Raising Witchlings: Eplaining the God/Goddess to Your Kids

 

 

Published on Examiner.com / January 30, 2014

 

How does a Witch explain the true meaning of the God and Goddess to their children? There is no one way of going about it but this concept is still difficult for Pagan parents to describe to their witchlings. So how exactly do you start? Factors to consider are the children's ages and whether or not they have had any exposure to other religious/spiritual systems. They may already have some idea from other family and friends as to a creator but regardless the Pagan concept of 'god' can be very different from what they have been exposed to.

Start by sitting down and really working through what the concept means to you. How do you see the God and Goddess? What are the aspects that attracted you to the path you are now on? Paganism comes in many different styles and flavors but one of the universal concepts is that there is never just one way of seeing God/Goddess. One of the reasons many of us have turned away from the Judeo-Christian faiths was due to their beliefs that their way is the only one true way of seeing God and all others will suffer in some form of hell in their afterlife for not seeing God the way they do. As Pagans or Wiccan's or Witches we know this to be untrue, no more than a very human trapping that was implemented long ago to scare others into obedience. God/Goddess does not care what name(s) we use or what image(s) we see, our Source, our Creator simply isn't that petty. We have so many different faiths and belief systems for good reason; how else would each individual soul find their path? There will never be only one way, it simply isn't a possibility and we are well aware of that. We accept it and we teach it to those who want to learn from us as well as our children.
So take the time to answer these questions for yourself:

• What does God/Goddess mean to me?
• Do you follow a specific pantheon that include a few or many deities?
• What is your interpretation of creation?
• Are you Pagan, Wiccan, Witch - all of the above? And how does that choice help you in your perception of God/Goddess?
• How to you see Them in your mind's eye - with specific faces, as energy or light, or are They more a feeling than something you see?

Start simple and let your kids ask the questions to guide you in the direction they need to go. Let them feel around with it. You'll be astonished by the insightful questions your children will ask. There is no better way of teaching our children anything in life than by allowing them the freedom and respect to guide themselves (and us) in the best direction of learning for them. Show them your alter, meditation space, ritual areas and tools. Let them touch things and investigate. Let them watch you set up your alter, meditate, prepare and perform a short ritual. This will bring forth new questions that will allow you the opportunity to teach them about the God/Goddess.

Exploration and visualization are key to learning anything, especially for children. As you explain more ideas and concepts to your children they will inevitably begin questioning beliefs and religions that are different from their own. Maybe it comes about because another family member or friend tells them they are wrong or that they believe 'this and this'. To demonstrate all the different religious and spiritual paths we have in the world I use a map or globe.

Giving your kids something tangible to see can help with the more abstract concepts that are involved in religion and spiritual paths. Since we've just come out of the holiday season I'm going to use Santa's North Pole for this, but feel free to use any mysterious or holy place for the residence of God/Goddess. You can show them on a map that we're pretending that the God/Goddess live with Santa at the North Pole. Then show them where other family members live, where friends live. You can even use small stickers to pinpoint specific spots. Then talk about all the people that live everywhere in the world. Each and every one of us living on this planet have the goal of ending up in the North Pole with the God/Goddess but we all can't take the same path. We all live in different places, so we each get to choose our own road. We may walk with others for awhile or go off on our own to join with others later on. We can each see the God/Goddess in the way that is right for us, we each have our own journey to live. We need to have so many different paths and beliefs because we all can't get to the North Pole on the same road, we are too far apart to do that. But in the end, when it is our time to leave our physical life, to pass on, to cross over; we have all found ourselves at the exact same location. We are all together, we are all one in the end but we can each take our own path and have our own beliefs that will get us there.

Teaching our children to appreciate and respect the diversity that we have on this planet is one of the greatest gifts of the God/Goddess. We will cross many paths in our lives, we will experience and learn about many different things. Some we will feel really good about, so we know we're on the right path. Some we won't feel good about, so we know we need to adjust our course and keep looking for the path that is right.

