New Random Rambling

I've added a new rant to the Random Ramblings page. Because of Wiccan's Rede of "Harm None," questions about whether or a not a Wiccan should be vegetarian come up frequently. The rant "Vegetarian Wiccans" is one Vegan Wiccan's response. Hope you enjoy!

Blessings,
Evy

Winter Solstice Issue Is Out!

The new issue of the newsletter was sent out today. Be sure to check your inbox! If you aren't already on the list, be sure to sign-up to avoid missing out on the next issue due just before the spring equinox. Also, we are now accepting issues for the next issue! The theme will be "Healing Through Cleaning." Be sure to check out the newsletter page at the site for more information.

Blessings,
Evy

Guest Input for Polls

It was brought to my attention this morning that visitors cannot vote in the site update poll and forum update poll. True, only members of the forums can vote on the poll options. However, the polls are posted in the General board where guests can post. In other words, if you are a guest to the forums and do not wish to sign up to be a member but would like to add your input, please do so by replying to the poll threads. As a guest, you can remain anonymous if you so desire. Please let me know if you run across any other problems!

Blessings,
Evy

A Little Organization Goes A Long Way

As suggested by a member of the forums in the site update poll, I've reorganized two of the longer pages. The Book Reviews page now separates into five pages by book author last names: A-B, C, D-H, I-R, and S-Z. Some of these pages already look pretty full (C has a page of its own because it has 15 reviews already). Others are a little sparse (A-B only has 3 reviews currently). Over time, these pages will fill more and some shuffling may go on. For the time being, however, this breakdown will stay in place. The main page of the Book Reviews page will continue to include what I'm currently reading, why I don't list Silver Ravenwolf books that I have read, and those books that I will more than likely never finish.

The Random Ramblings page was a little more difficult to consider a method of breaking down into parts. Because they are, by their very nature, random, it's hard to decide categories. Instead, I've merely created a sublink list to each rambling near the top. Simply click on the link and it will take you to that part of the page.

Let me know what you think of the changes! If there's any other pages that could benefit from reorganizing, let me know here or stop by the site update poll and add your voice!

Blessings,
Evy

News Feed is Back!

Not long after the polls for site and forum updates were opened, a member of the forums pointed out that our news feed on the site for Pagan news had not updated since 2008. Since old news isn't news ("new" is the key part of the term), I took the page down until a more suitable news feed could be found. The Wild Hunt blog is a popular avenue for up-to-date Pagan news. With a dedication to honest journalism, the articles on this blog can be trusted for accuracy and will be around for quite some time. The Pagan News Feed on the site will now feature The Wild Hunt blog feed.

Blessings,
Evy

Two New Book Reviews

I've added two more reviews to the Pagan Book Reviews page. I have finally completed the year and a day study of Penzack's Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft. Definitely an awesome book for anyone past witchcraft 101. Dugan's Practical Protection Magick was an awesome read full of information on this often neglected topic. It's great for any magickal practitioner or anyone sensitive to energy and magick. Be sure to check out the Book Reviews page for the full reviews!

Blessings,
Evy

Moderator Positions Now Open

With the boards reorganized at the forums, it's time to get some mods assigned to each of them. We currently have 20 boards (including sub-boards) without assigned moderators. If you are interested in moderating a board, let me know! Check out the new thread at the forums for more detailed information on duties, expectations, and how to apply.

Blessings,
Evy

New Webrings

I created two new webrings today. The first is the Interfaith Ring. This ring is for websites promoting or in support of positive interfaith relations. Websites do not have to be specifically about interfaith relations so long as they are religious or spiritual in nature and do not preach against or promote negativity toward other faiths.

The other new webring is the Pagan Writers ring. This one is for writers of all kinds (fiction, non-fiction, novels, poetry, blogs, articles, etc.). If you are a writer, have a website or blog, and are proud to be Pagan, this is the ring for you.

