Asking your pardon...

Greetings All.

It has been pointed out to me (by Kaithlin and rather pointedly, at that) that I have given much time to the discussion of Witches and Vampyres and, in comparison, very little to the Werewolf. My apologies, for it was not my intent to slight any Kind. Rather, in my defense, I have had more dealings and contact with the former Kinds and thus tend to concentrate my efforts there. As I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know a Werewolf King (Michael says the title is merely a formality in modern times), I will base this discussion on the information I learned from him (with his blessing).

First, let me say that Michael is an extraordinary individual, for many reasons. I have found him to be a most intelligent, entertaining, adaptable person who goes out of his way to assist others; provide safety to those in need; protect his own; and generally make our world a better place in which to live. A few months ago he so impressed our alliance council that he was invited to join the alliance and we are most pleased that he accepted a seat on the council. Michael wears many hats; head of his clan, council to others of his Kind; career scientist; father, brother, to name a few. Busy? Definitely, yet he somehow manages to make himself available in other areas, and still finds time to squeeze in a bit of social life for himself. At a later date, I hope we can convince him to spare a few moments to personally post to our blog. But onward with today's discussion.

Much maligned, oft considered the lowliest of majical Beings, is the Werewolf (when not considered nothing more than a mythical Being). Some scientists decry the possibility of their existence for the fact that they deem it impossible to mate human and animal genetics (not the case with Werewolves) while those scientists who do believe in their existence claim their existence is due to a diseased condition. How is that for scientific mumbo-jumbo? Given that human scientists are a breed unto themselves, it is no wonder that the scientific world is beyond the rest of us.

Thankfully, there are those within the scientific community (like Michael and those of other Kinds) who go about the business of handling the scientific needs of their Kinds. For obvious reasons that work is accomplished in secret and, as a point of interest, there are private labs for that purpose.

The misconceptions that dog the Kind arise out of lack of knowledge and that old standby, fear, in mortal society; and that due to the testing that has been done on human corpses. Those have yielded samples of fur and saliva similar, but not identical, to the common wolf and those taken with bite marks and the savaged flesh lead to the declaration of animal attack -the wolf. Never mind that wolves are shy creatures and only attack when provoked, do not inhabit large cities or towns with large numbers of people, are not possessed of the human intelligence to plan and carry out those attacks that occur within buildings, behind locked doors... You get the drift. Cover-up is the name of the game when it comes to what cannot be explained.

Before I go any further let me state that the majority of Werewolves are not malicious beasts in search of a human meal, even in wolf form. There are known and unknown rogues, as in any Kind, who taint the entire Kind with that behavior. For the most part they are people with dual natures; no more, or less. They lead ordinary lives but for when in wolf form. They eat, drink, sleep, awaken, work, go to school, and so on, like the rest of us. And no, they are not immortal, although they do enjoy longevity beyond human years.

Their wolf form is as natural to them as their human form, they are in control of the change (so the change is not forced upon them by a full moon as myth would have you believe), they experience human feelings and emotions in both forms, and in wolf form they are much larger and stouter than the common wolf, which by the way is not what they evolved from. There are, certainly, similarities in the genetics of wolf and Werewolf but they are not, nor have they ever been, one and the same. Simply put, Werewolves are another Kind of majical Being.

As with all other 'different' Kinds, the Werewolf is hunted; once nearly to distinction. But their numbers are on the rise now they have infiltrated modern society, a necessity which they learned at great cost. Werewolves formerly kept to themselves, lived by their own laws and rules, and rarely ventured forth into this society. Not uncommon if you consider the American Indian and other tribal clans forced to keep their distance for the very fact that they were 'different' in the eyes of the majority.

Color, race, gender, Kind; religious, political, sexual preference, how sad that those differences are what acceptance in society is based upon. How sad that those who call themselves the moral majority have the audacity to claim the world was created for them, alone. Mayhap the moral majority is in fact the true Outsider and only by sheer numbers alone does the self-appointed moral majority rule and destroy on a fanciful whim. Ponder.

By the by, I have not forgotten to address another Kind; the Faery. I have not addressed them, for I have precious little knowledge of the Kind (although I do have enough to know that there is a world of myth and distorted information about them), and I only provide valid information, as it becomes available to me. So take care you do not fall for myth, faery tales, and the like. Blessed May You Be.

Myth, Majic, or More...

Greetings All.

Oft, one hears the term 'making majic'. A simple term, yet, the use of it gives rise to conjecture and speculation and, naturally, provokes thoughts and questions and stirs negative emotions of those without majical abilities. Majic in and of itself is not, as most oft assumed (but never proven), of maleficent origins nor is it 'made'. Plain and simple, Majic is an extraordinary quality; a gift, not made but endowed or inherited. Time taken to explore the origins of fears and speculation related to Majic is time well spent. No mystery here; no concerted effort required, for it comes down to this: how the gift is used or wielded and for what purpose or intent.

It is more the 'user' or 'wielder' of majical skills one must look to in order to discover from whence outside fear and speculation arises. As with anything there are two sides to the coin, and that holds true in the world of Majical Beings, as well. Simply put, good and evil; black and white, light and dark, and never either of the twains shall mesh. Too, what is deemed extraordinary, supernatural, or otherworldly, takes on ominous liability, for the mere fact that those are 'out of the ordinary' and thus uncommon to the majority.

With that, and given there are differing types of Majic and differing degrees of skills attached to each gift, there is little wonder that Majic is considered bete noire; abominate acts at odds with what is considered normal and acceptable. One fears what one does not own, control, or at the very least, understand. Add to that, historical accounts; books; movies, religious fervor, and the like, and there you have the recipe to brew fear and speculation.