This is our meaning for being here, this is what we wanted before we ever became the physical being we are right now. Before we ever left the direct connection of the God/Goddess bringing a piece of them into ourselves to be born within our physical bodies, we wanted to see and experience the diversity of life on earth. The times when we are closest to feeling that connection are the 'awe' moments that leave you feeling tingly all over. Feeling a cool breeze wash over your face, the rush of cool water in a stream, singing birds in the early morning, the sun making the fresh snow glisten like a million little diamonds, watching a butterfly drift over wildflowers. This is the God/Goddess. Our children feel this connection more often than we do as adults. The lesson, is to really keep our children feeling these moments now and throughout their lives. So they never forget their connection to everything that is. The rest will come with time, exploration and many more questions that our children will eagerly ask us. The best thing we can do as parents, is let it come to them naturally and in a place of joy and love.

Brightest Blessings to all my fellow Pagan Parents.

Published on Examiner.com / January 30, 2014

Raising Witchlings Series: Religious Freedom and Our Kids

"Don't be afraid to be open-minded, your brain isn't going to fall out." ~author unknown

Published on Examiner.com / October 20, 2013

We all want our children to be safe in this world. We go to great lengths to teach our children about looking both ways before crossing the street, not to talk to strangers, no running with scissors and holding the railings on stairwells among just a few. What parents who subscribe to one of the many Judeo-Christian religions do not have to worry about is their children's safety regarding their or their parents religious and spiritual beliefs. As Pagan parents, we do. It is unfortunate, but too many Pagan parents have to worry about their children possibly being bullied at school for their families religious beliefs. Too many have to worry about what their children will say in public. Not all communities are open to various faiths that do not follow the same tenants. Careers have been ruined over an individuals personal spiritual beliefs because of ignorance and fear of beliefs that seem foreign and wrong to others. And far worse, religious freedom is dragged into too many courts of law. Pagan parents can find themselves having to fight for their right to believe what is right for them and still be able to have access to their children.

Parents separate and divorce; leaving children to be fought over in a tug of war that hurts everyone involved. Most especially the children. It can be hard enough to be civil to one another during a divorce, but throw in religion and the courts are forced to make decisions they are ill equipped to make; nor does any judge want to have to make these kinds of decisions. Church and State are kept separate for good reason. But, when an angry parent feels justified in making their ex 'pay for what they've done to them', everyone must suffer.

Whether your major concerns involve the school systems, the workplace, your community or the court of law, you need to know what your rights are. Knowledge is power. Knowing what the laws are in your state/province is not only for your and your children's protection, but it can give parents confidence to stand strong against religious bigotry and persecution and a sense of ease regarding others outside of your immediate circle of friends and family knowing what you believe.

So, how do we protect our children?

Where to start? We are all probably fairly knowledgeable on the views of our communities. This can give us a look into what we may expect in the school systems. Some of us are comfortable with staying quiet, others are more than happy to stir the pot and announce to the world exactly who and what they are, and be damned their 'views'. But we're talking about the safety and emotional well-being of our children, so our personal views on how open we will be can change. Many Pagan parents look at private schools like Montessori for their children because such a large majority of schools are Christian or Catholic based. Just because the law may be on your side, the community or school board or work place can make being in their vicinity a living nightmare. How much are we willing to take? How much are we willing to put our children through?

Teaching our children about ignorance and fear in society.

Our children need to be taught that there are people in this world who do not understand Pagan beliefs. They see what is in the movies, or scary ghost stories and believe that is what we are. It scares them. We don't need to correct them, just let them be. We'll all take the approach with our children that we know will work best, but this is a discussion that cannot wait until after it happens. Preventative measures need to be taken. You'll feel better and your children will feel more confident in themselves as they move through their life.

