This page will give you a guide to what I have on my site... and what I don't.

[What you Won't find] [What you Will Find] [Site Map] [About Obsidian]

Popups and banners.....
Wooohoooooo I hear you yell!  That's right, you won't be assaulted with advertising material while viewing my pages... Why?  I buy webpage space from my ISP so that I can provide you with a popup and banner free webpage.  Why would I do that?  Because I myself HATE banner and popup ads.  So if you dislike something I do on this site, just remember that at least I don't have advertising!

Spells and other information grabbed from books and other webpages......
This sites used to be filled with them..... but now I know that to do so is breaking copyright (and is illegal) and also lazy and really not what the spirit of a webpage such as this should be about.  It takes no imagination to steal information from books and place it on your webpage.  And even if you do credit the authors and books - as I had done,  it's still breaking the law.  There are millions of other sites out there that do put up work from others, so now I don't feel the need to do it myself - even if I did have the author's permission.

Wavs linked to the pages....
Those are the little music files that play incessantly while you are trying to load the pages... I dislike them (although they are ok if you can turn them off).

Frames....
I find most people hate them, so I don't bother using them.  (Frames are where part of the page remains the same, and part of it changes.. like how on some sites you have a side bar which is the menu - that will always stay  there, no matter what you click on  - that is a frame.

Splash Pages....
Those are the ones where you go to a webpage and there is usually an obscenely large graphic (sometimes animated or with a wav [song] playing) that you need to click on to get into the page...... I used to have a start page that looked like a book cover, which was intended as the same thing.... a lot of people find them annoying, as they waste time, download and really don't accomplish much, so you will not find them used here.

Funky Fonts in Large type.....
This page uses "Book Antiqua" font mostly, which a lot of computers have, otherwise it uses "Variable Width" font, which means that most people should be able to see it in it's intended format.  While using different fonts is nice, it relies on the person viewing the site (you) to have that font installed on your computer.... now I have around 500 fonts on my computer at the moment, and I still go to sites that use fonts I don't have..... how many fonts do I need on my computer!!!!!!!!!!  Also, some fonts are called the same name, but will look different and some fonts that look the same have different names.....  so for the user it can get all too confusing, so I have chosen to go with plain fonts....

As for the size......  A webmistress  can never win.... I used large writing  and people asked me if I needed glasses - as the writing was  too big... some people say this is too small....  I normally use 10 point font (this size) or 12 point font (this size)  depending on what I am doing.  Yes, I have perfect vision, so this size writing doesn't bother me.  Remember that webmasters usually try to cater for the majority of people.... and the majority of people either have good vision or wear glasses to give them good vision.  Most browsers allow you to override whatever a webmaster uses anyway, so if you find you can't read my writing, then make your browser view using large fonts.  (for Internet Explorer go to "view" then "font size" then select the size.  For Netscape, go to "View" then "increase font" until you like the size.  - Other browsers, you are on your own, but it should be similar).  I also like people to be able to navigate through the site reasonably easy, and I find that smaller text allows you to see the ends of paragraphs easily.

A Multitude of brightly coloured backgrounds and images
This site used to have a different background for each page..... which may have been interesting, but the person viewing the site had to download each background....... not to mention the space it takes up on the web.  By having only a few backgrounds and not very many additional images (like buttons and other funky pictures) I not only save space on my server, but more importantly, I save your downloads.  The stuff written on my site should be more important than the image behind it... if it isn't then I should be making graphics pages, not web pages....

Other people's images
As with taking content from books, it is also breaking copyright to take other people's images without their permission.  Some sites offer free web graphics - which means the creator has given permission for you to use them.  Usually if you link back to their their site.  I use only images I have created (unless otherwise specified or other people's banners in the links section).  When I did use other people's images, I always linked back to the original site... unlike some sites I have seen (naughty naughty!)

Heaps of Spells and Rituals
The problem with only using your own work..... is it takes a lot of time to write...... I am a busy woman, I run a business, moderate several mailing lists, write articles for another webpage, work with my Coven and occasionally get time to work on my several other websites ranging from Henna Tattoos, to photos from gatherings I have been to (Non-Pagan) to "The Sims" - a computer game I am passionate about....
And to be honest, I have seen my work stolen and forwarded to mailing lists passed off as work by the person who posted it - which made me rethink sharing my stuff for a while.....  But honestly, I would rather teach you how to write your own spells than provide lists of them for you.  In the long run, spells you create are probably going to be more effective anyway, as they are something you have put energy into, and something that is specific for your needs.

Dark (Black) Magick
It's not that I believe it's wrong (I think it has it's place) but I think it is irresponsible to leave that type of information lying around where anyone can see it.  Visitors on this site range from the more experienced adult, to the beginner teenager... and I feel that anyone wanting to seek out the darker path can do so... and those who are just starting don't need it just yet.
 

An honest and no-nonsense website
To anyone who knows Astrology, I am a Taurus.. and I think that pretty much sums it up.  I'm open and frank, so I hope that shows on my site.  If it's an opinion of mine, I hope I have always stated it as so (and not as a general fact).  Some people won't like my approach, but it's my way of thinking and that's what I am putting forth.

Information for you to make your own path/workings
Rather than simply copying parts of books for you, I have tried to give you helpful information... information that will help you to write your own magickal workings, and information that will help you seek out your own path in life.  I feel that this approach is more helpful than scanning pages out of a book for you.