Taking into account differing types of Majic: This should not be difficult to grasp as there are different Kinds of majical Beings; Witches, Faeries, Vampyres, Werewolves... You get the drift? Each has the gift particular to their Kind and no two of one Kind have all equal skills. That begs the question: If one is more powerful than another how is balance achieved in each of those societies? Answer; the same way balance is achieved in your society. As with any society there are laws and rules and those with like morals and values common to the majority use their combined efforts to prevent a negative overbalance of the scales of justice. Are they always successful? Certainly not, for there are, always will be those with a greed for more power and the desire to rule; those who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

But it is when particular majical Beings enter the mortal world with evil intent to prey upon the unsuspecting that one should give thanks that the mortal world is not without its own majical Beings. Particular humans with majical abilities, and particular ones of other Kinds of Majical Beings who inhabit the mortal world on a regular basis, ally themselves in the effort to protect and defend innocents against evil ones of all Kinds, including mankind. So, before you assume and decry, mayhap your efforts would be better spent in the learning of that which you do not understand -Majic. In its purest forms, used as the gifts were intended, Majic is a most powerful gift to be used for the benefit of all, and not just a select few. Those skills attributed to Majic can be used as tools or weapons and it is to the select group that wield them as tools, for your benefit, whom you owe, at the very least, an effort to learn and help debunk wrong speculation and conjecture. Ponder. Blessed May You Be.

A 'Special' Individual

Greetings All.

It appears that whatever prevented us access to our blog yesterday crept off with the darkness, and here we are. Though patience is considered a virtue it is often tested to the extreme, non? I regret that the esteemed colleague we had planned to introduce to you was unable to remain with us another night, as he is on a tight schedule and is due in Scotland on the morrow. However, he did give Kaithlin leave to post for him in his absence. Enjoy. Dream Teller

Bonjour and top of the morning to you. I, too, am disappointed that the Vampyre Romanji had to leave us but his duties are many and I've yet to meet anyone more dedicated to duty than he. These days he is known as Roman and a more interesting individual I've never met. While most of our guests prefer to do their own posting to our blog I would liken it to pulling teeth to get Roman to agree to do so. So it is that he was relieved he didn't have to sit down at the keyboard and tap out his message. Why? For the simple fact that Roman has little patience for certain modern conveniences; computers being one of those. Imagine that. However, he realizes the value of modern conveniences, even admits to enjoying certain of those (when one can get him to talk), and for all his dislike of computers he is extremely computer literate. And, as he has agreed to return at a later time and fulfill the obligation Dream Teller wrung out of him (she is so good at that), I will use this time to tell you about him those things he has agreed can be told.

In terms of immortal time Roman is considered a very young Vampyre -366 years since made, and not of his own free will. His are extremely unusual circumstances, which shaped who he is today. In his human existence Roman was the second of four sons and a daughter born to a powerful Highland laird of the clan McAllistaire (an unusual spelling of his surname, for which he gives no explanation when requested) . His beloved mother was Rumanian; a 'gift' from a family of gypsies whom his da (father) defended against certain death from an enemy clan (according to Roman, gypsies were looked down upon by most Scottish clans). As that may be, the young laird was quite willing to take her for his bride. Unknown to her, she wed a Berserker; a fierce and powerful warrior feared by all who knew of such warriors.

Many are the myths and tales of Berserkers and most of them paint the warriors as evil, crazed, otherworldly Beings who, for a price, would fight under any flag, for any who could raise the bounty to hire them. Such was not the case of all Berserkers, for some were noble and refused to hire out. Like Roman's da, many Berserkers fought only under their own colors, for their own clans. But enough of that history, for the time being.

Roman was but seventeen when he fell victim to an experiment that had only been tried once before, and ended with horrible results. But his maker, a powerful, ancient Vampyre with a greed for notoriety among his Kind believed himself capable of perfecting the outcome of such an experiment; creating a Being more powerful than any ever known to exist -a Vampyre possessed of the Berserker's blood and innate powers. The Ancient was certain he could control such a Being if he chose his victim, wisely; a youth with particular qualities he believed would offset the mistake that was made in that first experiment, a victim chosen by random rather than careful calculation. The belief of the creation of an uncommonly powerful Being was realized but the experiment that cost Roman his mortality cost the Ancient his life, but not before he realized his mistaken belief that he could control his creation. When Roman awakened to his new existence, the horror of what he'd become fueled the hate and rage he spent upon his maker.

Roman's fear and confusion sent him home to seek counsel of the man he most loved and respected but when he confessed his ordeal, his da was so horrified and disgusted he attempted to kill his own son. Even in his anguish and rage, Roman hadn't the heart to kill his da; instead, disarmed him of the knife Roman had made himself and presented as gift to his da. Banished for all time from family and home, Roman took his leave and began a journey that would take him across oceans and seas, through centuries in time, and pit him against his own rage, as he learned to survive in a world of darkness.

In these modern times he has only recently (the last fifty years in mortal time) begun learning how to navigate the mortal world; to learn and accept the ways of mortals and the laws of their society, and that because he ran up against one whom, to his shock, he could not best. He owes his existence to his unbeatable foe, now his mentor who took him under his wing; the ancient Vampyre Garth de Roderick. You have heard us speak of Garth, our colleague and counselor of Vampyre ways. And while I often poke fun at Garth, I hold him in high regard, for he is one of the few of his Kind to embrace his lot and get on with the business of life. For all his otherworldly power and abilities, his dark beginnings, Garth is most kind and caring of others; a protector of innocents of all Kinds, hunter and slayer of predators, mentor, and numerous other titles he wears so well.

