HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Maelstrom
Date: Sat, 05 Sep 92 14:02:35 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US


I recently received the following message from one of my female users. 
I have replaced her name with xxxxxx to protect her identity, but I 
need to find out who this joker is in the worst way, and as quickly as 
possible. Maelstrom could be a RPG gamer's name, a craft or use name, 
or a BBS handle. If anyone has any information on this person, please 
email to donal@brewich.hou.tx.us... Thank you, and Blessed Be.
-----------
To: system
Subject: threats
From: xxxxxx
Comments: Pagan
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 92 23:45:07 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

Donal...I have been doing some contract work out of a hobby shop...and 
today I took some in..and received a note that was left there for 
me...addressed to xxxxxx...how they knew i was associated with that shop I 
don't know...but the only place I have asked for help or a tutor has been 
here and the Inn...this is a trascript of the note...word for word....:

Xxxxxx,
It has come to my attention that you have expressed interest in becoming 
active in the Craft.  I have also learned of your desire to join the 
whites.

 I am unaware of weather or not you have a teacher, but this is of little 
consequense.  This is a very bad time to become active.  Currently there 
is a war taking place, and this is why it is a bad idea to become active. 
 If you are self tought, then you will either be found and used or 
killed.  If you are being tought chances are you are being used as a pawn 
by the one teaching you.

I am convaying this message to you out of responsibility as a white.

MAELSTROM

Donal, I don't know what to make of this..or how they associated me with 
the hobby shop...but if you can find out anything, please let me 
know...this is kinda spooky....thanks...
-------------
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.


--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Rosaleen Dhu)
Subject: male rites of passage
Reply-To: st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 23:44:16 GMT

Hi. I just read Al's post. I think that the idea of men mentoring each other's
sons (and daughters too) is a great idea. There are some things you just can'ttell your parents. He also asked for ideas on when is an appropriate age to do
rites-of-passage things. Having spent a lot of time with teenage males, both
dating them (AUGH AUGH AUGH) and playing mommy to a bunch of adolescents
whose own mothers are afraid of/indifferent to them, I think that there's no
set age when a boy becomes a man. It'd have to be figured individually for
each guy, and also figured out with his parents, in terms of what kind of
freedom they are willing to give him, what kind of responsibilities he'd
have, etc. For a guy, entering high school is usually one major teenage
milestone. Depending on his parents ideas of teenage appropriateness, he may
get freedom--later curfew, more responsibility, bigger allowance or, con-
versely,cut-off of allowance and instructions to find a job--when he enters
high school. Or he may have to wait until 16, which some parents seem to
think is some kind of magic age. I got news for ye: a guy can be just as
immature at sixteen as at twelve. Just because it's legal for him to drive
and (at least in Massachusetts) work late nights, doesn't mean he's
necessarily old enough to be considered a man. Someone trying to figure out
a good age for a rite-of-passage for a specific boy would have to know the
boy in question very well. I don't know if this is helpful but it's my 
opinion.
			Rosaleen Dhu

			]
	Freshman Music Major at Brandeis University.
	Absolutely Nothing To Do With Computers, Just A Fan
	@-'-,-'-, ;)
	"It's difficult to work in groups when you're omnipotent."
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Re: Men's Mysteries
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
	<16878@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 05:40:32 GMT

In article <16878@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> 
darsie@eecs.ucdavis.edu (Richard Darsie) writes:
>YES!  Very good point!  A good question would be *why* our society lacks
>such rites. It surely must relate to the fragmentation of community in our
>country.