If you have a site that fits either of these new rings, feel free to sign up today! You can check out my other webrings at the Webrings page.

Blessings,
Evy

New Boards & Shuffling of Threads

Before setting up to recruit new mods for the boards, I thought it best to do some rearranging first to avoid extra confusion later. The forums have gone through a little change. Previously, I had moved the Fun & Games board to become a sub-board in the Entertainment board, the Rants board is now a sub-board of the General board, and the Politics board has been modified to News and Politics.

Today, there has been a complete revision to the Wicca, Witchcraft, & Paganism category. The old Wicca, Witchcraft, & Paganism board has been split into three separate boards for each topic. The Sabbats & Esbats board is now a sub-board for the Wicca board. The Ritual & Magick and Herbs boards are now sub-boards for the Witchcraft board. The Gods & Goddesses board is now a sub-board for the Paganism board. Finally, the Et Cetera board has been modified to the Metaphysical board to discuss non-Pagan-specific metaphysical topics. You'll notice that many of the threads in this category have moved to reflect the additions and modifications.

I hope you enjoy all the new changes! Please be sure to leave feedback, comments, and concerns! Information about modding opportunities will be made available soon.

Blessings,
Evy

Updates & Calling All Artists!

Be sure to stop by the forums and check out the Rules board. I've updated wording in every thread. This should help bring some clarity to the rules, the purpose of the forums, and relieve any anxiety over breaking any rules (especially the one about double posting!). Remember the rules are more like guidelines to keep everything friendly and fun. :)

I added two new themes (skins) to the forums: Red and Purple. You can access them by modifying your profile. They look... plain right now. Which is why I am asking for some volunteers to help spruce up these and future themes with images! Without the awesome software I once had and the loss of skills from half a decade of only minimal photo editing, the time, resources, and skills to provide the images you all deserve is just out of my grip. Also (and most importantly ;) ) I love the idea of community efforts.

If you have a skill for creating images and making things beautiful and attractive, let me know! Even if you are only starting or simply want to try your hand at creating graphics (buttons, banners, logos, gradients, etc.), don't hesitate to contact me. You will receive full credit for your efforts and creations. If you have a website, I can list it or just your contact information on the site to get you more visibility. If you should need any sort of recommendation for any future endeavors, I write some awesome letters. ;)

Blessings,
Evy

Newsletter Submissions Due Today

Just a quick reminder that submissions for the next issue of the newsletter are due today. Be sure to send yours in to newsletter@moonlightmessages.com today! If you need more information, please check out the Newsletter page.

I will be playing around with templates on the forums today, so if anything looks out of place, I promise you it is temporary and I am working on it. Thanks for your patience!

Blessings,
Evy

New Avatars at Forums

I've added 64 new avatars to the forums. If you are a member of the forum, you can view the new avatars by modifying your profile and using the drop-down menu for the avatar. If you are not a member, I encourage you to join today! (We have more avatars!) I am in the progress of collecting images and brainstorming some new templates, so be on the look out for new themes at the forum coming soon!

Whether or not you are a member of the forums, please be sure to stop by and add your input to the site poll and forum poll. The more votes we get the more progress I make! If you have any changes or additions you want to see, please share your opinion today!

And on a totally unrelated side note, I won Nanowrimo this year! Woohoo! That means more time for the site and forums for the month of December. ;)

Blessings,
Evy

Vote on Evy's Article, Bring Traffic to the Site!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday! This morning I received some awesome news. My HubPage article "Choosing a Religion in a World of Options" is one of six selected for this week's hubnuggets contest! By winning the contest, I will be recognized above other new freelance writers. More importantly, I will also receive considerably more traffic to my articles. More traffic to my articles means there will be more traffic to the site as well as the forums! I am really excited about this opportunity and am asking all of my friends, family, and supporters to take the time to cast their vote. You can vote in this week's contest at the Religion and Philosophy Topic page. Please vote today! Thank you for all of your support!