He has taken Roman to his heart, as if he were his own son, and for that we admire him. It is through his influence, or mayhap better said, for the help of it, that Roman is an incredible individual who has finally come round to the realization that he has a special place in our hearts, and a place of his own in our world. I count myself blessed to have made his acquaintance and while he is yet rather shy of others, a loner of sorts, stoic of expression (for the most part), some of us are able to see beyond the stoicism into the real man who happens to be Vampyre.

Those select few Outsiders who have made his acquaintance think well of him and, like others of our societies, consider themselves fortunate to be accepted into his small circle of friends and acquaintances. Mayhap, at some time, you will enjoy such a relationship with him, as well, and if you are so fortunate as to meet him take care to step lightly and speak with careful thought, for he is new to our world and our ways; young yet in terms of immortality, and still learning whom he can and cannot trust.

As Garth has often reminded, Vampyres are, first and foremost, born predators, skilled hunters, and their needs must be met in order to survive. And while one need not fear the civilized of their Kind, he preaches that even the most civilized Vampyres can be pushed beyond their civilized limits by those who are thoughtless and unkind. Blessed May You Be.

Nothing amiss...

Bonjour mes amies.

This morning I will post Dream Teller's answers to some of your e-mails. But let me first say this to those of you who responded to last mornings quote and inquired if it was a cryptic message meant for someone specific. As Dream Teller is wont to say: "Take away from it what you will." I will tell you that Dream Teller has the gift for delivering messages in many and varied ways; some so subtle as to appear crytic to some (but obvious to those meant to take note), and others so blatant the message cannot be misconceived. Her latest quote is what it is -a quote.

As you come to know her better you will discover she is possessed of a mind never still, even when at rest. Her thoughts take may fashions; quotes, poetry, musings, considerations, and such, many of which find their way onto paper. As she goes about her business, at the end of the day her desk is littered with them. I have learned much from those, as have others, and as her assistant I make it my business to rescue discarded bits and pieces that go into a specific file for safe-keeping. Such was the case of the last post; a quote birthed during a particular meeting on some specific research the alliance was engaged in. She is often surprised to discover she has put such thoughts to paper, even as her mind was otherwise engaged.

Those closest to her have let her know the value we find in the thoughts one often finds squashed and tossed aside, or doodled in the margins of a report, letter of inquiry, and so on. Aye: "take away what you will" but take care not to miss the value of it for looking for what is not intended. Know that if she sends a cryptic message meant for someone specific it is for their benefit, while you receive the value intended for you.

And now to our e-mail:

To Trevor in Ohio: Aye, and there are those Outsiders capable of learning the craft but it has been my experience that those have hidden gifts they are unaware of or pretend to be unaware of, for various reasons. So it is not that they learn 'Majic' but that they were already possessed of certain majical abilities that surface during the course of their studies. Witchcraft is a religion defined by ceremonies and rites particular to that religion and those Outsiders who study the religion are oft found to be descendants of the Witch. It is that which prompts them to experience the need to understand the craft. 'Tis the ancient blood running through their veins that sometimes leads the true Witch to seek the student; practicioners of White Majic in their effort to prevent the student from seeking wrong paths, practicioners of Black Majic in their effort to control them and bring them into the dark realm. Take care whom you associate with, for glib are the deceivers who would lead you astray.

To AJ in Iraq: Blessings to one of our finest; soldier and protector of our freedom. I am pleased that you found your way to my forum, as it is my wish to reach all who share an interest in our alliances goal to bring about understanding and acceptance of all Kinds. Would that all understood the value of those who are a wealth of the knowledge most fear to tap. Aye, and you are correct that there is more than a mere book in the works, here. My novels are tools which serve many purposes; two of which are entertainment for those who seek only entertainment, knowledge for those who wish to learn. One of the many obstacles that stand in the way of acceptance is one's inability to place certain Kinds in modern society and thus, to grasp that they run up against many of the same, everyday problems as the rest of us face. Other Kinds have need of care, nurture, love, and the like and that some seek those with mortals who are of kindred spirit is at best, difficult for others to conceive of. It is much like prejudice in other areas; racial, religious, gender, to name a few. I appreciate your offer of assistance and as I suspect there is more than the blood of the Outsider runs through your veins, mayhap we will court your assistance when the need arises. Those whom we bring into the fold will receive a personal response apart from this message. Blessed May You Be.

To Willow in Delaware: 'Tis for our visitors' safety that last names and specific cities are not published with my responses.

To Raven in Louisiana: Your message has been forwarded to the Warlock Gregory. Be assured that he takes you seriously and will handle what necessitates handling. Fear not to continue to worship at your church for there you are safe. The one of whom you speak may be no more than a visitor but that is not for you to question. Do not approach him for many is the time such a visitor merely seeks safe haven or a place to think and learn and has no wish to be approached. Follow your instincts as you have done in the past and your kindness and concern speak well of you. Stay safe.

To Drey in Virginia: Moon lore abounds so it is not surprising you find it difficult to understand all. It is a symbol of mystic significance and its phases and path are linked to the planting and harvesting of crops, harvesting the sea, earth-tide, religious ceremonial rites, and the changing of certain life forms. Like the sun it rises in the east and sets in the west but unlike the sun, the size and shape of the moon continually change. Four cycles, approximately seven days each, total the lunar month. Following the dark of the moon appears the first crescent (new moon) which 'waxes' (grows larger) to the first quarter (visible as the half-moon then three-quarter). As the moon waxes, its horns point east until it reaches full moon. On the 'wane' the moon diminishes in size and the horns point west until no moon is seen at all. The moons horns have prompted much speculation of themselves, as does what is known as the 'Blood' moon but those are for another time. Here is an old rhyme for you: A new moon rises with the sun, Its waxing half at midday shows, The full moon climbs at sunset hour, And waning half the midnight knows.

