EDITOR'S COMMENTS

     The gods must be angry with us, sending such monstrous hurricanes to devastate our cities along our southern shoreline. Certainly the old Jewish prophets would have said so.

     Maybe it is still so. Maybe we have forgotten the gods and how they wish us to live. Maybe we have lost our spiritual way.

     But perhaps the gods haven't forgotten us. Perhaps these hurricanes and the other disasters coming soon to a city near you and me are their way of making us listen. Perhaps their warnings will become more and more severe until we do listen and do change our ways.


     In this fall issue of The Caldron, "Wisdom's Corner" speaks of magic and miracles, with quotes from Paramahansa Yogananda, Laurens Van Der Post, Carlos Castaneda, and Spider Robinson. It is worth reading by those of us who aspire to be holy men and women.

     BeHereNow once again describes the effects of Global Warming upon the quality of our lives as well as upon our national economy. This has been long ignored in the mainstream media. In fact, it has long ignored by almost everyone, especially those of us focused upon greed and prestige as measured by how big our stock portfolios and our SUV's are.

     Aspen Marks, in her "Seeds from Plot 509," describes a different sort of garden. Planning to expand her vegetable and flower gardening, in fact, taking on another plot in the community gardens here in Boulder, Colorado, she found herself blessed to be pregnant with our third child. She speaks here of what it's like growing a baby in her inner garden - and, at the same time, keeping her two garden plots producing food for our table.

     Samuel Beast is back with his short story, "John's Soul." In it, he describes how we would all feel about pollution if we realized that our souls were not locked somewhere within our bodies, but were extended outwards and included all of our here and now and polluted reality.

     Partha Pratim Majumder has written yet another wonderful story, "Wanted - Unwanted." It is a different take on pregnancy and childbirth, one from the fetus' point of view. It is a powerful reminder that each of us is alive and conscious even before we are born.

     In line with the theme of this issue, I have included Leonard Cohen's amazing poem, "God is Alive, Magic is Afoot." Back in the early seventies, it inspired many of us to retain our faith in magic. Also, please check out Buffy Sainte Marie's wonderful musical rendition of his poem in her album, Illuminations.

     Corey Mesler has again shared several of his wonderful and poignant poems with us. We are always honored to include his inspired words in The Caldron.

     I have written two poems for this issue. "Walking and Gawking," is a short poem inspired by walking through beauty and wonder early one spring in the nearby woods.

     My other poem, "Ghost Dancer," was inspired by my dreams as well as by a recent medicine walk. It is a tribute to those Native Americans who sought peace with the White Eyes and who were met instead with deceit and murder. It is also a reminder that it is never too late to choose love over hate.

     Finally, Rogues Gallery, again by Samuel Beast, is a collection of photos that show how many of us see our fearless leader and his gang.

     Enjoy this issue.

     Eugene Marks, Editor