As posted on scwitches - I am posting it here to try and pass along the story. This is happening fellow Witch in SC (not me). I am hoping we can come together and help show support for her and her family! Sorry for the confusion. 

From Rhonda: We are unable to go home at the moment because it isn't safe for us there. They are always watching what we are doing and we are
afraid of more Police retribution so are staying at my Mother in-
law's house, but this isn't home.....so I am trying to get on the
computer whenever possible so bear with me....My life is turned
inside out right now.

Witch Trials Continue In South Carolina!

My name is Rhonda Gruber AKA Wicked Lil Witch and I am a Proud Witch.
I am currently being persecuted as a Witch by a Lt. Kevin Duke of the
Horry County Police Dept. My life and the lives of my family and
friends are being threatened and destroyed by this man with the
backing of countless other officials. I was arrested Monday Sept
10th '07 by Lt Duke for Breach of Peace, Child Endangerment/ Neglect
and 1st degree Harrassement.
This all began around the end of May '07 from many false police
reports from a neighboring family, The Luisettis, who also seemed to
think I deserved to be arrested for my religious beliefs. They stated
such in their police reports. When this began to become a pattern of
filing false reports, we began seeking Police protection FROM them.
We were told numerous times that we had no reason to receive their
protection, just to ignore them. Yet they continued to file their
reports on us. We were told the only we could do is file a Civil
Suit. This wouldn't fix the problem for quite awhile if ever.The
Police Dept on numerous occasions, even refused to file any reports
for us. We had at one point searched out help from Magistrates in the
area. One told us that filing these reports was most definitely
something the Police could do something about and that they should
but he was fairly certain that they wouldn't. He went on a 10 min
rant about it to us. He even took the time to gives us copies of the
laws on filing false reports, which we took to this Lt Duke, who
after realizing we weren't going to leave his office too easily, Then
wrote us report stating that the report from the Luisettis was
investigated and the allegations were unfounded and seemed to be
stemming from harrassement from the neighbors.
Now Monday, my 16 yr old son was targeted for their harrassment . In
the morning the Luisetti's daughter had a young man assualt him at
the bus stop. We filed a report that morning. That afternoon another
allegation from their daughter that he beat her up Friday on school
property which led to his suspension since the school wouldn't
investigate it other than her statement and her 2 friend's
statements. She would have been getting on the bus at the time while
he was on the other side of the building getting a ride from one of
his friends. Then as we were sitting in my garage workshop working on
getting the suspension investigated by the school board, waiting to
see if the death threat my son received was going to take place. The
threat came from the Luisetti's daughter getting a young man
to "kill" my son due to the beating she received from him. He was
supposed to be coming to our house after school. We were then
visited by an irrational Lt. Duke as he whipped into our driveway
screaming that Spencer was reported to be brandishing and pointing an
assault rifle at the Luisettis. Which isn't even close to what he was
doing. Duke then stated that is is tired of all this and someone is
going to jail. He didn't care to hear anything we had to to say about
our side. Anytime I was trying to say something I was told to shut up
or be arrested. He was VERY aggressive and yelling. He seemed to
trying to provoke an altercation. I freely admit I was upset and a
little loud but I was trying to defend my son. I was never violent or
out of control. I was just pissed and trying to make some sense out
of the situation. When I was told to shut up I did which seemed to
further anger Duke. I was only arrested after they put the cuffs on
my son. I then told my Husband to find a f...ing attorney and quick.
This was when they arrested me.
I was never read my Miranda Rights to this day but the questions they
asked me were used in my arrest. Doesn't seem legal to me...
My charges of Child Endangerment were due to the fact that we have
several legal weapons around a minor. I must inform you my son is an
ROTC member with Marine Boot Camp training in weapons, can
disassemble/ reassemble an M16 on the field. He was also on the Rifle
Team last year and is Athletics Team Commander. He also knew our
weapons, from target shooting and cleaning. He even pointed out to
the Police Weapons Expert how to release the clip and open the bolt
chamber as they couldn't. He is very safe and well versed in weapons.
I must point point that is legally old enough to have a hunting
license. He is also looking to join the National Guard on his 17th B-
Day, Oct 3rd this yr. Upon his 18th B-Day he was planning a Military
career. We are proud of him and is a really good person. We are very
upset with all the things being alleged about him.

