Editress; Ginger Strivelli As 2002 draws towards its end, the APA has been discussing our 2003 plans. We'll announce those in the upcoming Dec. 2002 newsletter. The APA website, is growing steadily larger and larger and is quite the crowded group of a couple hundred web pages at this point. Nonetheless, we are planning on continuing to add monthly newsletters, periodic articles and such, and continue to add to the very popular 'Appalachian Granny Magic' folk magic web pages. With several submissions from our APAers we have started a Harvest Season Recipes page that we hope to have completed in time for the coming harvest season next year. We'll continue taking submissions for that over the winter and spring. FROM OUR BOOK OF SHADOWS: This legend is told by Mrs. Snow, a talented Seneca craftswoman. Many, many years ago, the corn, one of the Three Sisters, wanted to make something different. She made the moccasin and the salt boxes, the mats, and the face. She wanted to do something different so the Great Spirit gave her permission. So she made the little people out of corn husk and they were to roam the earth so that they would bring brotherhood and contentment to the Iroquois tribe. But she made one that was very, very beautiful. This beautiful corn person, you might call her, went into the woods and saw herself in a pool. She saw how beautiful she was and she became very vain and naughty. That began to make the people very unhappy and so the Great Spirit decided that wasn't what she was to do. She didn't pay attention to his warning, so the last time the messenger came and told her that she was going to have her punishment. Her punishment would be that she'd have no face, she would not converse with the Senecas or the birds or the animals. She'd roam the earth forever, looking for something to do to gain her face back again. So that's why we don't put any faces on the husk dolls. -------------------------------------------------- "I pledge allegiance to the earth, one planet, many gods, and to the universe in which we spin-- interconnected, interwoven, full of harmony, with love and balance for all." (Author unknown) ------------------------------------------------------------- MERRY MEET THE GODS-Section V Vishnu- Hindu Preserver God. He comes to save humanity and Earth from demons throughout history when needed. Vina- Buddhist Goddess of Music Vac- Hindu Goddess of language. Vairacocha- Incan Creator God Victoria- Roman Goddess of Victory Vayu- Hindu God of Winds Vulcanus- Roman Blacksmith God of fire, forges, volcanoes, and smiths Vasantadevi- Buddhist Goddess of Spring