Well, "mainstream" US lacks almost any rites period. Think about it, what
is the meaning of Christmas, Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc?
What's really funny is that this is exactly what got Nietzsche started,
but he was writting about Germany which makes the US look like, well
dare I say DisneyLand? Anyway, to make a long story short, Nietzsche
concluded that he had no idea of by what myths he judged his life, so he
made it his life's persuit to discover his mythology, sounds kind of
pagan don't it? It is, he is often on fundyTVgelicals list of evil and
vile men of history, which is a little strange since I don't think any
of his books are anti-Christian, but they do represent individual
thought and that has never been popular with the followers of Christ,
well with some exceptions like Moslems, and UU's and such. Of course the
great Nietz did say, "don't cast out the devil in you for fear of losing
one of the best parts". Christians don't understand that type of thing
but it is just very basic Persian light/dark dualism, something the
Christians have yet to quite get straight. Basically if you burn all the
free thinkers and intellectuals you just don't get a very educated
religion, but you can always market anything, given innovative marketing
techniques like convert-or-die or just except the free gift whose only
requirement is that you accept it.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: ciaran@county.lmt.mn.org (Ciaran Benson)
Subject: Re: Masons/Knights Templar
Reply-To: ciaran@county.lmt.mn.org (Ciaran Benson)
Organization: LaserMaster Technologies, Minneapolis, MN
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 17:22:49 GMT

In article <78997@ut-emx.uucp>, evc@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Edward Van Cura) 
writes:
> >gerda@brewich.hou.tx.us (Gerda Thunarsson)
> >Our Odhinnsgodi has a Masonic Bible that his father had before him.  In 
> >that bible it is clearly stated that they are Luciferians.  If i did not 
> >have a reason for stating such, I would not have made the statement.
> > 
> >Gerda Thunarsson
> 
> Careful Gerda, you are getting too close to the source.  :)
> If certain esoteric branches of FreeMasonry are into this sort
> of spiritualism, then they don't want the Fundies to know about it.
> The Fundies are into simple equations ie. Lucifer=Satan. 
> 
> Imagine if the FreeMasons come out of the closet.
> I can see it now: "One Nation Under Lucifer", "In Lucifer We Trust",
> "Lucifer Damn It!", "May Lucifer Bless You", and "Lucifer Bless America". 
> All the dark heavy metal bands will, in order to remain in the 
> counterculture movement, evolve into Yaweh Rockers.  :)
> 
> Wyrd Dreams Be With You,
> Thorfinn

  I was talking with Frank (those of you who know him, know
him and those of you who don't, don't need to know for the
story -- I'm not sure how he'd feel about me spreading his
full name around the net), the Representative to the Governor
of Wisconsin on Cult Affairs (a cop who keeps up on cult
stuff and sometimes shows up a Pagan events -- Hi Frank!) and
he was saying that there were actually some attempts to
crack down on Masonic lodges in Wisconsin because "they're
all Satinists" (worshippers of satin -- sheets, robes, you know).

  He said the best part was when he was giving a demonstration
of a Golden Dawn ritual for some officers to bring them up
to speed on the pariphenalia of the occult, and after the
show some officers who were Masons gave him hell for disclosing
"lodge secrets".

  It does make me wonder, though, why Masons can drive around
with their upside-down pentagram symbols on their bumpers, but
we catch flak if we wear a pentagram.

  Any thoughts?

  Blessed be, Ciaran.

  $uslinit; include oblig.sig <<
  "...And here, Queen Aphrodite, pour heavenly nectar into gold
   cups, and fill them gracefully with sudden joy."  -- Sappho >>
From: dhardin@bbn.com (Dawn Hardin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: womens mysteries?
Date: 11 Sep 92 21:41:04 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

In article <yN7uqB2w165w@Eagles.uucp>, hulda@Eagles.uucp (Hulda Thunarsson) writes:
> Sorry Ailsa,
> I just can't let this one go by.
> Men created womens mysteries to make a profit from women. Do your 
> homework. I'm a woman, like yourself but I have to say this, 
> statements like the one you just made make me want to cut my hair, wear 
> trousers and put a sock in the front...

Of your trousers or your mouth?

> }iIt began with that old trickster Gerald Gardner and was passed on 
> through the likes of Alexander and Buckland. What people commanly refer 
> to as "feminine mysteries" or modern day "wicca" (that includes all forms 
> of wicca i.e. Dianic) is really neither an old religion nor mysteriousat 
> all. The fact is todays "wicca" is a new and relatively ecclectic 
> psuedo-religion based upon Golden Dawn and other forms of ceremonial 
> magick, smatterings of Celtic, Saxon and Germanic Folklore and more than 
> just a small portion of Gardners' personal beliefs and view points.