Yes, those of us, the Pagan parents, see all of this as ridiculous. We see divinity within nature; now that's just frightening. We are proponents for gender equality in the mundane world and so it only makes sense that this equality would include our religious world. Where some see God and the Virgin Mary, we see God and the Goddess. Equal, partners, co-creators, balance. What a horrible thought. We teach to 'Harm None'. Wow, the audacity of Pagan parents. We teach that everyone has a right to their own religious and spiritual beliefs even if they contradict our own. How awful! Non-pagans think we hold scary rituals inciting demons and other such nonsense. We wear robes and have candles and incense.

So let's all take a trip to the nearest Catholic service and watch their priests in robes and funky pointed hats, with their gold staffs, chalices of wine and plates of cakes. Swinging their noxious incense around them, all the while chanting in Latin which I doubt anyone understands. For all we know their inciting damnation on the heads of everyone there.

Now let's flip through the pages of our old history textbooks and see where exactly our upstanding Catholic priests got their basic structure and means of dress for their services. Oh yes, here it is. From the Pagan faiths before them.

Yes, we Pagan parents are a scary lot. Celebrating the seasonal changes, seeing the divine in everything and teaching our children that they have more control over their life and environment than they may think. But there are those who feel justified in their religious persecution so it's best that we all know our rights.

Learn the laws in your area now rather than later.

Yes, we can still see and feel the absurdity of it all, but being prepared certainly won't hurt. Start with locating the laws in your area. These links will help you with the information you need:
Religious Freedom - US Department of State
Canada's Office of Religious Freedom
United Kingdom Rights and Policies on Religious Freedom
Ireland 2012 International Religious Freedom Report
Australian Human Rights Commission

If you are faced with family court and custody issues involving Pagan beliefs, the best resource is the Lady Liberty League. They specialize in Pagan rights and can assist you with resources and even legal council if deemed necessary.

So find out where you stand in the eyes of the law where you live. Just keep all of the information in a file in case you ever need to use or reference it. The hope is that we never have to use it, but if we do, it's there and ready for us. Be prepared to have it on hand for school boards, employers, community facilities, unions and the court of law. It never hurts to be overly prepared.

What if the attack comes from an ex?

Start with the rights in your state/province and contact the LLL. There have been custody cases that have ranged from Pagan parents divorcing, one has 'found God' and is going to use Paganism and Witchcraft to win custody of the children; to interfaith families that decide to use the others Pagan faith against them in family court; to nonreligious couples divorcing, one remarries a Pagan/Wiccan/Witch, and the ex is going to try to get the kids by using this in court.

The worst part of this entire situation is the pain that it causes the children. One parent is doing everything they can to limit the visitations with the other parent; justifying this with outrageous claims, persecuting the other based on religion. The children see it, and worse, they feel it.

It takes time and diligence, but it is possible to insure your rights and safety of your children. To be together as a family. To feel confident and secure within yourselves regardless of the mess others are making of their own lives.

So what can we do after all the legalities are taken care of or are in motion?

Pagans tend to have a fairly good understanding of what is now being called the 'Law of Attraction'. What we put out into the world will come back to us. We may not always feel it, but we really do have the ability to choose our emotions regardless of what others are doing.

Where our children are concerned, anything an ex does or says that implies your losing them in some way is hitting below the belt. We become very emotional very quickly, but we can calm this down. If we immediately react every time with anger, sadness, rage, hatred, a need for revenge - that's what we're putting out into the Universe. So those are the things that are going to come back to us. If you can find a way to remember that the emotions you put into your dealings with your ex will be the same ones that are returned to you, you can get a better perspective on the situation. Every time you respond with anger you are literally handing all of your power to another person. Why on earth would anyone want to willingly do that? Especially if that means you're handing your power over on a silver platter to your ex.