To Heather in Georgia: The 'still point' has been called many things; other reality, mystic experience, ecstatic union, and Jung termed it "a remarkable instance of exaltation". Plotinus (philosopher) of the third century A. D. is said to have called it "a flight of the alone to the Alone". The latter suits, for the still point is sought by the solitary, for it requires much patience and practice to achieve. So say, once achieved it is never lost. The discipline is rewarding as it centers the being and brings about spiritual peace and strength.

Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin

'The Way'... (A quote attributed to Dream Teller)

Bonjour and greetings at first light.

Look not to the hallowed halls of the learned; ancient nor modern, for that which has been whispered down through the ages. Ask not of The Way for at best you will be deceived, at worst forced to the treacherous paths of unhallowed ground, as all who seek The Way, perforce, must walk.

Ask not; want not, lest you be willing to give all and embrace life, asunder. Lest you be knowing what you will encounter along the way, lest the damned incarnate tempt you to veer from the ancient path -leave it be. For it lies in wait, The Way, the blessing of the Keeper and the curse of the Seeker. Hear me; heed my warning, for only once shall it be spoken, and no more.

Ponder, for the pendulum swings both ways.

Dark To Light

Greetings All.

My topic this day is intended to offer insight into the world of another Kind; one of great power, the world of the Vampyre. The history of the Kind is lengthy with tales of tragedy, horror, and lunacy to the point that those who seek to understand find little to recommend those Immortals. Be it known that understanding is gained through the realization that there are sub-types within the Kind, thus all Vampyres are not one and the same; abhorrent creatures bent on destroying humanity and other Kinds.

Most certainly that type exists; predators with neither morals nor care for the right to life that belongs to all. Mayhap they are the majority but to my knowledge there is no hard and fast proof . Be that as it may, many forms of prejudice toward the Kind, abounds; prejudices fueled by those who claim knowledge of the Kind. As we all know, or should know, truth in the written word depends solely upon the author's knowledge base. Then there is the question of whether that knowledge is gained first-hand, sightings, or purely through research; information garnered through tales, passed by word of mouth, and so on. The same could be asked of this author. Again, as I often state, take from this what you will then decide for yourself.

Many modern, prolific authors offer purportedly ficticious tales of the Vampyre which portray some as vicious, souless creatures and others as having natures in common with humanity. The latter often find themselves caught up in romance with mortals, as they seek to establish roots in modern society. Fiction is often the mirror of fact and I often wonder if some of those novels are a veiled attempt to implant the seeds of possibility without the particular author having to come forward and claim knowledge and offer proof, as is always demanded when one makes such a claim. If such is the case, and it appears so to me, at least the seeds are being planted. Kudos to those of you who make the attempt.

But to return to the nature of the topic; different types within the Kind. As with humans, one will find both good and evil within other Kinds, which applies to the various types of Vampyre, as well. That is to say that not all of one sub-type are good, and another type all bad. Confusing? Consider then that even the best of humans can go bad so why not other Kinds? Various reasons and scenarios play a large part in which of us is able to maintain appropriate behavior, especially at the worst of times.

First, one must consider that some Vampyres are born and others made. That kicks the 'Vampyres are sterile' theory in the teeth, non? Rather like the idea that Vampyres have no soul; again, no proof, but that is another matter. It is the made Vampyres who generally garner all the negative theories and beliefs. Why? For the fact that the loss of their mortality, 'human death', was so traumatic, that they are thrust into a world of which they have no basic knowledge, and with that, discover the new nature of their Being. And thus begins the journey; learning to adapt.

There are those who are unable to successfully adapt to their new way of life and those are known to harbor such anger and hatred for their lot they become the diabolical fiends of note. It is this type which horror images depict; creatures with deteriorating features, yellowed fangs, skeletal appendages, claws, etc. They were not made in that image, for in fact, the newly awakened Vampyre maintains his or her previous mortal appearance. It is their sins against mankind and other Kinds that earn the punishment of that deterioration and their descent into insanity.

I think the religious issue must be addressed at this point. If one professes to believe in a just, forgiving God or Creator, as all accepted faiths profess then certainly one must believe that Deity would no more turn away from the innocent victim who fell prey to being made Vampyre, through no fault of his or her own, without allowing them the repeated opportunities for redemption as the rest of us enjoy throughout our lives. Make sense? Begs the question: Why would Vampyres be singled out to be considered without a soul? Are we not taught that our souls are immortal and that each of us possesses one? Stands to reason one's soul stays with one until one ceases to exist. Souls cannot be stolen on a whelm. One may barter away one's own soul, even be duped into doing so, but a lost soul does not come about by passing from one life form into the next, if we believe in our religious persuasion. Of course there are many and varied disclaimers on that point but in the interest of time and that everyone has differing opinions, let us not beleaguer the fact.

The point to be made is that a Vampyre's physical deterioration is not an overnight happening but occurs over time, which is not measured in mortal time. Redemption and atonement for their sins will not reinstate their healthy looks but will arrest the deterioration. That may sound unbelievable to some who are only able to think in shades of black and white but then so do they disbelieve many other realities. Their choice and, afterall, all that we do and think is based upon personal choice.

The born Vampyre, of which there are many races, are Immortals who most closely resemble mankind in physical looks. Naturally, they are of a much higher intelligence (something humans tend to frown upon and refuse to believe), but given that Ancients have existed for centuries it stands to reason they have carried the knowledge garnered over that period of time to the present. Their offspring have the benefit of that knowledge as well, as what they learn in their lifetimes... You get the gist. While those born resemble mankind, certain of their races possess a physical beauty well beyond that of the most beautiful mortal. Why, is not known but it is not something they dwell upon but accept as a fact of their existence.