Blessings,
Evylyn Rose

New Polls at the Forums & A Message of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! As I contemplate making changes to the site and forums, I find myself spending more time trying to determine what I should start on first than actually getting anything accomplished. As such, I set up a poll for site updates and another poll for forum updates. Be sure to check out the polls and add your two cents!

I am very grateful for all the site visitors and members of the forums over the years. You are the reason I keep Messages in the Moonlight running! I have always valued input (positive and negative) from everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts with me. Messages in the Moonlight has continued to grow and mature thanks to all of you! I love you all. I hope to be a better webmaster/administrator/editor for you. May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with all the love, joy, and gratitude you deserve.

Love and Blessings,
Evy

New Random Rambling

I've added a new Random Rambling to the site. This short rant is on Wiccan perspectives on sex. Searches for information about Wicca and sex come up frequently. Although this rambling is very brief, I am hoping it answers the questions of those performing the searches. A very recent personal experience made me realize just how neglected this little tidbit of information is in Wicca 101. Any (especially an adult) who has studied Wicca for even just a few short months or years should be aware that sex is considered a sacred act in Wicca. Be sure to check out the new rambling and be sure to share your thoughts!

Blessings,
Evy

New HubPage Account

In the last post I mentioned that I started a HubPages account. Although I generally reserve this blog for the sole purpose of notifying you of updates to the site, forums, newsletter, and chat, I wanted to do a one-time posting here about the HubPages account as a sort of "shout-out" for myself.

For quite awhile I have been wanting to expand from being a voice in the Pagan community to entering into the field of interfaith relations. Personally, I believe that part of the problems we face involve celebrating differences to the exclusion of what connects us. Rather than building tolerance, it breeds segregation and prejudice. Instead, we should honor our difference while celebrating what we have in common. Unfortunately, there are just so many specifics in the world that no single person can take on every avenue and expect any level of success. So my focus is on matters of faith and religion.

To get myself started on this personal mission of mine, I need a platform. Messages in the Moonlight is my baby and I will not abandon it. However, I want to maintain it as it is (a place of learning and community for Wiccans and Pagans) rather than expand it to fit the new venture. The previous blog post explains how HubPages came into the picture and why I chose it over a few others I looked into. As time goes on the number and quality of my articles will continue to grow and mature. Please be sure to check out my articles for new thoughts and insights with the mission of promoting peace and love on the community level.

Blessings,
Evy

(This widget will continue to update as new articles are added. Check back for updates.)

   

       
   

   

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Ads on the Site. Wait, what?

Okay, okay. I know that when Geocities shut down and I had to move everything over to a new server that I said I was going paid so I wouldn't have all those annoying ads. Well... I'm unemployed and I have to find any means of income, no matter how small, to ensure the cats and dogs stay fed and we have a roof over our heads in the event funds all run out. (The Four-Footed Ones will appreciate me greatly if I at least appear to be keeping the status quo for them.)

So in getting ahead on this just to be safe, I started looking for writing opportunities. I've been wanting to start getting my voice out there and had previously considered one of the oh-so-wonderful content-farm sites. So when I saw a listing for Hubpages and the possibility of gaining a little extra on the side from doing something I was already anticipating doing for free, I figured why not. Well, the way that Hubpages works is that the authors gained income, not on a per article-basis, but based upon the ads placed on and around the hubs. Websurfers come in and read your article, they click on a Google ad or other advertisement and the earnings from there translate into a paycheck for the author.

Well I got started on my Hubpage account today and even wrote my first hub about bigotry and religion. With this accomplished, I was ready to set up all those (minimal) money making accounts. What I found was that almost all of it required an AdSense account. Of course, I never bothered to get one for Messages in the Moonlight because, well, I had no intention of using ads. So I sign up for it with the Hubpage domain. Denied. Not enough content. Boo. So then I realized I could do the ads with Messages in the Moonlight. So I did. Partial Approval. Close-Enough-Yay!