Some tips for keeping your negative emotions at bay:

• Deep breathing helps to release endorphins, the bodies natural feel-good painkillers in addition to increasing blood flow which allows you to be more focused; relieving anxiety and fear.
• Stop talking about it with everyone you see. Notice that when you speak about it, your emotions go right back to the place of anger. So stop it!
• Find ways of distracting yourself away from your negative emotions. Stay away from the news channel, friends and family who only want to complain or hear about how horrible your life may be at this moment. Read a good book, watch a comedy, play with your pet. Anything that will turn your emotions in a more positive direction.
• Go to sleep each night reviewing everything you are grateful for, you'll wake up in that same grateful mood.
• Slow down and enjoy what you have surrounding you in this very moment. If you can't be grateful for what you have right now, you can't draw more of it into your life.
• Meditate regularly. Meditation has been proven to help people with focus and highly emotional situations. It's one of the easiest ways to relax and get ourselves back on track.

Final words...

In this day and age and with so much information available regarding the numerous Pagan beliefs and religious systems one would think the ability to persecute someone for being Pagan would be long gone. This is certainly coming in the future, so in the mean time we Pagan parents need to know and understand our rights. We need to know how open we want our children to be and to be prepared to deal with the schools and community if needed. And we need to consider our role in the lives of any child who comes into our lives, either through our children's friends or step-children that join our families. Knowledge is power and the more we know the better prepared we will be in protecting our rights and those of our children. Brightest Blessings.


Published on Examiner.com / October 20, 2013 

the Witchy Writer

Raising Witchlings Series: Being a Pagan Bonus Mom

Published on Examiner.com / September 26, 2013 

Being a step-mom can be challenging; being a Pagan step-mom has its own unique challenges. You need to tread lightly when it comes to your partner's ex. What you say and what you expose your step-child to could potentially be used against you and your partner in regards to faith, beliefs and holidays. It is not just a case of dealing with an ex who will at times (hopefully not all the time) allow jealousy and bitterness to take full control of her actions; spewing venom in all directions and putting an unnecessary burden on the children. It can be a rarity to find a woman who is actually happy that their ex has moved on and found someone. So in the midst of the emotional tornado that must be dealt with, you must also figure out how to tread the waters of sharing your faith with your step-children.

So how do you deal with this situation? 

First, know your legal rights for the area you live. A good organization that can help you find out is the Lady Liberty League. The LLL is an international religious freedom and civil rights organization who help Pagans, Wiccan's and other nature religion practitioners with legal issues regarding their chosen faith and/or spiritual practices. Don't wait until something happens to find out about your legal rights, do it now. Some states/provinces are not as open as others and you and your partner need to know if an ex could potentially try to bring some kind of  trumped up legal action against either of you. It is unfortunate, but the safest answer to this challenge may be to keep your religion secret.

Second, once you know your legal rights sit down with your partner and discuss how you want to incorporate (or not) your step-children. You have a right to your religious and spiritual beliefs, but we also know that sharing them openly is not always a safe thing to do. Discuss how you will be able to practice your beliefs in the home when your step-children are present. Do you have children of your own who practice with you? How do you incorporate them? Can the same be done with your step-children? Or, is there a way of lessening some of the ritual aspects of your celebrations and practices when your step-children are present to make it more comfortable for everyone?

Hammering out these details in advance will make the home situation much calmer. It will also put you and your partner on the same page so if the ex tries to do or say anything you know your partner has your back. But if the ex is absolutely against her children having anything to do with your spiritual or religious practices (be prepared for this reaction) then you and your partner should come up with a plan for how that will be accomplished. It will most likely be unrealistic that the children not know what your faith is, but you and your partner can be the bigger people and work around this challenge no matter how unfair the demand.

Third, take it slow. Introduce your step-children (if you decide to) slowly. Start with celebrating the changes of the season without incorporating any religious or ritual practices. Allow your step-children to see your practices as a natural extension of nature. No cackling, green skin or warts for them to report to their mother. And if that goes well than continue to introduce a little more each holiday.