It is thought that the born Vampyre possesses the highest degree of majic in the universe (other Kinds, particularly Faeries, disagree), and it is to them that many of us attribute the safety and well-being of many of our Kinds. Their powers are legendary and, to my way of thinking, second to none; yet, I find them to be the most gracious, caring, and kind-hearted of all majical Beings. (That statement will most surely earn me some disgruntled friends) They are dedicated hunters, protectors, healers, humanitarians, master-craftsmen, and so much more there is not space to mention all, at this time. Sadly, they are victims, too, for those who who deem them abominations still hunt them down and manage to destroy many of them.

I hear the wheels of minds turning with the obvious question: If they are Immortal how can they be killed? No Kind is immune from death. Immortality equals longevity and longevity depends upon one's ability to survive one's adversaries. Simple as that. I will not go into the manner in which a Vampyre can be slain for it serves no purpose except to feed morbid fascination.

I will leave you with all of this to ponder and I will revisit the topic another time, as there is so much more to be revealed. Blessed May You Be.

'The Way' Series

Greetings and Blessed May You Be.

As promised, here is an overview of Dream Teller's new series of novels:

'The Way' series is dedicated to the life story of a powerful clan of Witches in these modern times. The continuous thread of the storyline weaves the past and the present into a remarkable tale fraught with confrontations with dangerous adversaries; otherworldly Kinds generally thought to be no more than mere figment of imaginary minds who create them for the purpose of entertainment.

Whether or not you believe in the existence of Vampyres, Werewolves, Faeries, Witches, and most secretly feared; Demons of the Netherworld, is your choice. If not a believer then come along for the fictional ride of your life and when the telling is over close the books and consider if you have been thoroughly entertained. Put them aside and ignore all that you have read -if you can. But if you are a believer in majical realms and supernatural Beings, prepare to be taken deeper into that darkness where fear becomes so palpable it engages your every sense, forces you to glance back over your shoulder at the oddest times, and causes you to rethink life as a whole, and your religious beliefs.

Are the families Breaux and Robicheaux real of imaginary? You be the judge as you follow their lives, singly and collectively. True Witches, all, with some rare distinctions uncommon to their Kind.

In the world of the Witch it is well known, and documented throughout time, that those of a higher power than other Witches; Warlocks and Sorceresses, do not mesh and never merge, for those are not kindred spirits. It is rare but not unheard of for a family of Witches to produce more than one offspring possessed of higher powers than the other siblings; Warlock or Sorceress. But while familial ties are strong bonds among families of Witches, Warlocks and Sorceresses are known to sever all family ties and make their way alone.

For all the above reasons the Breauxs and the Robicheauxs are an astounding lot, for each and every member of both families are Warlock and Sorceress. They live together, work together, find romance in the oddest places, and as time permits, play together; successfully, without fail or prejudice. Of Cajun French descent, more, ancient Celtic blood runs in their veins, the combined clan inhabits their birthplace -the state of Louisiana, which is notorious, for its history is steeped in Witchcraft, Black Majic, and Voo-Doo; all alive and thriving in these modern times.

Take away what you will from your reading; fact or fiction, but do not be surprised if your beliefs are challenged to the point that you are never again sure what is truth and what is not. Blessed May You Be.

A message from Kaithlin

Bonjour and Blessed May You Be.

We are still receiving many e-mail queries as to how to contact the designer who makes Dream Teller's cloaks and capes. Folks at the Warlock Gregory's conference were knocked out by the quality and beauty of those garments and many are looking for something better than the costume quality that abounds on the open market. They were also impressed with her gorgeous ceremonial robes for there are none to be found like them, as they are exclusive to the designer. She also produces a Wizard's cloak and some Faery garments.

As we stated once before, the designer's skills are topnotch and thus she is in much demand. The problem is that she is only one person and can only create so many at a time (she does not outsource any of the work). She does not maintain a website for that reason and only keeps a limited amount of general stock on hand, as most of her work is custom ordered. If you wish to contact her you may request photos of some of her work and if you so desire she will put you on her waiting list (two-four week wait depending upon the season and size of orders).

Please, if you are not particularly patient, you might wish to look elsewhere. The lady will not respond to impatient clients and wishes you to know that she only works on a first come, first served basis, therefore do not be one of those who attempts to pull rank for some such ridiculous reason as thinking wealth and privilige put you head and shoulders above others. It is refreshing that one is immune to such things as our designer is and even Dream Teller and the Vampyre Garth will tell you they must wait their turn for her services. Of course Garth has figured a way around the waiting by ordering several of his favorite style cloaks at once. (How like our Garth) Her work is backed by a 100% guarantee and her prices reflect the quality and level of skill that go into the garments. Her e-mail address: designline4u@yahoo.com.
Remember patience is a virtue. Happy day.

A true Witch speaks out...

Greetings and Blessed Be.

I am the Sorceress JoHaunna and I am pleased to accept Dream Teller's invitation to visit and speak with you. She forwarded many of your e-mails to me and requested that I give them my personal attention, as they pertain to Witches and the religion of Witchcraft. I will endeavor to give you a broad overview of a Witch's life in these modern times and, hopefully, dispel many of the wrong assumptions attached to our religion and our way of life.

Let me begin... Historically, Witches are portrayed as crones and hags flying about on broomsticks, bent over boiling cauldrons, and practicing Black Majic, to achieve many unsavory purposes. The hag and crone image was perpetuated during olden times when attire of the period was mostly raw, homespun material unless one was descended of wealth and royalty. Females wore garments that covered their bodies from neck to toe and the available materials were either black or brown. Cloaks were the only available 'coat' against the harsh elements and most often were fashioned with a hood known as a cowl. Taken with the aging process (we do age as Outsiders do, although some of us at a slower rate) and given the hard times and way of life, the complete image was that of a stooped old hag with unmanageable gray hair and aging features who went about muttering incomprehensible things to herself. But you can read history for yourself.