So to be a good girl (and not just a content-farm-author-whore), I am putting ads up on the site. I am keeping them as little annoying as possible and only putting them up on certain pages. Over the coming months I'll probably play around with where they appear on the site, so bear with me! The income that is earned through ads clicked on the site will go towards the budget for Messages in the Moonlight to ensure I can keep my "internet baby," as I call her, alive. Once all is set up and going well (and contains more than just one lonely article) on my Hubpage, any income earned from links clicked on my article pages will go toward food and shelter for my fur-babies and me.

Blessings,
Evy

Maintenance Complete & Feedback

The maintenance at the site is now complete! Ended up taking a lot longer than anticipated once I decided to clean up some of the HTML tags and spelling while I was at it. Everything should be back in good order. If you come across any broken images or links (or if anything else looks out of place) be sure to let me know so I can fix it right away!

Also, I thought I'd take the time to get some feedback on the site. The current layout and theme has been in place for six years. I'm considering giving the site a new face-lift. Personally, I like the current style (meaning I would simply have a new theme with the same navigation and layout in place). However, this site is not just about me! I would love to hear input from others so that I can look into other options for a future aesthetic change. Be sure to reply here, at the forums, or send me an email! I'd love to hear from all of you!

Blessings,
Evy

Updates - Website May Look Messy

I'll be shifting around some files on the site today. This is mostly for the purpose of better organization as well as to make the precess easier the next time the site goes through a face-lift. As such, the website will look kind of "ick" during this phase. What I mean by this is that images may temporarily not load making the site not so pretty until everything is shifted. This could take up to a couple hours or more, so please bear with me!

Blessings,
Evy

New Chat Schedule & Calendar Dates

The current chat schedule consists of Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm MST. Please join us in the chat during this time-frame! If you would like to see more flexibility and options in the chat, please add your input to the chat schedule poll!

The forum calendar has finally been updated! The calendar used to be regularly updated from 2003 to 2008. After a three year gap, the calendar will not accurately reflect dates for the Sabbats, Esbats, members' birthdays (automatically added), Newsletter Submission reminders, the chat schedule, and Clean-Up reminders. You'll also be happy to know that when you click on "view all events" that you will no longer see every single event ever added. I've deleted all past events starting in 2003 and will continue to do so as time passes or until the feature allows options to view only upcoming events. The Sabbats and Esbats for the remainder of 2011 and 2012 have been added as well as the upcoming newsletter submission deadline and the chat schedule through to the end of November (changes pending additional input). All events for the current month appear in the Info center on the main page of the forum.

Blessings,
Evy

Clean-Up Over & Chat Schedule in the Works

The Clean-Up at the forums is now complete. All 41 accounts who did not respond were deleted tonight. If anyone who did not respond to this or a past clean-up meant to respond, you are always welcome to rejoin!

I'll be announcing a new chat schedule for the chat room. At this point in time, we have not had much input for the chat schedule so we'll be starting with only one or maybe two nights a week. If you have any preferences for days, topics, or any other suggestions or comments be sure to respond to the chat schedule poll! Once the schedule is complete you will find the chats listed on the forum calendar.

Blessings,
Evy

Clean Up at the Forums!

We're having a clean-up at the forums. For current members be sure to respond to the email that was sent out or the Clean-Up Thread at the forums by October 17th. Any members who do not respond by the deadline will have their accounts deleted!

If you are not a current member, stop by the forums and sign-up today! If you are a past member (or miss the current clean-up deadline) you are always welcome to join again.

Hope to hear from you all!

Blessings,
Evy

New Page: Study Checklist

As promised in the forums, I have created a page that serves as a sort of checklist for those who are studying Wicca. Although I personally recommend enrolling in a First Degree training, sometimes this just isn't practical for various reasons. As such, the checklist is more of guideline breaking down into several main categories of research. Each category then supplies a list of subtopics as starting points to individual study. It's not an end-all-be-all sort of list and are suggestions only. Be sure to check out the Study Checklist page to see for yourself!