One of the more difficult aspects to contend with for any step-mother (or bonus mom) is ensuring that their partner's children feel included when they are with you. A sure fire way of making sure they do not like you is if they wind up feeling like their father went out and 'found' a new family. It shouldn't feel like an 'us and them' situation when they are visiting. You and your children are now a part of their family, and families stick together no matter how many different homes they are spread throughout.

An interesting and enlightening article to read whether you are the bonus mom or the biological mom, (especially if you are the biological mom), is '7 Reasons Not to Hate Your Child's Stepmom'. You don't need to be seen, nor should you be, as 'the competition'. You are not there to steel another mom's children from her. As a bonus mom, you are just that. A bonus. One more person who will unconditionally love these children. Who only wants the best for them. Hopefully there will be a time when the ex can let go of past hurts and mistakes, forgive for their own sake, and be happy that you and your partner are giving the children a stable and diverse home for them to grow up in. It can be done.

Published on Examiner.com / September 26, 2013

Festival of Ganesha: The Birthday of the Lord Ganesha

Today marks the beginning of the Festival of Ganesha in Hindu culture. The festival, celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha, begins September 9 (this year) and lasts for up to 10 days. Ganesha is prayed to for wisdom, inner spiritual strength and success in all undertakings. After 10 days of dancing, feasting and revelry the Ganesha idols are carried to a body of water and submerged; symbolically seeing Ganesha off as he returns to his home taking all the worries and woes of man with him.

If you want to celebrate this time, decorate your alter in red. Swath it in red cloth and flowers. Place a statue or image of Ganesha on your alter. Add other items that hold meaning to you of success, prosperity and wisdom. Leave offerings of coconut and sweet pudding.

For the Kitchen Witches and Witchlings - you may want to try the traditional nan khatai biscuit recipe.

Ingredients

• 1/3 of a cup of plain flour
• 1/3 of a cup of semolina
• Half a cup of gram flour
• Pinch of baking soda
• 1/4 of a teaspoon of coarse cardamom powder
• Half a cup of unsalted butter
• 2/3 of a cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon of sliced pistachios

Cooking

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375F/190C.
2. Mix the plain flour, gram flour, semolina, baking soda and cardamom powder in a large bowl, and set aside.
3. Beat the butter (it helps if it’s warmed to room temperature first) and sugar in a small bowl, until it’s light and fluffy.
4. Add the butter and sugar to the flour mixture, and knead into a dough.
5. Divide the dough into 24 equal parts, and roll into balls, then flatten slightly with your palms.
6. With a knife, mark squares into the surface of each piece of dough by  drawing 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines. Place the almonds and pistachios into each of these squares.
7. Bake the dough on a greased baking tin for 12 – 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to cool, then serve.

Looking for the mythology regarding Ganesha and his festival? Here's a great article:
Short essay on ganesh chaturthi festival in India by Atul Josh

For the multi-religious/spiritual family - take some time when reading the creation/birth story of Ganesha. I began this discussion in my previous article, 'Raising Witchlings: How to Introduce your Children to the Craft'. See any similarities with Christian mythology? Being created from dust (Adam)...sacrificed and resurrected to be worshiped as a god (Jesus), or the other birth story where his brother caused his death (ummm...Cain and Abel possibly) and resurrection by his father the god Vishnu (back to Jesus). There are innumerable similarities to find. I personally prefer the much older Christian mythology that states that BOTH man and woman were created in the image of God - at the same time. Thus showing that 'God' is in fact the embodiment of both the masculine and feminine. But that's another article all together...(coming soon to blogs and message boards near you!)

I don't point this out in order to 'stick it' to Christianity. I've always been fascinated by the evolution of religions. This is just one of the many mythologies that reflects this evolution in religious stories and beliefs. We have a great opportunity for teaching our children that regardless of the path, we all have similarities. What matters most is that we find the path that speaks to our souls, that we learn that coexistence is possible (and in fact, preferable by ANY God/Goddess/Saint/Angel or any other creative power or religious/spiritual being you can name - that includes human beings and all of creation), and in the end we are all trying to answer the same questions, we are all trying to seek our own unique form of nirvana. Use this holiday as a teaching tool for yourself, your family members and your children.