You say this as if you expected us to be surprised?  Or to care?

I think quite a few people here are saying that we're making it all up
as we go along and we think that's a pretty neat thing to do with a religion.  
I have a fondness for your old religions, but I certainly wouldn't say
old was necessarily a virtue.

Actually, I didn't like what Ailsa said either, but not because of it's
genealogy or lack thereof.  Like Ailsa, I'm a single mom.  Somewhere, a
sperm cell went into making my baby girl.  Since that sperm cell no longer
has a noticeable male hanging around, I like to think that the horned god
was my baby's father.  Just pure male principle, since it had to come
from somewhere and I doubt she's ever going to meet her real father.
I don't know how often we'll interact with the horned god, but he's definately
there, and he was a necessary part of her coming into the world.  That's
much more of a real issue than who said what first.

Dawn
"Oh, Time!  Of all the dwellers here below 
You only elevate buffoons or fools,
Or him whose anus as an inkstand serves."
The Perfumed Garden of the Shaykh Nefzawl, translated by Sir Richard F. Burton
From: dhardin@bbn.com (Dawn Hardin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: books for new pagans
Date: 8 Sep 92 18:34:40 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

In article <1992Sep4.233224.7745@news.cs.brandeis.edu>, st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Rosaleen Dhu) writes:

> My problem is that I am eighteen years old and have recently
> informed my parents that I have been Wiccan for over a year. Now they want a
> book about it to read so they can decide whether or not they are going to
> disown me. (I HOPE I'm only joking...) Does anyone have any suggestions,
> either for books of the parentally readable type or for a good explanation
> I can give them?

I'm going to be thirty soon, but I'm in the same situation of trying to
come out to my mother.  I gave her a copy of _The Mists of Avalon_ to
try to warm her up a bit.  She loved the book and we had a lot of discussion
about some of the ideas in it.  I feel more comfortable now that she won't
just turn off to the idea.  For Christmas, I'll try a good non-fiction book,
maybe _Spiral Dance_, to show her that some thoughtful people take this stuff 
seriously.  I figure I have two years -- my deadline is to get them used to
the idea before my baby talks well enough to say "We had a neat ritual for
Beltane, grammy."

Dawn
"Oh, Time!  Of all the dwellers here below 
You only elevate buffoons or fools,
Or him whose anus as an inkstand serves."
The Perfumed Garden of the Shaykh Nefzawl, translated by Sir Richard F. Burton
From: darsie@eecs.ucdavis.edu (Richard Darsie)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Men's Mysteries
Date: 9 Sep 92 22:36:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of California, Davis

In article <1992Sep9.172742.14391@uwm.edu>, pst@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Peter Stephen Thomas Iii) writes:
> 
> After following the "men's mysteries" thread for a while, I think a general
> consensus <as much as any can be reached thru the Net> that male mysteries
> are needed.  The question then becomes, where to start?
> 
> I think a appropritate place would be with rites of passsage from boy to
> manhood.  
> 
> To digress for a moment, it is my opinion the lack of a "rite of passage" for
> males in US culture is a major cause for anti-social behavior.  

YES!  Very good point!  A good question would be *why* our society lacks
such rites. It surely must relate to the fragmentation of community in our
country. What we have in place of community is alienation and "neighborhoods"
where most people don't even know the people who live next door to them.
There is such an emphasis in the US on "individuality" and "doing your
own thing". Unfortunately, the cost to society as a whole of these
attitudes is tremendous.