Do you not find it odd that Witches were generally portrayed as old crones and few are mentioned in their youth; their physical appearances, then? Most of the untruths arose out of the Witchs' propensity for secrecy; neccessary then and often today, for obvious reasons. There have and always will be those Witches who practice evil and for those, every Witch carries the burden. Too, Paganism has never been an acceptable form of worship for the simple fact that other faiths view all Pagans as evil-doers and satanic worshipers. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Certainly, there are satanic worshippers and devil worshippers (not one and the same) but that is a subject for another time. Practicioners of White Majic hold sway with the Witch's motto 'And it harm none'; simple, easily understood. Today we are many, yet, for the fact that our religion goes against the grain of other faiths, particularly Christianity, few are willing to expose themselves to unwarranted ridicule and harm from those who refuse to live and let live.

Witches are of both genders and our life styles are not unlike yours, in many ways. We have families, regular careers, and enjoy many of the same pastimes such as theater, movies, and so on. We are educated in the same schools and institutions of higher learning as Outsiders, are members of the same political persuasions, and so on. Some of us even attend your churches in the effort to learn about other faiths, for we are accepting of every individual's right to their religious persuasion.

Naturally, we are also unlike in some ways. Witches regard their offspring as precious gifts (that is not to say that Outsiders do not) but it is rare that our children are left to fend for themselves in a world where children often fall through the cracks of society. We have different views regarding sex and our children are taught that their bodies are beautiful, regardless of physical appearance. We keep close tabs on them and constantly reinforce the evils of substance abuse and promiscuity; for those pose great danger to our inherent abilities and skills. A mind altered by such substances and a diseased body cannot perform at the peak level required of our Kind, anymore than it can of your Kind, but the greater danger lies in our children falling prey to those who seek information in order to exterminate all of our Kind.

Witches are human, as the rest of humanity; people who are much maligned for the fact of their religion and craft and we only seek tolerence in an intolerant society; no more or less. We are looked upon as heathens, for our secrecy and the abilities which we must protect from those who would use us for their own evil purposes. By virtue of our Kind and our abilities we are branded as evil-doers but it is our feeling that the evil-doers are those who hunt us, relentlessly, in their efforts to expose us as charletans for those things the ordinary individual cannot understand, and thus fear.

Thankfully, times are changing and we are more at liberty to move about society and while we interact with many Outsiders who have come to accept that Witches are no threat, we are careful whom we choose to reveal ourselves to. Many modern Witches are comfortable with a degree of exposure though they retain a certain amount of secrecy concerning their private lives. One does not go about proclaiming to be Sorceress, Warlock, Magician, Wizard, and the like for it is those titles which provoke misunderstanding and fear. Rather, you will find less-provocative, more acceptable descriptions such as psychic, medium, and so on and only among our Kind, and those Outsiders we choose as friends and allies, are we known by our true level within the Witch's hierarchy.

I hope I have given you some valuable insight and that you will take the time to consider it and come to the conclusion that, as with your Kind, there are both good and evil individuals within our Kind. Mayhap, some of you will have the opportunity to meet and greet a true Witch and learn from them. As we walk among you, we are always on the lookout for a kindred spirit; those whom we will welcome as friends, given the opportunity. For now, I wish good things in life for each of you and Blessed Be.

Fact or Fantasy...

Greetings All.

Realm, dimension, kingdom, sphere, domain; interchangeable terms, or is each specific to a particular place or, mayhap, those are only imaginary places? Depends upon one's personal views; how one conceptualizes, as it were. While we are told that other planets exist, scientists would have us believe that other inhabited worlds, or realms and the like, are nonexistent. To each his own but if that were the case then most certainly one would have to give up the idea of Heaven and the Netherworld. 'Twould be a shame if all were to agree with the nay-sayers and the non-believers claims, hmm?

Most oft, fear is the culprit that leads one to disclaim the existence of other realms outside the natural order. For who wishes to believe there is some other place inhabited by terrifying creatures who can sneak into this modern world and wreak havoc and mayhem then return to their own dimension, safe from the possibility of capture? It is fear of the unknown, coupled with the mindset that those who do not look like humans and behave as such cannot be.

Odd that, since humans are supposed to be the most intelligent species. Mayhap, if one were to recognize the fuel that feeds the fire of fear, one could begin to consider other possibilities. The fuel of which I speak is a boiling, noxious brew of many ingredients. Descriptive terms; books and movies designed to instill fear; the powers that be who command obedience in thought, word, and deed and thus promote narrow mindedness; those who preach that nothing can be considered 'real' without valid proof one can see, hear, and touch; those who distort facts to suit their beliefs, and on and on.

I find it extraordinary that an intelligent species discredits the possibility of the existence of otherworldly species, yet, they will pay the price of a cinema ticket or a book to indulge the possibility. Some will explain that away as desire to indulge in fantasy without paying the price of believing. Others describe it as human nature; the desire to test the limits of one's imagination. Still, others call it the intelligent searching of another's incredible imagination, to discover the outer-limits of the minds ability to create fantastic impossibilities. All plausible excuses, if it were not for the fact that such shoots down the theory that humans are an intelligent species and begs the question: Why would an intelligent species need to enter the world of fantasy in the first place when, supposedly, intelligence is grounded in pure fact?