May Ganesha remove all obstacles to your spiritual growth and prosperity in the year to come!

Brightest Blessings!
the Witchy Writer ☽✪☾

Raising Witchlings Series: Mabon Kitchen Witchery for Children

Posted on Examiner.com / Sept. 5 2013

With the Mabon season upon us, what better time to initiate little Witchlings into the art of Kitchen Witchery.  Fruits and vegetables are being harvested; many a Kitchen Witch is busy canning and preserving. Teaching Witchlings about the season of thanksgiving and gratitude comes easily and naturally within the garden and kitchen. The heart and hearth of our homes.

For the Kitchen Witch lucky enough to have the space for a garden, you've probably already been busy harvesting your own bounty. For those who aren't so lucky there may be friends or family that do, or a trip to a local farm or farmers market will stock your kitchens with the local harvest. Be sure to bring the Witchlings along; showing them exactly where all of our food comes from. Explaining the time and effort that each gardener and farmer takes to produce all of the items we enjoy each day. From the sweetest of apples to the juiciest of plums and berries, the wheat that is ground to make our breads and all of the vegetables we use each day.

This can be a magickal time for you and your little ones, your grandchildren, your nieces or nephews. It's a time of thanksgiving and recognizing the things that we are all most grateful for. So, to begin...

I believe there is a craft project brewing. Go to the craft or hobby store and stock up on fabric paint and blank aprons. Design your own with paint, iron on designs, gems or embroidery. Sponge paint colorful fall leaf designs or pumpkins, make hand-print turkeys with colorful feathers. The possibilities are endless. This can be the start of your Kitchen Witchlings initiation into the world of Witchy Cooking so make it as memorable as you can.

Every good Kitchen Witch needs their wand. If you are good with wood carving or burning, design a special wooden spoon for your Kitchen Witchling to use. If you aren't handy with a wood burner, you can always purchase one in advance. Woodewytch Woodburning, based in Australia, has a beautiful array of Wiccan kitchen spoons in addition to amazing hand-crafted items for decoration and alters. If time is short, you can also fashion a large wooden spoon with a decorative handle of stones, crystals or beads glued around the end. So once the aprons and wands are ready to go, the Cooking Witchery can commence.

Planning the magick. Have a specific recipe in mind and make sure you'll have enough time to be relaxed and take your time. This is so much more than just a kitchen.  For the Kitchen Witch the stove is an alter and the room a ritual space. Every creation made for friends and loved ones a magickal act. So prepare your space as you would for any other ritual.

And the ritual begins. As you prepare your ingredients, explain what each herb and spice is for. Its mundane and magickal use. What each fruit, vegetable and grain represent. Stir and mix your creation in a clockwise or deosil direction, concentrating on your intention for this recipe. Maybe you have special chants you wish to share. If your Witchlings have a Book of Shadows or journal, have them record the recipe and magickal instructions. If they are still too young, maybe you will choose to start it for them and they can take over the writings once they are older. If this time becomes a regular family tradition they will have completed magickal cookbooks by the time they are ready to leave home; ready to pass on to the next generation.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Have your Witchlings pay close attention to their feelings as they eat as well as the reactions and conversations of any others sharing the meal. Have them write any observations they make in their BOS or journals.

Even if we cannot commit to instructing our Witchlings for each meal (most of us having to live in the ever hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life), try to do this once a week or even once a month. It may take some extra time at first, but very soon you'll have a confident Kitchen Witchling. And I don't know of many who would scoff at having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.