> 
> Peter Thomas

Richard
(Tuneweaver)

Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: imcc@cs.strath.ac.uk (Iain McCord)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: On Power
Date: 11 Sep 92 19:19:32 GMT
Organization: Comp. Sci. Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Scotland.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Edward Van Cura (evc@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) wrote:
: I used CAPS for emphasis. Witches and other magic users seek power
: over people, places, and things. Most pagans dabble in the esoteric
: arts. The claim that pagans do not seek power is ludicrous. 
The claim that pagans seek power over others is unfounded.  If you see the only
use of power as the domination of others then that's your problem.
: It should be noted that the Supreme Court is/was (?) going to rule
: on the issue of religious animal sacrifice. The issue arose from 
: complaints about Florida members of a Caribbean folk religion 
: performing animal sacrifice.
Kosher or Halal food anyone?
: Does anyone have any more information on this topic/ruling?
: 
:                                \ /
:                                 -
:                                / \
-- 

		~~~~~/\~~~~~
Iain McCord	~~~~/()\~~~~	Fri Sep 11 20:19:31 WET DST 1992
		~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xref: sparky alt.pagan:9045 rec.org.sca:12984
From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan,rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Wicca and the SCA
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 92 21:39:07 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

peterh@netcom.com (Peter John Harrison) writes:

[note that I have removed all the text Peter was replying to...]

> Yes, I agree, the SCA is a 20th century organization, with real concerns
> about it's public image, but restricting the religious expression of any
> single group, while allowing others to express their faith is wrong.
> 
> If the SCA has concerns about their public image as pertains to a religious
> expression, it should restrict all such expressions.  Or put another way,
> if an individual with a strong Christian faith feels he is afforded a 
> "special blessing" when he bears weaponry with his religious icon on it, is
> it fair and chivalrous to prevent another individual with a strong Wiccan 
> belief his own "special blessing," just because his faith is less under- 
> stood by the populace at large?  
> 
> This policy is a bad one.  It amounts to religious McCarthyism or a toned-
> down inquisition.  It attacks the beliefs of many of those within the SCA,
> simply because their faith differs from that of the majority.  And, yes,
> I do mean *attacks*, in the same way that telling a woman she should "act
> more feminine" at work attacks her worth in the workplace, or letting "a 
> nigger know" he's not wanted in the apartment complex attacks his self-esteem
> 
> It's time the SCA started respecting the religious beliefs of all it's
> members, not just the ones that are "politically correct."  Yes, it takes
> an act of courage to do what's right, but isn't that what chivalry - and the
> SCA - is all about??
> 
> ============================================================================
> Peter John Harrison
> peterh@netcom.com

Huzzah! Well said, Peter. I must vociferously agree with all of the above.
My original design for my arms, I will not bore you with the blazon (if I
could even remember it), centered around a rack of stags horns and a 'plate',
or full moon. It was refused for being to blatantly 'Pagan'. I do not think
I need make any more comment than that.


--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
From: michael@adriaan.bu.edu (Michael Chaplin)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: SF Artists Tarot Deck
Date: 16 Sep 92 03:52:07 GMT
Organization: Boston University
In-reply-to: lib1p@rosie.uh.edu's message of 15 Sep 92 23:22:00 GMT

In article <15SEP199218223674@rosie.uh.edu> lib1p@rosie.uh.edu (Tammy Stark Blandino) writes:

  =Several years ago a person told me about a tarot deck that was
  =(limited) published.  Someone had gotten together enough Science
  =Fiction and Fantasy artists to assign one card out of the deck to
  =each artist.  Does anybody out there know anything about this?
  =Even if it is a "collector's item" and cost mega-bucks, I would
  =still like to know about it.  (First of all whether its true or
  =not.)

  =Thanks,
  =Tammy

Well, I wouldn't know about an SF deck, but I do know that
Dali did one- 'twas very wild-looking. If anybody does have
info on an SF deck, please post- there are others besides
Tammy and myself who'd be interested.
 
With thanks,
Chaplin.
--
===========================================================================