Blessings,
Evy

Cleaning Up Links: Add Yours Today!

I've spent this morning cleaning up links on the Votebooth, Pagan Links, and Other Links pages. Some websites changed their URLs and others are simply no more. Also, when you click on external links on any of these three pages the link will open in another window. So now you won't have to worry about the frustration of trying to get back to our site. If you want your website added to any of the Links pages, check out the Link Exchange Information page to learn how.

I cleaned up the links on the Guests' Links page too. Most of those links are gone now as the sites are no longer there. I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who would like a link added to check by this page. Unlike the other links pages, the sites you add do not have to be yours. Also, they do not have to be Pagan related or provide a link back to our site. It's simply a list of websites owned or recommended by any and all who stop by the site. Please go to the Add a Link page to add a link today!

Blessings,
Evy

New Link & Book Review

I've added a new Pagan Link to Pagan author/screenwriter and friend Scott Harper's website. Be sure to stop by his site and check out all the awesome work he's done!

A new book review is up for Ursula James' The Source. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and would recommend it to anyone. Be sure to check out the Book Reviews page for my full review!

You'll be seeing more updates at the site and forums over the coming months. Be sure to check back here regularly as the updates are made. ;)

Blessings,
Evy

The Newsletter is Returning!

I've been updating information and sending out emails all afternoon! After a long hiatus, the newsletter is finally returning for the Yule issue this year! The deadline for submissions is Thursday, December 1st, 2011. Send in submissions to newsletter@moonlightmessages.com today! For sign-up and more information about the newsletter and the upcoming issue, please see the Newsletter page.

A couple important changes to note:

The email address associated with the newsletter has changed! The evylyn_rose@yahoo.com account will be closed at the end of this month. For any and all correspondence relating the newsletter, please update your address books with newsletter@moonlightmessages.com

The URL for the archive has also changed. YMLP has changed the automated archive page. You can now find the MIM Newsletter Archive at http://ymlp.com/archive_ghqmmqgjge.php

I can't wait to get the newsletter back into full swing!

Blessings,
Evy

New Random Rambling - How Do You Know?

I wrote and added a new Random Rambling to the site. "How Do You Know?" is inspired by the question posed by well-intentioned Christians regarding the Wiccan source of magick and personal power. The inspiration to finally address this question came from stumbling across CARM's article to Wiccans. I came across this article while searching Wiccan ministry information. Not entirely surprising, almost every result on the first page of the search results seemed to be Christian ministry websites' articles about Wicca. CARM's was perhaps the only response not plagued by judgment and the lack of recognizing religious beliefs separate from one's own. That makes them good people in my eyes. ;)

Blessings,
Evy

New Pages

I've added in a few new pages at the site. Of course, they aren't necessarily new, just new to the site. The first new edition is the Code of Ethics for Teachers of the Wicca. This article provides brief guidelines for those who intend to be teachers of Wicca, and also provides a good resource to students who may be curious what to expect of a teacher.

Next, the Wiccan Fundamentalism article provides a brief history of Wicca and discusses the fundamentalism found in some traditions. Unlike the The Real History of Wicca page, which provides background on the creation/founding of Wicca, the new page provides information regarding the structure of Wicca and how it has changed. For those of you who remember my experience of returning to the Wicca LJ group to find that they didn't allow anyone uninitiated into a BTW coven within the group to refer to themselves as Wiccan (but Neo-Wiccan was okay o.0), you'll understand why I like this article so much.

Finally, I added the Principles of Wiccan Beliefs to the site. Although the Principles are not regarded as a definitive resource for outlining Pagan beliefs in America (and some of the wording is outdated), the vague nature of them is still useful as a quick reference for those trying to get a broad understanding of Wicca.

