Some stones radiate high levels of energy, such as quartz (especially in smoky or rutilated form). Others work much more slowly. One of these is red jasper. In some Native American cultures red jasper is considered to be the symbolic blood of the earth, and it's generally thought to be one of the best stones for connecting with the deep, stabilizing energies of the earth.

In the chakra system red relates to emotions, and of all the red stones it is the least volatile. Jasper is a stone which makes its effects known slowly and gradually.

It is considered an emotionally calming stone, and can be an excellent stone for either those who are hypersensitive to crystalline energy and find it difficult to work with, or for those who like change to be a gradual, unfolding process.

In this context it is particularly recommended for gem essences. It's also a very good stone to use when someone is upset, and needs to be calmed down.

Found at: Our Glass Wire - http://ourglasswire.com/LORE/REDJASPER-LORE.htm

I had a red jasper stone wired into necklace a couple of weeks ago. I really liked it. But then I lost it for a few days this week. Things went a bit bad this week. I don't give a stone credit for causing a bad week but for some reason I feel it was connected. Maybe because I choose the red jasper as a stone for myself, giving myself space/ permission to make life changes, accept some things and change others. Anyway, it was on my mind a lot while it was missing. Tonight my Mom found it. I had left it with a work shirt, it must have come off when I took off the shirt.

Anyway, it's back now.

What have you written or published lately? Not that every Witch or Pagan needs to be a writer or share their writing with others. But, we do tend to be journal keepers of some sort. Most like writing in their Book of Shadows; thoughts, ideas and experiences. Some choose to go farther and share those same ideas and experiences with others. Of course, each of us chooses where and how large our audience is. Also, how personally connected they are to yourself.

Anyway, I've found a lot of Pagans in the arts: writing, crafting and so on. We're a pretty artsy bunch.

If you do want to dip your toes in the water and share your Pagan writings you can find plenty of online groups. Some are geared to specific areas of Paganism and some are geared to those who are Pagan and writers. It's not trading one craft for another, it's growing yourself and your craft.

Of course, you are taking a chance. You can count on finding someone to disagree with whatever you write about. Sometimes they disagree in the form of an attack against you personally. You can choose to ignore this immature stuff, though it's not easy to stop yourself from feeling defensive. This is all very personal stuff after all. But, if you're lucky enough to stumble into a group of like-minded people you will have so many new ideas, new angles and slants on old ideas and access to so many experiences. It's like finding a vast treasure vault without having the expense of hiring a boat, getting seasick and risking pirate attacks, well something like that. You get the idea.

Anyway, this newsletter is one of the things I have written to share with other Pagans. Before this I write a few articles for a print zine and assorted other odd bits here and there. Some newsgroup postings too but that was quite a long time ago before the newsgroups got so snit picky.

I wouldn't count myself as some grand high authority on everything Pagan. But, I do think I have some ideas and a sense of what I believe to be right and good that I can share. You, the reader, can decide how you feel about what I write. I'm always glad to hear from you, even if you don't think everything I write is glorious and completely right. We all see things differently and what feels right to me could seem completely crack-brained to you. I don't mind. I'll listen to you and make up my own mind. Just as I expect you do with the blatherings I type in here.

If you do post/ publish your Pagan writings online let me know. I'll be glad to give you a link in the newsletter. Although I believe in reading things I don't agree with, in order to get more perspective, I won't link to or promote something I believe is completely harmful.

Seasons Greetings (cause it's always some season).

Are you superstitous? Don't deny it too quickly. There are sorts of little things we do without even considering them to be a superstition. Do you read horoscopes? How much credit do you give to them? Would you consider your day not as great if you have a poor horoscope? Kind of superstitious aren't you?

Wicca and Witchcraft are full of superstition though we might deny it. I think, Pagans in general, try to distance themselves from the occult and the superstitions which have all gotten a bad reputation.

It's funny cause the very stuff they deny is partly what their beliefs are based on. Occult was a word long before Wicca. Meanwhile, I expect superstitions have been around right from the first people on the planet.

Most people think about superstitions around weddings, births and deaths, the major life events. I think those are the times when we are most off balance, in need of some extra sign or guidance that everything will be ok. That's really what a superstition is. Just that extra assurance that you're going to be all right.

Of course, some superstitions are safety precautions. You should avoid walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and squishing spiders. Not because you fear having a run of bad luck but because it's less likely ladders will fall on your head, glass will cut your hand and spiders are needed for eating other bugs. It's all logical and reasonable.

So go ahead and avoid stepping on cracks, tossing salt over your shoulder and so on, guilt free. Superstitions might be soffed but they have their own purpose and history. As long as they harm none what's the harm in humouring your own superstitions?

Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox. I should be doing something, celebrating the changing seasons. But I'm not. I'll be at work from 9:00am till 8:30 at night. By the time I'm done I will be too tired to drive myself home. But, I have to do that so I'll manage somehow. Times like that I'm so glad it's the car that does all the work!

Anyway, real life does interfere with how Wiccan or Pagan we would like to be. That's ok, it's reality. If I was to skip work and the big meeting after work, that would be living in some unreal imaginary world of my own creation. I have to work to make money to pay for my car, my rent and the clothes I wear while I do all those other things. Now and then I even treat myself to a new book, a fancy coffee or a day of window shopping.

It's ok to live in the real world. It's ok to miss a Pagan celebration. It would be nicer to not miss it. But, really as long as I'm alive and still on this planet I'm not missing a thing. As I drive I'll be looking at the darkened forest I drive through on the way home. I'll be watching for deer and foxes who sometimes show up along the roadside in the evenings. I'll be listening to the sounds of the night as I drive with the windows down to let in all that cool night air and the scent of crisp Autumn leaves.

You may not light candles, perform rituals or chant pretty rhymes but that doesn't mean you're not celebrating along with the rest of the world. It's what you have in your heart, mind and soul that matters, even if you only express it to yourself. You don't have to prove how Pagan you are to anyone but you.

Magic versus magick. Where do you stand on the word?

Magick isn't in the dictionary, so far. But I think it's a good addition to the language. It shows a difference in magic as done by a magician versus magick as done by a Witch, Wiccan or Pagan type person. We aren't doing card tricks to amuse kids at a birthday party. Our magick is not entertainment. As much as I appreciate and enjoy magic, I don't want to see magick called magic.

Confused? Then let's add to your confusion. What is a Witch compared to a Wiccan or a Traditional Witch?

In my opinion (notice the qualifier) a Wiccan is someone who follows the ideals set out by Gardener and friends in the last century. Traditional Witches are those who come from a family of Witches, thus they inherited the traditions. Meanwhile Witches are those who base their witchery on herbalists, wise women and men from ages ago and whatever else they can discover from the long ago past.

Does that help or do you want even more confusion to add to your confusion? Let's just add the words eclectic and solitary to the mix. Can you be a solitary eclectic? Of course. Solitary just means you choose to be alone, not a member of a coven or some such group. Can you be solitary and a coven member? No, that kind of defeats the whole solitary thing. Anyone can be eclectic. There are so many ideals, traditions and so much history that it's really hard to find someone who agrees with another person about everything. So, most of us could call ourselves eclectic. Does that mean you should? No, it's too confusing. Find something to describe your style of Wicca or Witchery and stick with it. You don't have to be a carbon copy of everyone else but you can make everything simpler to understand. Besides, in the end we are all part of the group of Pagans.

Confused?

Go find some answers. Don't be shy