks, please contact us directly at:

sacredwell@ix.netcom.com
Please feel free to cross-post this message to other
relevant lists.
Love is the Law and Love is the Bond
Aman Nai
Taniquetil and Itarilde



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