UNCLE FESTERS 
Magickal Moments Weekly
Make this a Magickal WeekAugust 15 2014 
In This Issue
Shop Chat - writing skills
New Inner Circle Program
'Witch' way for the next generation
'Speed dating' fair for religions
Witches world record
Recipe of the Month : Potato Omelet
Inspirational

Your task for this week :

 

write a handwritten thank you note to someone you admire.
_______________________
 

 

 New Pop Up Products
last day for some items 

 

2015 Australian Moon Products

 

Australian Moon diary, wall charts, Moon Rites book and a DVD on Menstruation - for delivery late August.  Pop Up products are only temporarily available as we change these around every two weeks  . . . .
 

check out all our new products

 

 

  ______________________  

Product of the Week :
The Blood Rose Heart 

      

As I shared on our facebook page this week Alchemy gothic have just released this new version of an even bigger necklace that they say is "specially designed for everyday wear". The other new designs in the range certainly are - simple pendants on chain and some simple skull earri
ngs - but I can't see myself wearing this every day - its gorgeous for dressing up - but maybe I've been living in sleepy Woodend too long - and working from home it would just get caught up in my pyjama top.

What do you think? Everyday or dressing up ?  

 

 

check out all our new products

 

  ______________________  

Quote of the Week

  

"Style is to forget all styles."

Jules Renard

  ______________________  


   

Daily Lore and Legend

 

August 17
Festival of Diana. Every year on this date, the goddess of chastity, hunting, and the moon was honored by the ancient Romans.
This is a special day of feasting, mirth, and magic-making for many Dianic Wiccans, since Diana is the most sacred goddess of their tradition.  

______________________  
Quick Links...

 
  

If you have comments or suggestions let me know - if you like our newsletters as they are let others know

 

Sincerely 

Margaret Copland

 Wit of the Week

 

 

" I was thinking of becoming a doctor. I have the handwriting for it"  

 


Shop Chat - good writing skills or not  

 

       

Chatting to a customer and "Friend of the Family" on the phone this week and she nicely commented how well written the first Inner Circle email article was  - I was wrapped because when I was finished writing it I looked down and said to myself "is that all there is ?" because I felt I had written for pages and pages and pages and it took so long to do - yet it was only one page long - so I guess that is the advantage of some good editing skills (taught me when I used to be an Economist many years ago and wrote magazine articles for the State Bank of Victoria).

 


By contrast the masters thesis I wrote while at Uni is absolutely atrocious - grammar and editing wise - almost unreadable - yet still earned First Class Honors.  Mainly I think because it was being judged on content (a mathematical economic model) rather than presentation (this was also before home computers) and because a lot of the other students didn't have English as their first language . .

 

Nowadays I also bless the spell checking gods . .  .  

 

 

 

New Inner Circle Program started last week - it is not too late to join in  . .  

 

       

Introducing our newly revamped "Inner Circle" Members program.

 

My vision is that Inner Circle members will have access to   
 
* Special pages on the website that will contain a growing amount of information, building up to a full resource library over time   
 
* The option to participate in a second level of our "Wicca Course" as a new group - starting 11th August and focusing on living a more magickal life - with more interaction and learning activities   
 
* A Private Facebook page for sharing and discussion - with new themes to explore each month   
 
* For instance I've been playing with the idea of "Magickal Solutions to Everyday Problems" and really want to explore this more with you as a specialist community of like minded souls   
 
* Discounts on select products, most notably the "Pop Up Products" that feature in a changing array on the website each fortnight   

* Special previews and occasional members only offers   
 
* Other surprises not even dreamed of yet!



To participate in the "Inner Circle" Members program.
 
 
Inner Circle Members automatically qualify to join in  (i.e. those who have spend $300+ with us in the last 12 months over at least two orders).

* Those customers identified as our "Friends of the Family"
can get a free upgrade to Inner Circle Membership while active in any one of our monthly surprise clubs (until your yearly total reaches $300 and you then qualify outright)

* Anyone can also participate as an Inner Circle Member without product purchase qualifications by becoming a direct subscriber for $10 / month

  

to register

  

 

 

The success of the program will depend on your enthusiastic participation  - so all feedback is most welcome.

 

 

some early and encouraging feedback 

 

 

 

Hello Margaret,
Just a quick hello and response to the note received today, . I am really looking forward to EVERYTHING! One day I will advance on that comment and add some ideas to your brainstorm list but for now I just wanted to let you know im very excited about the new ideas so far put out there. Please add me to the Private facebook and also to the list for the 2nd Wicca Course (really looking forward to that) and anything else I can be added to lol. I am very interested in the secret pages of knowledge, I love learning and want to learn so much more.... what a great idea! You are bloody brilliant and I love what you are doing, You have been in my life for so long now 10 yrs + and I don't expect that to ever change! Just keeps getting better. One day I would love to actually meet you and just give you a big hug haha
Keep up the fabulous work you are doing
Thanks for everything
C

Merry Meet Margaret,
Thank you for the wonderful information package you've sent for me to look at, your ideas are brilliant and keeping in mind that we are all about keeping our home grown uncle fester's strong and thriving providing us with great quality products
S  
                                 

 

 

 

 

In the News - Pagans wonder 'witch' way for the next generation as New Age trend ages (UK)

 

 

 . . . .It happens to Catholics, evangelicals, Jews, and yes, pagans, too.