I hope to have some more new additions in the near future. Meanwhile, there's been an increase in activity at the forums, so be sure to stop by and join in!

Blessings,
Evy

Searches as Discussion Fuel

As I'm sure is not uncommon of webmasters in this day of decent, free analytic tools, I make use of searches that have led surfers to the site or on the site itself to brainstorm ideas of what content to add to the site. Of course, some search terms and phrases have little to do with Wicca and Witchcraft but somehow match words used on a particular page of the site. Other times, I just have no clue what to do with it and the phrases stay in my little excel spreadsheet for extended periods of time. I do my best to look over the spreadsheet whenever I want to add or update a page to make sure that I'm adding relevant content that internet users are actually trying to find. In the past, I would only add what I could share of the things I had just learned. Although this has been successful, I realize we are all on different paths and seeing some of the things that individuals have searched for drives my own curiousity at times.

As the list of search terms and phrases grows well beyond what I can keep up with even on a brainstorming level, I've been playing around with ideas of what I can do with it. I came across a few phrases that have really stuck out from the others. Usually in question form, they are thought-provoking and do not necessarily have a concrete answer. I thought about doing research and writing a new page. Maybe make it simpler and do up a new Random Rambling. I could even maybe blog about it here or on the Facebook page. Then the big light-bulb came on. Tons of thought-provoking, discussion-worthy search phrases and a message forum averaging less than a post a month. Oooo! I can start new discussions at the forums!

So in the future, you will see me adding a new thread or two at the forums on a regular basis asking interesting questions. More than likely, my source of these questions will be these search terms and phrases. I have absolutely no way whatsoever to identify who performed these searches, so if it was you (and remember chances are that some of these have actually been asked multiple times!), if you don't want anyone to know, no one has to. ;) I hope to see you all joining in on the discussions!

Blessings,
Evy

Sabbats Page

As intended years ago, I've finally added a page specifically for the sabbats. The information is still fairly basic, but slightly more in-depth than the Wiccan Holidays page, and includes correspondence information. This page will more than likely see repeated updates over the years, so be sure to check back!

Blessings,
Evy

New Chants

Although the chants themselves are not new, I've added a few more chants and prayers. One of which (To Build Inner Strength) is among my favorites from when I first began studying Wicca. Enjoy!

Blessings,
Evy

New Book Reviews

It's been quite awhile since I made an update to the site. Although there's still plenty more in the works, I decided to add a little something in the meantime. On the Pagan Book Reviews page you will find two new book reviews: Doreen Valiente's Witchcraft for Tomorrow and Dagonet Dewr's Sacred Paths for Modern Men. Although I enjoyed both, Dewr's book touched me the most. Be sure to check out the reviews!

After spending some time soul searching, I've finally decided my future career path. Although I still intend to be a counselor with soldiers and veterans as my main focus (the goal since starting my secondary education in 2008), I have decided to put my educational focus into Pagan Pastoral Counseling. As such, I will not have the free time as hoped for once my Bachelor's is complete in September. However, with Pagan-focused studies for my Master's, I hope to better provide you all with information and guidance for many years to come!

Blessings,
Evy

Behind the Scenes

With work and school back in full-swing, my absence is apparent. However, I'm still working behind the scenes on the site. Trying to ensure links and ads are accurate, researching information I want to post on the site, looking around at potential new layouts for a future face-lift on the site, and overall brainstorming. Unfortunately, because I only find a few minutes here and there that can be spared to do these things, all of my efforts go unnoticed.

I just wanted to let everyone know that just because the site doesn't appear to be updated, I can't be found at the forums and chatroom, and any other evidence of my existence seems to have been wiped clean, I'm still around and still working on the site. So if you have any ideas, comments, or concerns, don't hesitate to drop me a line here, at the forums, in the chatroom, or through email. I may be busy these days, but I'm certainly not too busy for you!

Blessings,
Evy