The afore-mentioned thought provoking questions I've posed are not all products of my wondering mind, but some posed to me by e-mail. I have to admit I gain pleasure with the knowing that not all humans are part of the flock of sheep led by the so-called experts. While you might think them nuts, insane, or merely folks out of the mainstream, I consider them individuals who refuse to be led; told how to think and what to believe. Individual is the key word here, for these individuals have the intelligence and the confidence to think and speak for themselves. Ponder. Blessed May You Be.

The nature of Majic

Greetings and Blessed May Your Be.

Majic is a word that often lends itself to misconception, misunderstanding, and a whole host of other misperceptions, including deception. Taken for its description in the dictionary it is no wonder that anyone who proclaims to have majical abilities is oft branded a lunatic. I have had numerous inquiries as to the true meaning of this particular word and I will attempt to define and explain it.

First, the word is spelled in laymens terms; magic, rather than as those with the gift spell it. According to the dictionary, magic is the art that purports to control or forecast natural events or forces by invoking the supernatural and/or a mysterious quality of enchantment. That is a somewhat correct description though when one looks up the synonyms provided, the meaning becomes blurred to the point of being lost. By its very nature majic is certainly an art. However, I look upon the term as a blanket description for the many and varied levels and skills related to the art. Why? Because those levels and skills are vastly different when applied to the various types of majical Beings or, in simpler terms, those who possess majical abilities. And therein lies the rub.

Let me backtrack here: According to the dictionary magic is synonymous with conjuration which is to summon by sorcery> which is defined as the use of supernatural powers: witchcraft> which is defined as the use of magical powers: sorcery> (same as above) then to wizard, one thought to have magical powers: sorcerer, magician, male witch. Pretty confusing to the layman as it leads one to think that all of those practicioners of the art of majic are on the same level and wield the same skills. Not so.

There are other Beings who possess majical skills besides those mentioned above but let me clarify the afore-mentioned practicioners. If you go back to dictionary and look up each descriptive term for a practicioner, male Witch; Wizard; Sorcerer, and so on you will again find that those appear to be one and the same. And that is generally where the misunderstanding of majic begins. What one must know is that those terms and others such as Sorceress, true Witch, and so on all fall under the blanket term, Witch. And rightly so, given that there is a Witch's Hierarchy. When you look up the term, Warlock, the dictionary leads one to believe all male Witches are Warlocks, which is untrue. Warlocks, Wizards, Sorcerers, Majicians, and so on are all male Witches, but not one and the same Kind. Each of them possess specific abilities related to their Kind and level in the hierarchy. The same is true of the female Witches, Sorceress; true Witch; Enchantress, and so on.

Are you with me thus far? I have only identified a few of the Kinds of Witch, for there are many, but we will leave that for another time. To get back to majic... As there are other majical Beings; Vampyre, Faery, Werewolf, to name a few, it follows the path of logic that there are different 'types' of majic. Example: consider the ability to 'change' form through majical means. A Werewolf's majic is wholly different from the Vampyre's majic, and so on. We will not go deeper in those different 'types' of majic, for I will endeavor to have someone of each Kind visit and offer you their expertise.

For the time being the best way to understand majic is to skip dictionary terms and go directly to the historical accounts written by known practicioners of note (not self-proclaimed individuals who publish numerous, incomprehensible books that further confuse the issue.) Your local library is an excellent source for material, bookstores that will order older titles, and so on. If you have a thirst for a true accounting of the Vampyre's majic, as well as true historical value, I would urge you to read the prolific Ms. Anne Rice, whose novels cannot be beat for truth and fact.

And there you have it. Majic is a true art and while it can be used for the good, or evil, it has been in existence since the beginning of time and continues in these modern times. Blessed May You Be

Our New Look...Kaithlin coming to you.

Bonjour mes amies (Good morning my friends),
No; this site isn't someone trying to misrepresent Dream Teller. Remember when we first started our blog I told you I would try to get our illustrious host to go for a more appropriate look in keeping with our theme? Well, here we are. (Love the new template and of course black is Dream Teller's favorite color.) We renamed the blog for the simple reason that it was drawing more readers interested in our author's books (Writer's Lair) for which we thank you, but it didn't mesh with the open forum we provide for our extraordinary guests. Hope you like it too, and kudos to the designer of the template.

During our absence we received so many e-mails; folks wondering where we'd gotten off to. As our regular visitors know, we are often called away for various reasons and sometimes we don't have a guest who can post for us in our absence. To our new visitors, we welcome you and hope you enjoy our forum. So, where were we? It has been quite an experience! New Orleans, Baton Rouge then off to Wyoming for a couple of weeks, Boston for the Warlock Gregory's convention... You get the drift. We met with some interesting people, some of whom hadn't any idea who Dream Teller is (for obvious reasons).

Some of you have figured out that Dream Teller is female and yes we confirmed that in her new profile, (gender seems so important to some) and of course we left clues along the way just for the fun of it. As serious as she is, Dream Teller believes in fun and games to relieve the stress concomitant with our field of interest. So look for more clues related to new games along the way. Oh, and there is a new twist and one I believe our visitors will like. The first one to figure out that a new game is in play and comes up with the correct answer (e-mail us) will receive a personal gift from the author and a signed autograph to boot. So keep a close watch!

On to more important matters. We have an new friend I would like to tell you about. She is an exceptional individual, the daughter of a Warlock who recently joined our alliance (he, a friend of the combined family of Witches, Robicheaux and Breaux) and a Woodland Faery. DiAnndra only recently learned of her heritage, that she possesses the blood of both Faery and Witch. Her life-story is a sad one, (which I am not at liberty to reveal all the particulars of ) but I am happy to say that upon discovering their connection (neither knew of the other), and once the shock of that discovery wore off, both father and daughter were elated to find one another. This past month has been a whirlwind of activity for them, as DiAnndra was in grave danger (had been from birth until recently, at age nineteen), and her circumstances required the assistance of the alliance. Thankfully, the danger has been dispensed with and father and daughter are busy getting acquainted while DiAnndra is learning all about her heritage, meeting her father's family, and learning about her inherent skills and how to use them. How exciting is that! Along and along you will learn more about her and at some point we hope to introduce her here, so stay tuned.