My own work....
In the rare occasion that something isn't my original work, I give the link and it is either for research purposes (such as the Weapons laws) or I have permission to reproduce it (such as the Pagan humour) or both...

Typos and spelling mistakes....
I won't hide it, I have shocking typos a lot of the time.... comes from typing up webpages at 2am!  I make my apologies for them, and yes it's a naughty webmistress who doesn't check the spelling before uploading..... but hey, it happens, I am only human.  If you find something, and feel the need to let me know.. you can e-mail me at obsidian@obsidianstar.net.
 
 

A full listing of what I have on my site and where to find it.

Links to Pagan Sites
                             - Links to Australian and overseas sites, links to commercial sites (online shops) and  links to Mailing lists.
Bibliography
                          - A list of books on Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft and related topics.
                                        - My thoughts on books I have read - My thoughts on books I have read on Paganism/related topics.
                                        - Obsi's Pick - My opinion on some good books to recommend to beginners.
Rituals
                             - Some of the rituals that I have written that I wished to share.
Spells
                             - Some of the Spells that I have written that I wished to share.
Glossary of Pagan Terms
                             - A Dictionary/Glossary, giving meanings for some Pagan terms you might find.
Aromatherapy
                             - A beginner's guide to Aromatherapy.
Magickal Information and other stuff
                             - This is where the main content of the site is.  Lists information relevant to Paganism/Witchcraft
                                        - Introduction - I give an introduction on what Witchcraft/Paganism is
                                        - History - I give a brief history on Witchcraft
                                        - How to set up your BOS - Hints and tips for setting up your book of Shadows
                                        - Forms of Paganism  - A brief explanation of some common forms of Paganism (Wicca, Druidism etc.)
                                        - Initiations- I give a brief explanation of Initiations into the Craft and my thoughts on them.
                                        - Defining terms "witch" etc.- I attempt to help define those terms, as everyone has a different opinion.
                                        - Explaining Magick (simply) - I give a brief introduction on what Magick is (In my opinion)
                                        - Cord magick - This is a type of Magickal working that is popular.  I give instructions on this.
                                        - Candle Magick- This is the most common type of  Magickal working.  I give instructions on this.
                                        - Explaining Spells- I give a brief explanation of what spells are and how they work.
                                        - Tips for spellcasting - As it says, tips for casting Spells.
                                        - Spellcasting woes - They don't always work, this page helps you understand why.
                                        - Writing  spells - The fun part, help on writing your own spells.
                                        - Information you can use to write spells and rituals:
                                                 - Planets- The correspondences of the Planets and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - Gemstone properties- The correspondences of Crystals and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - Days- The correspondences of the Days and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - Correspondences- The meaning of other symbols and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - Numbers- The correspondences of the Numbers and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - The Hours- The correspondences of the Hours and how they can be used in Workings.
                                                 - Colours- The correspondences of Colours and how they can be used in Workings.
                                        - The Pentagram - Information on the Pentagram and Pentacle.
                                        - The Elements - Information on the Elements and how to use them in Ritual/Magick.
                                        - Herbal information- Information on the Magickal and Healing use of herbs.
                                        - Information on relevant laws to Australian Pagans, such as:
                                                - Victorian Knife/Weapons Laws- How the law effects the use of the Athame and Pagan items.
                                                - Victorian Witchcraft/Tarot Laws- How the law effects the practice of Witchcraft/Tarot etc.
                                                - Vic Racial & Religious Tolerance Act- Info on the relevant laws concerning Intolerance.
                                                - All State's Witchcraft/Tarot laws- How the law effects the practice of Witchcraft/Tarot etc.
                                                - Freedom of religion Act- Info on the relevant laws concerning freedom of religion in Australia.
                                                - Copyright- I have included a brief page on copyright.
                                        - Cloth Menstrual Pads- Information on these and why some people swear by them.
                                        - Tools- Information on the Tools used in Paganism.  What they are and how they are used.
                                        - Substitute tools- What to use when you can't find all the tools you need.
                                        - The Altar- Information on the Pagan Altar, what to put on it.
                                        - Elemental Bottles- A Pagan craft idea, or idea to substitute the use of candles for the Elements.
                                        - Explaining Rituals- Information on what rituals are.
                                        - Writing rituals- Information and guides on writing your own rituals.
                                        - Ritual Dress- Whatever do I wear?  This gives a guide to what you can wear during ritual.
                                        - How to set up/Cast a Circle- Details on one way to set up and cast a Magick Circle.
                                        - The Sabbats- Information on the 8 seasonal celebrations in the Pagan year.
                                        - The  Sabbat dates- Dates for these celebrations - in Northern and Southern Hemisphere dates.
                                        - How to write a Sabbat Ritual- Information and guides on writing your own rituals for the Sabbats.
                                        - How to write a Full Moon Ritual- Guides to writing your own rituals for the Full Moon.
                                       - The moon- Information on the Moon Phases.
                                        - Ethics- Some of my ideas and thoughts on the Ethics of Spellcasting.
                                        - Pagan Humour  - A funny piece I found on Spells and Spell Checkers.
                                        - The Wiccan Rede - A sort of 10 Commandments for Wiccans.
                                        - Where to buy Ritual Tools- Information on where to buy ritual supplies.
Coven of the Crescent Moon
                             - A link to the webpage for my Coven.
A-Spell-or-two Homepage
                             - A link to the webpage for my Mailing list - where Spells and info posted is put up on the web to share.