 

Second-generation pagans - those whose parents were converts to pagan spirituality - are a lot like their peers in other faiths. They often do spirituality their own way. Or not at all.

. . . Where the first generation had to struggle to find teachers, books and like-minded pagans, the Internet now offers a wide knowledge stream and infinite meet-up possibilities.

Still, the tendency of youth to rebel against their upbringing and to hunt for something new is ageless.



. . . . . An author and a scholar teamed up last year to survey more than 160 second-generation pagans to see how they identify as adults. Laura Wildman-Hanlon,  . . . . found that 49 percent of second-generation pagans had shifted to identifying as "nones" - people who say they have no particular religious identity - a group that now represents 20 percent of Americans overall and more than a third of millennials. . . . .

 

 

read the full article

 

In the News - Hobart's MONA offers 'speed dating' fair for religions (Aust)

 

Pagans, potions and the paranormal have featured at a fair with a difference at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art.

 

The celebrated museum known for its darker side has opened its doors {one weekend last month} to a festival of thought billed as the Australian Fair for Freedom of Belief and Religion.

 

Organizers, who believe it is the first time an event exploring belief and religion has been held in Australia, are describing it as "speed dating" for religions.

 

The fair is a trade show of religions, allowing visitors to ask questions and find out more about a range of beliefs all under one roof.

 

It features stalls manned by everyone from Anglicans to pagans putting their beliefs on display for potential converts.

 

Organizers say while traditionally some of these beliefs would not mix, there has been no tension between them.

 

Jess Steers from the Tasmanian Pagan Alliance said her group had an affinity with the island state.

 

"Tasmania being such a beautiful natural state with so much wilderness, it's very normal for people to love nature and care for the earth," she said.

 

"Tasmania's probably more pagan that it thinks."

 

The fair also lets people "try before they buy" with a number of lectures and workshops.

 

"We wouldn't expect anyone to convert on the sport because we really want people to think about this," Ms Steers said.

 

And for those not wanting to get too serious, the fair also features a laughing yoga workshop.

 

Exponent Jacob Miller said practicing just 15 minutes a day had benefits.

 

"It's about just enjoying the chance to have a laugh and be joyful, but also getting all those benefits that come from laughter; so increased oxygen flow and all the endorphins that make you feel good."

 

source

In the News : Witches hope to break world record with Devon gathering (UK)

 

 

Hundreds of witches will gather in Exeter later this month in an attempt to break a world record.

The current world record for a witch gathering stands at 765 but Jackie Juno, the Grand Bard of Exeter, is planning to break it with an event commemorating all witches put to death.

No proof of witchcraft is required and black cats are an optional extra.

However, to qualify as a witch for the world record, you must wear a black pointy witch's hat, a black cloak and carry a broom.

Jackie, whose role is to uphold and maintain the ancient tradition of the Bardic Chair, said: "There will be a short wreath-laying ceremony to remember the last three women killed for witchcraft in Exeter.

"They were held in terrible conditions before being hanged. We will also remember all those before them who were killed accused of witchcraft.

"We will then attempt to break the world record for the amount of witches gathered in one place - this currently stands at 765."

Men witches are also welcome to the attempt which is planned for August 31 in Rougemont Gardens.

 

source 

Recipe of the Month : Tortilla de Patatas
Potato Omelet

 

This is the proper food for any romeria (pilgrimage).  Suitable for any of the gods or goddesses that you wish to pay homage to.

8 tablespoons olive oil
6 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced, sliced or cut into chips
1/2 large Spanish onion or 1 ordinary one - skinned and chopped
6 large eggs
salt

serves 4

Heat the oil in a frying pan.  Gently fry the potato and the onion in the oil, but do not let them take any colour.  Transfer the potato and onion to a bowl. Fork the eggs lightly with a little salt and add them to the potatoes.  Pour most of the oil out of the pan, reheat it and tip in the egg mixture.  Push the potatoes down into the egg.  Fry gently on a low heat, until the eggs start to set.  As it cooks, neaten the sides with a metal spatula to build up a deep straight edge to the tortilla.  When it looks firm, slide it out onto a plate, then invert it back into the pan to cook the other side.  You might need a little more oil.  You can include parsley, garlic or a particular herb to honour the deity of your choice.
Serve hot, or leave to cool and cut into squares for a picnic or outdoor ceremony.

Blessed Be and Peace Seren*

 


Source: submitted by a founding reader of this newsletter in 2008 

Your Say - inspirational

 

Uncle Festers was a big part of our business for a lot of years. Now with our revamping and no longer location locked think it will be again. It has always been great to know there were like minded people and businesses even if at other end of the country. Margaret your newsletters were often the highlight of my week & inspired me to keep going . . . .N

 

 


Hi N - nice to hear from you again too -you might also like this quote

I am a holistic entrepreneur
my love, life, work and spirituality
are not separate.
And letting them all come together
and shine through
is what stepping into the New Economy
is all about.'

'