To summarize:
We are being persecuted because of my spiritual choices, not being
Christian. Lt. Duke has a web page stating his religious beliefs and
infertility and adoption problems which leads us to the belief that
he can no longer separate his personal feelings from his ability to
do his job in an objective manner. He seems to have appointed himself
as a personal victim's advocate for allegedly neglected and abused
children. The fact that I am a practicing witch is being noted in
complaints and warrants against me and my family. It has even been
voiced in court along with allegations stating I have cast spells on
2 cops and the luisetti family by the solicitor during proceedings.
My familiar pyewacket seems to have been mishandled during the search
of our home. She was running and flinching from us the day after. I
am very hurt by this. Though this can't be proven, I know my animal
and this is not her normal behavior.
We have always tried to help others and be good people, so this is
very hard for us to deal with. I am lucky to have a very strong
supportive circle of friends and family or we would still be in jail.
My in-laws had to take the majority of their retirement fund for some
20 thousand dollars to hire a powerful law firm to help us. Though I
will never be ashamed of being a witch, I am so very sorry for all
the trouble and loss of money it has cost them to stand up for us.
The reason for this letter is that we need all the help we can find
to fight this. Whether it is positive protective energy, advice, or
donations to help pay for this. I will not rest until I have made a
difference for all that believe in freedom of religion. I don't want
this to just disappear, I want to make a stand for all free thinkers
against persecution. We all know the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
For all that believe in freedom of choice, please stand behind me or
even beside me in court while I fight. I am not a quitter and I have
a loud voice. I always stand up for what I believe in, all I ask is
to not have to stand alone in this. It's time to fight for what we
all believe in, not just lie down and take it. I have enclosed the
papers that are in my possession to prove my claims. I will include
more as they come into my possession. I am not easily scared although
they are trying to intimidate us. Threatening phone calls have been
made to family and friends even now. In supporting us, you are also
supporting yourselves.
We are looking to get this story out to as many places as possible.
The more people who are aware the harder it will be for them to get
aware with it!

We NEED your help!!!
Blessed be.
Rhonda Gruber
AKA wickedlilwitch@gmail.com
843-997-7558 or 843-602-0160 (happy to answer questions)

It is not sufficient to say you are a "witch" or to practice magick. You must also live as a witch.

Do not look for excuses for why you cannot follow the path. Accept responsibility for your failures as well as your successes.

Celebrate the phases of the Moon and the changing of seasons. Do so not because it is part of a ritual calendar, but rather because these acts keep you in tune with Nature and Spirit.

Honor Spirit or the Goddess, but recognize that the spirits of all entities in the Universe are equal.

All life is sacred; all acts are ritual. Your actions should reflect your own divinity and that of all beings.

Achieving balance with the Earth is essential for a magickal life.

Responsibility toward the environment and the Earth's inhabitants should be evident in the activities of your daily life.

Do not take more from the Earth than you need to live. We are mere visitors here; the Earth is eternal.

Wealth and fame are not necessary ingredients for a magickal life.

Know that the joy of life is a gift. Know it as a cat knows it, in his bones and blood.

Power is a sacred gift and must be used wisely and with humility. Pride in ones power will ultimately cause failure.

Power should never be used to prove your ability or in any form of competition with others.

Power should be used to create happiness, not sorrow.

Be certain of your intentions when performing any act of magick. Magick is neither good nor evil, positive nor negative. The intentions of the magician determine the path it will take.

Act always with honor and accept responsibility for your actions. It is honorable to protect your loved ones, but be willing to accept the consequences of your actions with honor as well.

Words are sacred, use them wisely.

There is honor in truth.

Your word is sacred. Others must know that they can depend on you absolutely.

Learn to forgive yourself and others.

Knowledge is the foundation of the Craft. Never believe that you know enough.

Teach those who truly wish to learn, but take care that you do not teach those who only wish to serve themselves or harm others.

Teach the Craft with pride, but not to enhance your own pride.

Recognize that even the least knowledgeable of students may offer you lessons you need.

Live your life in a way that is above reproach to the rest of the world. In doing so, you will bring honor to all witches.

Do not be drawn into the feelings of hate and anger expressed by others.

Be able to look into a mirror and be truly unafraid.

(Author Unknown)

There is a crisis in health freedom. On April 30, 2007 the FDA will close the public comment period on a "Guidance" which will classify every alternative practice as medicine so that only licensed physicians can carry out the procedure AND vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc., will suddenly become "untested drugs" which will be forbidden.

Bad? Real Bad! But public outcry can stop this assault on your health and your freedom.

Spread the word! Tell everyone in your Circle of Influence, professionals, alternative practitioners, nutrient and herb companies, everyone! Let them know how important their participation is to make sure the FDA backs off from this repressive course.