Michael Chaplin                    Language is a virus from outer space.
michael@albert.bu.edu                     - William S. Burroughs

The Einstein Papers Project        The opinions contained herein reflect
Boston University                      neither those of the project, 
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.          nor those of Albert Einstein.
From: amanda@INTERCON.COM (Amanda Walker)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: The Four Treasures
Date: 15 Sep 92 06:03:00 GMT

leighann@fugazi.sybase.com (Leigh Ann Hussey) writes:
> BTW, has anybody else played with the Matthews' Arthurian Tarot?  I like
> it much better than their "Merlin Tarot" -- better artwork, better
> imagery.

I'm rather fond of it.  I'm not much of a "Tarot person" :), but it is one of 
two decks that I bought on sight (the other being Robin Wood's, which uses 
tradtional images).  I found it very useful, because I am in general much 
more familiar with Arthuriana than with the traditional Tarot.  This means 
that I spend much less time thumbing through books when something unfamiliar 
comes up :).  The artwork is also quite high quality, which I find a 
refreshing change from most Tarot decks.  Sigh...

I like the Matthews's stuff in general, but I always keep my saltshaker handy 
when it comes to historical scholarship.  If find their 
Artthurian/Kabbalistic connections especially interesting, even if they made 
them all up.


Peace,

Amanda Walker
-- 
"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of
 government!"   -- Mony Python and the Holy Grail

Newsgroups: alt.pagan
From: cbwierda@ar14darlrk.er.usgs.gov (Clark B. Wierda)
Subject: Re: How many ______ does it take to change a light bulb?
Organization: US Geological Survey, WRD, Arkansas District
	<2AA9B794.27993@news.service.uci.edu> <Bu6JJH.Mxu@news.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: cbwierda@ar14darlrk.er.usgs.gov
Distribution: alt
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 03:47:42 GMT
X-Posted-From: ar14darlrk.er.usgs.gov
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

Off the top of my head:

Alexadrian...
The High Priest, The High Priestess, and the next eleven people that
come down the street.

Asatru...
None.  We're not afraid of the dark.
--
Clark B. Wierda		Treabius Starseeker
cbwierda@ar14darlrk.er.usgs.gov
From: morgan@brewich.hou.tx.us (Morgan ap Rhys)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Men's Mysteries
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 92 09:23:04 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

If I might be permitted a few words here...
 
Men's mysteries can be every bit as significant as women's mysteries.
True, they have the mystery of childbirth... but any of you who are 
fathers out there... tell me what you see when you look at your children.
True, your lady, wife, girlfriend, <your favorite term here> carried them 
and bore them, but YOU fathered them.  They are as much a part of you, as 
of her.  They got half their heritage from you.  You have a hand in 
raising them too.  No matter what modern society says (and that's what 
this is all about isn't it?  reclaiming our own from a society that has 
taken it from us for so long..) we have a responsibility to our children 
as much as the mothers out there do.  In some cases (like mine where they 
live with me and not with mom) more responsibility.  Here's a big secret 
that has been denied for a long long time... men CAN nurture and care and 
be soft.  And it does not mean less because we are men.. and it does not 
make us any less men.  It makes us MORE, because we are accepting the 
WHOLE of who we are, the feminine aspects in us as well as the masculine 
ones.  I've heard from some women that part of the women's mysteries is 
the same thing... it is partly accepting and understanding the male part 
of themselves.  No, I'm not saying we should struggle towards a unity 
where everyone is the same... I'll always celebrate the differences 
between men and women... BUT... we can't ignore those parts of ourselves 
that society tells us are wrong... men CAN be calm, nurturing, loving, 
and kind... women CAN be strong, assertive, decisive, and bold.  It is in 
each one of us to find that balance point where we are happiest.  Some 
men may be more loving and nurturing, and some women may be more 
assertive and strong.  It's a matter of finding that balance point that 
works for you and living it.
 
Anyways... there's one aspect of men's mysteries for you to start on... 
I'm sure we can find others...
 
Morgan


------------------
morgan@brewich.hou.tx.us (Morgan ap Rhys)
(Alternate) morgan%brewich@lobster.hou.tx.us
Origin: The Brewer's Witch BBS -- Houston, TX -- +1 713 272 7350
     "Silence is the voice of complicity" - Vote Early, Vote Often!
Newsgroups: alt.pagan