Tarot not for Strong Empaths?

So I've gotten advice from people in my life, and I'm wanting to get a collective opinion on the subject. I was at a (real) occult shop in my hometown last week, and the shopkeep (hehe I love that word) walked over to me and gently removed the deck from my hand. I was a little peeved, to say the least. He said that tarot isn't for strong empaths. I was surprised, as not many people save for family have ever been able to tell (it runs in the family, thanks ma), but I was confused. The gentleman laughed, called me a wild empath, and tried to tell me that while I am extremely powerful, I am but wild and not accustomed to my worth. While this is true, I can't control it nor things I am able to do, I was a bit upset. Why would empathy make for a bad tarot reading? I mean, I'm not out to pretend to be something I'm not, I'm not going to read tarot for money or anything of that sort. I just wanted to get to know that sort of thing a bit better, you know?

I suppose, if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I'm still going to purchase a deck and work with my Teacher in my Order, but I'm curious to know what you all think about what this shopkeep (man I love that word!) had said to/about me.

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Mixing Pantheons?

I have read that it is not good to mix pantheons is this good advice? But what if one were to feel the pull of two Goddesses from different countries?

I feel a thrill every time I see or hear the name Danu, also the same with Hecate. Some advice or information would be of great help. I have been a seeker now for about 7 months not long I know so forgive my stumbling baby steps.

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Heathen Altars?

This is directed more toward Asatruar, but if anyone else has seen a Heathen altar feel free to chime in!

I've been thinking about setting up an altar in our guest bedroom and I'm just trying to bounce some ideas around. Do any of you even have an altar? If so, what does it look like and what do you use it for? Do you honor all the gods and goddesses at your altar, or focus on one or a few?

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What Does the Pentacle Mean to You?

What does the Pentacle mean to you?

This symbol doesn't really have much of a place in my life right now. Other symbols have always been more in the forefront. I guess I just never felt a "connection" to it. As of late however, it has been appearing to me. I don't know what this could mean, so any insights will be helpful!

I did look back into past posts and found that terms vary for the five pointed star within a circle: Pentacle, Pentagram, Pent. But no matter what the term, what significance does it hold for you?

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Wicca and Polytheism

As a disclaimer, let me first say that by Wicca, I'm talking about is non-oathbound material - that is what is available in books, magazines etc... I understand that there has been a lot of discussion about what separates NeoWicca from Wicca from Wiccanesque from eclectic, but I'm still unsure of exactly where the lines are.

That said, I'm wondering if there is anything contradictory in being a polytheistic Wiccan. Most of what I've read presents Wicca as duotheistic or even a kind of light monotheism* but I've also heard people say that they themselves are hard polytheists who have a patron and matron deity (oftentimes from ancient pantheons) which they focus on. And then I've also heard some Wiccans say that the Goddess/God of Wicca are separate deities whom you worship using Wiccan rituals.

So I'm kind of confused. I know a lot of people who claim the Wiccan label have totally different ideas wrt theology and such. I just feel a strong draw to a lot of what I read about Wicca, but I'm also more of a hard polytheist and I'm looking for a little elucidation.

* This, I will admit, is something more common in fluffier books, but it's still pretty common.

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O' Great Golden One (It's Apollo...)

As you all probably know there are several followers of Apollo here on TC, myself included, so I figured it's about time he got his own thread. He's already getting a cookie, it's the seventh of the month. (The cookie is almond sugar rolled in coconut...)

I'd like to keep the thread UPG, various instances you've experienced, odd quirks of his(though he would never do anything odd), or even favorite myths....

I'll start, he hates my cat. To the point of a giving me a near allergy despises him, poor Barnaby never did anything wrong, spoiled, yes. Pain in the butt, I'll give him that. But nothing that should make him hate Barnaby...

Besides being a cat-hater I adore him, he's pretty much perfect....

Anyone else or just me?

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Avatar Design Challenge #1 Results

And the winner is....

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Cauldron Fiction Writing Contest

HeartShadow, ShadowCat and I have come up with the idea to have a fiction writing contest here on The Cauldron. If you would like to participate, please read the following rules:

The Cauldron fiction contest August 2007 Rules:

Theme: Harvest Festival
Length: a maximum of 6000 words

Contest opens: August 10, 2007
Contest closes: September 15, 2007
Voting starts: October 1, 2007
Winners notified: October 8, 2007
Honorary Prize: Avatar or Sig Pic, by Cat, and publication in Cauldron and Candle, the TC newsletter
Judges: Celtee, ShadowCat, HeartShadow

Judging criteria:
--Clear, concise writing
--English
--Easily readable and understandable
--Sticks to the topic
--Creativity
--Originality

Two submissions maximum per person. However, only ONE submission will be allowed into the final judging so it is fair for everyone.

Contest open to all members of The Cauldron.

Submissions must follow all rules of The Cauldron; including being PG-13 or better.

HeartShadow, ShadowCat and I will be the judges with the (impossible) job of narrowing all entries down to the top three. After the contest ends and the top three are picked, they will be posted on the board and all members of The Cauldron will be able to vote for their favorite.

PM Celtee through her profile for her email address. In the subject line of the email, put your Cauldron name and "Cauldron Submissio" (f’ex: "Celtee’s Cauldron Submission") and note “ESL” if English is not your first language.

Hope you participate. Can't wait to see your submissions so dust off your paper, sharpen your pencils and let the stories unfold!

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Discreet Ways to Practice?

I live in a very Christian household in the Southern US. Needless to say, it's rather conservative over here. I'm interested in beginning a small devotional practice, just something to add a spiritual dimension to my day. If anyone has any ideas on ways to do things like this that aren't obvious, that would be lovely. Thank you all!

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Doppelganger Experience?

Today, I went to Walmart, the place that sees me 7 times a week haha, on my way to my mother's. I had to pick up some things for her, and I got in line behind this woman in a self check out. Well, she kept trying to pay for things with cash, and the machine kept jamming. I was running late, as it had already taken me longer than planned, and here I was, stuck behind this woman, getting later and later and later..... I was feeling frustrated. I kept thinking I needed to get on to my mother's because she needed to eat her breakfast. (she is a brittle, type 1 diabetic, and needs to eat on a very regular schedule).

Anyway, I get out to the car, and my mother called me, and before she could really say anything, I said I am on my way, she said okay, and I left. I didn't think any more about it, till I got there. I walked in, and she said that about 15 minutes before, (just before she called me) she said she heard me come in, and even heard me say something, and Smokey Jo, the cat, ran to greet me like she always does. Then she said something to me, and I didn't answer, so she went into the living room, and that is when she realized I wasn't there. That is when she called me.

Well, this isn't the first time things like this have happened in relation to my mother. I did it once in high school, and then here while back, there was a similar incident to the one above. I wasn't stuck behind a woman in the self check out, but otherwise it was similar. I think each time it was triggered by a strong need to be somewhere, and being unable to be there physically at the time I was needing to be there.

Has anyone else ever experienced this?

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