Please share this link with them and urge them to take action:
http://tinyurl.com/2u7ghc

If CODEX is enacted into law, you will no longer be practicing Reiki on others. Ever. You will not have access to homeopathy, herbs, essences, etc. Ever. Even your access to organic anything will evenutally be dissolved. Why? Well, it's obvious, if you want to see. The enactment is the final nail of the coffin for Alternative Health Care. It cannot be reversed. That's the most troubling aspect of this plan.Once CODEX is enacted, your freedoms ON ALL FRONTS will be dissolved over time. The first to go will be your LEGAL access to healthy food and drinking water.

 

I came across some very interesting information while I was reading Elizabeth Hazel's column, Astro Spell, in issue 14 of New Witch. The planets are going to be aligned in such a manner that April 8-9th hold exceptionally strong potency for spell casting. I cross referenced a couple of astrological resources to see what they said and from what I have found, our solar system is indeed going to be providing us with a wonderful opportunity to aid in spell casting success. I wanted to pass this information along to each of you so you could plan accordingly, if you have the desire to do so.According to Ms. Hazel's column:
"April 8-9th: Sun in exaltation in Aries forms a Grand Trine with Jupiter/Moon in Sagittarius and Saturn in Leo. Extremely potent weekend for spell casting, alchemy, potion mixing and talisman-
making, or other magical manufacturing. Focus on vitality, success, wealth and longevity. Once in a lifetime conficuration. Don't miss it."
"...Jupiter in Sagitarius reaches a power peak as he retrogrades on the 6th at the same time the Sun arrives in Aries, forming a Grand Trine with Jupiter and Saturn. This spectacular and highly fortunate configuration will not be repeated for many, many decades. This is the creme de la creme of spell casting and potion making configurations: use it or lose it. No kidding on this one: this could be the best spellcasting day of the decade - or event a lifetime!"

I call Upon You, Oh Crone so wise~
One Who rules the darkest skies.
Come and be my treasured Guest~
And Aid me on the most magickal quest.

