Table of Contents
Contents
The Modern Traditional Witch Perspective 1
Introduction 5
1: Meet the Cauldron 9 Defining the Cauldron 9
Cauldron Basics 12
Unpacking Symbolism 13
The Nine Uses of the Cauldron 15
Word Play 18
2: Gather Round—The Cauldron in History & Myth 21
The Hidden Cauldron 22
The History and Development of the Cauldron 23
Fabulous Feasting Cauldrons from History 26
Sacrificial and Sacred Cauldrons 30
The Cauldron Game 35
The Mythic Cauldron 36
The Cauldron and the Divine Feminine 36
Stirring the Cauldron: The Cauldron of Inspiration, by Gwion Raven 39
Not Just for the Ladies 49
Stirring the Cauldron: A Heathen’s Cauldron, by Sarah Bennett 57
The Questing Cauldrons 60
Trial by Fire: The Boiling Cauldrons 67
Pop-Culture Cauldrons and Mythology 69
3: The Practical Cauldron 71
The Shapely Cauldron 72
Makes and Metals 73
The Non-Metals 76
Choosing the Right Cauldron for You 77
Making Your Own Cauldron 81
Choosing a Time to Make Your Cauldron 85
Purchasing Your Own Cauldron 92
4: Getting Started 97
How to Cleanse Your Cauldron 97
Welcoming a Cauldron 101
Blessing a Cauldron 102
Stirring the Cauldron: Consecrating Your Cauldron, by Andrew Theitic 106
The Consecrated Cauldron 108
Attuning Your Cauldron 109
Care and Feeding of Cauldrons 109
Seasoning Your Cast-Iron Cauldron 112
When Tragedy Befalls Your Cast-Iron Cauldron 113
The Working Space Around Your Cauldron 115
Cauldron Safety: Brewing Danger 116
Stirring the cauldron: The Cauldron as Burning Pot, by Rev. Philipp J. Kessler 122
5: In the Circle—Ritual Arts 125
What Is Ritual? 125
The Cauldron’s Place in Ritual 127
The Cauldron as an Altar 128
Consecrating Your Cauldron 129
Folklore: Gateway to the Gods 131
Ritual Markers 132
Invoking Deities and Spirits 142
The Cauldron as a Working Focal Point 143
Jumping the Cauldron 145
The Cauldron as Part of the Great Rite 146
Stirring the Cauldron: A Samhain Rite, by Storm Black 148
6: Making Magick—Spellcraft & the Cauldron 151
What Is Magick? 151
Magick and Morality 153
Personal Power 154
Sympathetic Magick and All That Stuff 155
A Selection of Cauldron Spells 156
Stirring the Cauldron: A Spell for Inspiratio, by Jason Mankey 166
Stirring the cauldron: Soaking a Spell, Angus McMahan 170
Cauldron Magick FAQ 171
7: The Seer’s Cauldron 175
The Ancient Art of Divination 175
Before You Start Performing Divination: To Use Ritual or Not? 179
Scrying the Dark Mirror 180
The Dice Cup 185
The Flaming Cauldron 188
On Chants, Chanting, and Music 199
8: Thinking Outside the Cauldron 201 Cauldron Cousins and the Unconventional Cauldron 201
The Blessed Bathtub 203
The Wondrous Washing Machine 209
Tea Cup and Kettle 211
Crock-Pot and Kitchen Witchery 214
Stirring the Cauldron: Samhain Harvest Soup, by Meredith Spies 218
The Stove and Oven: The New Hearth 221
Stirring the Cauldron: Two Cauldron Recipes, by Diana Ewing 226
9: The Spiritual Cauldron 231
The Cauldron of Poesy 231
The Cauldron Born 235
Trance Meditation 236
The Inner Cauldrons Meditation 238
The Ultimate Cauldron 242
In Conclusion: Putting the Lid on the Cauldron 247
Acknowledgments 249
Bibliography 251
Recommended Reading & Resources 255