New subject: Our attention was called to some of the internet chat rooms where many role players gather to converse. We entered a particular room where the players used adopted monikers that gave us pause for great concern (the reason we were asked to check it out). Dream Teller is not in the habit of telling folks what to do (unless specifically asked), as she believes in personal choice. But, as you know by now, she will warn if she sees the need.
Fair Warning: It is one thing to role-play but another thing all together when one adopts the name of a particular Kind and proceeds to speak out, inappropriately. Whomever you choose to play at being, whether you actually believe in their existence or not, be careful of how you portray that individual. Claiming that you must feed and tossing off the comment, "what are a few deaths..." is a sure-fire way to call attention to yourself and bring down grave danger upon your head; both from the mystical realm and this. Need I say more? If some of you, our visitors, are wont to enter those chat rooms please do the other chatters a favor and pass this message on to them.

And now to answer a few e-mails:

To Craig in Indiana: With this posting you now know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth; we've just been extremely busy. I thank you for your concern and I will take your suggestion under consideration. As to the other matter, much as I would like to hold a conference for Outsiders, 'tis not in our best interest. Mayhap, in time, we will be able to do so but at this time I must decline your generous offer to host such a conference. Blessed May You Be.

To Chris in Wisconsin: Would that it were that simple but I cannot expect others to do what would most certainly put them in danger. We are not about outing ourselves and others to the world at large, otherwise we would be using our real names and posting our whereabouts. There will always be those who consider our posts as garbage and/or wishful thinking and that is of no consequence to us. We reach those we wish to reach and at the same time provide entertainment for those who seek no more than that. Blessed May You Be.

To Constance in Texas: Nay, my dear. Life is what it is and it is up to each individual to come to terms with their lot. A certain amount of fear is healthy but when it becomes debilitating one must reconsider one's chosen avenue. Mayhap it would be to your advantage to shed those blinders and see your so-called 'friends' for what they are. Do not, I repeat, do not take your infant to them. Rely upon your maternal instincts, for you are your daughter's first line of defense, and her life is a sacred gift to you. Do not squander the gift lest you find yourself standing at the gates of Hades. Please heed my warning and let me hear from you, again. Blessed May You and Yours Be.

To Twyla and Charla in Louisiana: Heed your parents' warnings. At age fifteen, neither of you has any concept of what life is truly about. You are looking at things through rose-colored glasses. Just because someone tells you they are Vampyre does not mean they are. Mayhap your tendancies toward the gothic life style seems fun but it is also a lure for those who will take you in and harm you. Go home, go back to school, and difficult as it is, ignore those who make fun of you. There is no harm in being different from the mainstream, unless, as the two of you seem to have done, you take it to extremes. Dress as you choose but keep in mind that, as you choose to be different, you make others uncomfortable. Try reaching out to them and offer them the opportunity to get to know you and understand things of a gothic nature. You'd be surprised how many young people are willing to share thoughts and information. Acceptance is the name of the game and if you are willing to accept others as they are, they will learn to accept you and your differences. Blessed May You Be and take care.

To All Of You Who visit our site: Take away from my postings what you will, truth or fantasy, for 'tis your decision to make. But I adjure each of you, speak responsibly of what you take away, and share it responsibly. Young children have no business accessing this blog so take care that you prevent yours from doing so. To the teenagers who visit, I would ask of you to have your parents check us out and follow their advice, for they know what is and is not to your benefit. Blessed May You Be.

For all the worlds a changin'...

Greetings,
'Tis but a stretch of the imagination between what is real and what is not.

I am Dream Teller, teller of tales and dreams of the mystical realm. Whether one chooses to believe that other place exists or in other Kinds, unlike humans, is a personal choice. The beauty of choice leaves one free to visit the mystical realm as a break from reality or, conversely, as a preference for the believer seeking reality.

'Twas not by conscious choice that I sought the world of majic and majic-makers but through a child's simple curiosity and imagination. Some would call it fate, given my ancestry, while others would deem it the work of the devil. Ah, religion. 'Twas always that wide chasm between Christianity and Paganism but for some, that chasm grows ever smaller.

I am blessed to be part of a growing coalition whose members choose not to frown upon religious choice but to welcome all choices and all Kinds. Among our numbers are members of many faiths; Catholics, Baptists, Pagans, and so on. Our heads of council are a Catholic Bishop, a Baptist minister, a Warlock, a Presbyterian layman, a Vampyre, a Werewolf King, and myself. Our coalition exists for the purpose of furthering knowledge and acceptance of all Kinds in modern society. Too, we pool our knowledge and use our gifts to assist others in danger from different types of radicals who hunt down and destroy those who do not fit the radicals perception of 'normal'.

One might wonder why I am making this public knowledge. Simple; 'tis the use of this blog and the internet that we can reach others like us and further acceptance. So, whether you are a believer or merely curious and looking for a different outlook, feel free to visit any time.

Along and along some of our friends and allies will post to this site and I think you will find their take on things most interesting, at the very least, entertaining. I look forward to our visits and we will do our utmost best to post to our blog as often as possible. For now, I will leave you with this to ponder: Are dreams merely dreams, or reality imbedded deep within the psyche; reality waiting to be discovered?

Blessed May You Be, Dream Teller