In the earliest societies that revered the Moon as the Goddess, the third dark phase was personified as the Dark Goddess---wise, mysterious, and compassionate. The story of the Dark Goddess begins thousands of years ago in a time before recorded history, when the Moon was worshiped as a primary feminine divinity. The Dark Moon Goddess was loved and honored, and they accepted Her wisdom and Her mystery teachings of the dark. In her wisdom, which arises from experience, she encompasses the season of Winter and the underworld. Grounded in Her inner strength, the Dark Moon Goddess is filled with compassion and understanding. The Crone is the Sorrowing Mother who dispenses justice with both love and sadness. The Crone knows the laws must be upheld, but this does not keep Her from feeling sorrow when the verdict appears harsh to us. Injustice and imbalance, whatever forms, are detested by Her. We may not understand or see the balancing of life's scales, but the Crone never rests until those scales are balanced. She rules over the magickal arts, secret knowledge, and oracles. Her animal totems are those which live below the earth such as snakes, serpents, dragons; bird of the night which are the Owls; ravens, crows and horses. To understand the Crone is to understand the deepest Mysteries. The Dark Mother is the ultimate Teacher of the very deepest of spiritual Mysteries. Her Mysteries include the contacting of spirits. It is through Her that we learn prophesy, seeing clearly backward and forward through time. If we do not acknowledge the Crone, how can we "remember ourselves." Through the Dark Mother, and the records of our past lives, we learn the necessity of focusing our energy onto important things such as spiritual growth, living our lives the best we can and seeking the Goddess within. She does not seek us, we have to seek her. When we have finally reached the Divine center and sit at the Mother's feet to receive knowledge, the Crone appears and beckons. The Dark Mother guides us with Her lantern of ultimate truth and wisdom, not running ahead as does the Maiden, but just before us with a firm, confident step. She teaches us that there are unlimited treasures within the treasures. We must seek the Crone for our magickal teachings, psychic powers and prophetic knowledge. These are things the Witch could never obtain in her day to day life. It is the night and to the Crone that she must turn to. The Crone holds the key of life; She is the light within the darkness, the Power behind the Mother's throne. With Her aid, our eyes are opened to the deepest of spiritual mysteries, and we gain the knowledge that is needed. Over the course of history, the original role of the Dark Goddess as a renewer was forgotten, and she became to be feared as the destroyer through patriarchal myths, as She is still thought of in today's paganism. Throughout many world mythologies, She is portrayed as the Temptress, the Terrible Mother, the death bearing Crone, the destroyer and the terrible, or the fearsome bent figure of a woman bearing a scythe, instead of the loving, wise Crone. This is because man has feared the Crone, because they do not understand Her. We must remember that to say something is destroyed, implies it is done away with completely; the cycle has stopped. This means that re-creation would have to start at an absolute beginning. In the Goddess' cycle, nothing is actually destroyed. Although things die constantly, everything that dies is merely reorganized, redistributed, reformed, then reborn. What happened to cause this change and to now see the Crone harsh and something to fear? This change probably took place at around 3000 BCE, where there occurred a transition in the predominant religious and political structure that governed humanity. Matriarchal societies, which had worshiped Goddesses of the earth and moon such as Innana, Ishtar, Isis, Demeter and Artemis gave way to patriarchal societies, which followed the solar Gods and heroes such as Gilgamesh, Amen Ra, Zeus, Apollo and other Olympian Gods and then later on to Yahweh. From there, while originally the Goddess reigned supreme and alone, the patriarchal cultures later relegated Her to a position of secondary importance, as the Mother of the God/King such as Isis as the mother of Horus. The Goddesses were also forced to accept Gods as their husbands, without whom they were powerless-such as the marriage of Hera to Zeus and Isis to Osiris. It has even bled over into the Crone aspect wherein some pagans in the name of duality matches Her up with a God in rituals not realizing that the Crone stands alone, independent and free within Her own right. The dependent status of the Goddess was later intensified when she was made the daughter instead of wife of the omnipotent Father God/King and inherited his characteristics. This pattern was symbolized in the birthing of Athena from Zeus' head, and she maintained her elevated position as her father's favorite by denying that she ever had a mother at all and by destroying her matriarchal antecedents, such as Medusa and Pallas. It has spilled over even into today's followings in modern paganism which is called Wicca, which many call the "old religion". The teachings of the Great Mother have long since been replaced with the Wheel of the Year of the Sun God and the Sabbat celebrations centering around his life cycle. The all encompassing Goddess with myths of love and compassion in all her phases are now replaced with the Dark Goddess as something to be feared and warrior Gods eating their children or life being continued through trickery and rape. If followers of the Goddess wish to return to the true "Old religion" and worship the Great Goddess as daughters of yesteryear did, many frown at this and consider it lacking the balance of the male and female and that one cannot survive without the other, never realizing that it is the Goddess herself that keeps the balance. The true "old religion" entailed honoring the Goddess in her many facets and not simply as a sex partner and mother. What most do not understand is that the Moon (feminine) and the Earth (feminine) evolve around each other as they dance across the nightly sky each month and share with each other's energies. There is also confusion in that now everyone calls the Dark Moon the New Moon. The New Moon is a patriarchal word. The dark phase of the moon, not to be confused with the dark side of the Moon, occurs each month in the three days preceding the actual Dark of the Moon, which most consider the New Moon. Over the centuries, as people no longer worshiped the moon as Goddess, nor used the Moon as the calendar, they began to fear the dark and everything associated with the dark, including the name itself. Unfortunately, because they feared the dark, is it no wonder that they feared the Dark Goddess, whom they do not understand. So, instead of the Moon being called the Dark Moon, it became the New Moon. But today's Witches are claiming Her rightful name of Dark Moon and Her independence, strength and freedom of standing alone without a God.For all women, the lunar cycle is linked to women. The dark moon phase is linked to women when they are shedding their blood. When the lunar cycle is overlaid on the menstrual cycle, the full moon corresponds to ovulation and fertility, and the dark moon is analogous to the actual shedding of the blood. The ancient Goddess-worshiping cultures of yesteryear understood that when they bled, it is woman's most powerful time of the month; a time when her psychic and spiritual energies are most highly sensitized. At this time of a woman's cycle, she tends to want to withdraw and go within, to look upon her darker self, but in this masculine world of today, women are prevented in doing that. The renowned Aleister Crowley preferred to have sexual acts with women when they were shedding their blood, as even he knew it was a most powerful time of their body, as blood is very powerful. If it is considered a powerful time for women during the dark moon menstrual cycles, then it should also be considered a powerful time of the month when the Moon is in Her dark phase. But just as with the rise of the male god cultures of Zeus and Horus and in which women's menstrual cycle became taboo, so has working magick when the Moon is in Her dark phase become taboo. The cycles of the Moon and women feeling its energies are a women's gift. In the Craft, and most particularly in your mainstream traditions, it is said that you should never do magick when the Moon is in its dark phase of three days. They say it is a time of rest; a time to retreat behind closed doors, as the Dark Goddess roams the land with Her destructive powers. They say that Her powers are too strong and that we should not visit with the Crone, and if we do, that we should not tarry too long for fear that we could not handle the Crone's harsh energies.Even in the Craft today, we have confusing and sometimes negative associations with the concept of the Dark Mother and of the energies that She carries. They say that pagans not long in the Craft should leave working with Her dark powers to the adept, to the ones who have been with the Craft for many years and whom can handle Her harsh energies. These same pagans are unfortunately putting fear of the Dark Mother in the minds of others. In most pagan books you do not even see many rituals for the Dark of the Moon or for the Full Moon. Occasionally you will see an article wherein you are to embrace the dark power by means of performing a ritual. However, the Dark Lord is most of the time called in as well. This is not necessary, and you really only need to embrace and call in the the Dark Mother during the waning to Dark of the Moon. For the Dark Goddess represents inner strength, independence from duality for She IS the Hermit in the Tarot with Her torches leading us to wisdom. She and She alone holds the power and gives the power to those seeking it. The Dark Moon is there in the night sky and it stands there alone in all Her power, even though we cannot see Her. During Her dark phase, the feminine Earth comes between Her and sun, giving Her her much needed rest from the demanding male energies of the Sun, as we, too, need our rest from the masculine world in which we live. The sun does not contribute to the Moon's energies but only allows us to see what phase She is going through. It is not the Sun who helps effect the tides during Full or Dark Moon for only the Moon effects the tides of the ocean and the tides of woman and man. Her powers are there just the same. She stands alone and She stands strong. The Crone teaches us survival. She has survived all things and from Her we may learn that we, too, will survive all things. But first, we must seek Her to learn of Her teachings. Many do not truly understand the Dark Mother because to understand her, you must walk with Her. Women are daughters of the Goddess, and we carry Her gifts naturally. We know Her no matter what Her phases is, as She is Mother and Crone to us all. We women feel her like no other because we are Her. The Crone represents a time in looking into the void, into the unknown and to find the truth that is hidden in the darkness. It is a time for meditation, psychic power enhancement or for looking into past life memories to help better understand current difficulties. Dark Moon energy also lends itself to divination and matters where truth is an issue. We need to seek the Crone each month to release those things that we have hidden in the dark recesses of our mind and are afraid to face. The Dark Moon represents the mystery, performing different types of magick, divination arts such as the tarot and scrying, and the banishing of negative energies and seeking wisdom from the greatest teacher of them all, the Crone. It is also a time to meditate with the Dark Goddess and to listen to the messages of wisdom that she has to share with you. It is a time to move back into ourselves, disappearing, hiding and dwelling within our inner selves so that we may be reborn and are able to look at things in a different light....the Crones inner light. There are a lot of Witches who seem to come more alive during the waning moon up and into the Dark of the Moon. There would be many, many more Witches feeling the magickal powers of the Dark Moon, if they would push the taboo teachings of fearing the Dark Goddess and her energies that some teach in today's covens. We need to go back to yesteryear daughters of the Goddess, back to before the patriarchal Gods with myths of war, rape, destruction and killings which took over the world and squashed the wise teachings of the Dark Mother. Embrace the Dark Goddess and Her magick. When embracing the Dark Goddess and performing magick, always do ritual and magick three days on or before the Dark of the Moon. Some say that you can do dark moon magick two days before the Dark Moon, on the Dark Moon, and two days after. Through years of research, we have come to understand the Moon more so than ever before. Once the moon turns to its true dark phase at that given moment, it will soon start to shift into its waxing phase. Until it does shift into its waxing phase, the moon's energies are erratic. It is best not to do any banishing rituals 24 hours after the Moon is considered dark which most astrology calendars give the time when the Moon reaches Her darkest phase. When doing Full Moon magick, many pagans say that you can do full moon rituals two days before the Full Moon, on the Full Moon, and up two days after the full moon. This is not accurate, as the moon's energies start to shift one minute after the actual time of the Full Moon. It is best not do any positive magick 24 hours after the Moon is full. For an accurate time when the Moon is full, consult the U.S. Naval Observatory website.But Daughters of the Goddess, do not fear the Dark Goddess but embrace Her, once a month, and better it be when the Moon is dark, and there ye shall assemble yourself in some secret place and adore Her, the Crone, and sing, dance and perform magickal rites all in Her honor! We must teach ourselves to once more see Her as She is and not as the annihilator, the destroyer, the pain giver and perpetual suffering that patriarchal myths portray Her. Many pagans think you need a God along side the Goddess for balance, but in the end, it is the Crone who keeps the balance in all things. The Crone is the deep love, the teacher, the wise one, the comforter, and She is understanding. It is through the Crone that we can learn life's mysteries. It is the Crone who keeps the balance.from: www.hecatescauldron.org