As summer falls behind us, the days becoming shorter and shorter, we watch the colors change and look back at all we've accomplished over the past year and all we still wish to complete before the winter months blow in. The mistakes we've made are hopefully lessons learned, the successes cherished. We enter this season with reflection and gratitude. Did we truly connect with the ones we love, did we stand strong through our individual challenges, did we learn, did we teach? Start the season with your eyes wide open to all of the magick and joy there is to be had and shared. If you have been struggling with a way to open up your world to those you love, use your gifts of Kitchen Witchery to introduce your Witchlings into your world. May the blessings of the season bring each and every one of you love, joy and many warm memories.

Posted on Examiner.com / Sept. 5, 2013

Gratitude and the Season of Mabon

Magic is in the Air

Yesterday I completed our harvest wreath. I added the flowers that my husband had given me the other day. 

They were withered, but I wanted to include them. The flower bloom at the bottom no longer had its stem, so I pushed it in-between the surrounding stems. 

This morning we found that the flower had re-bloomed as if it were just picked )0(

I've been reflecting on all of the things that have happened over the past year; all of the challenges I've had to face. It's amazing what we are all capable of surviving. I say this because I've had to recreate myself in a matter of speaking. I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition and have been on disability for almost 2 years now. I used to be able to work full-time, I used to be a dancer; performing professionally. Many things have changed in my life and it's been difficult at times to not live in the past. But during this time I have been able to seek income assistance, I met and married my husband, I moved from Arizona to Ontario, Canada, I continue to care for my son and now a step-daughter. I have my faith and I've been able to concentrate on writing; something I've been wanting to do for years. I've always wanted to move from Arizona, to be close to water...and now I am. I have a husband who adores me and cares for me on my bad days. We don't have a lot, but I cherish everything we do have.

And now, I've been blessed with a community who have opened their arms to me. Sharing my writing and giving great feedback. Mostly good, but even the not so positive comments have made me think about what I've written and how I'd like to present my thoughts and experiences in future writings. So I suppose I'll be grateful for them too.

In the beginning, I was only going to have a little blog that I would use to post my thoughts on, but now that I've been able to really put my time and energy into interacting with so many communities, seeing all of the questions, issues and advice everyone is requesting, well - I'm hoping that my 2 decades of experience in the Craft will help me give some answers and advice to those who want it. I'm also hoping to learn a lot from everyone as well. I began my journey on this path when I was 15 years old. I've studied a lot, practiced as a solitary as well as in a coven. I've met with teaching coven's and attending rituals with a number of other coven groups. I'm a High Priestess and ordained minister, but I know that my education is far from over.

My son is 6, my step-daughter 3. I'm experiencing what it is like to be a Wiccan parent and trying to find my way through passing on my knowledge and spiritual path to my kids. I've connected with many Wiccan and Pagan parenting pages - this has led me to create my 'Raising Witchlings' series. I'm hoping to teach, but also to learn from all of my readers.

The journey to where I am now has certainly been bumpy; but I wouldn't have gotten here in any other way. Even with my health issues, I am grateful for what I have and how far I've come. I'm blessed to have the life I do. I hope all of you can see the many blessings you each have in your lives.

Brightest Blessings this Mabon season!
the Witchy Writer ☽✪☾

Raising Witchlings Series: How to Introduce Your Children to the Craft

Posted on Examiner.com

Many pagan parents who follow the religion of Wicca are unsure of how to begin introducing their children to the Craft. There are still many who unfortunately condemn anyone who follows any kind of pagan religion. We want to protect our children as well as educate them on our beliefs. It is not as easy as sending them off to Sunday School each week to have someone teach them the principles and beliefs of the faith. This becomes even more difficult if the parents each follow different faiths. But it can be much easier than you think and you can respect all faiths within the home.

All religion and nature flow together as one. Caring for our environment, homes and communities is one of the basic tenants of all religions. For pagan parents this can be a great way to start the introduction. Picking up litter throughout the neighborhood, participating in a community garden project, donating your gently used items to a homeless shelter. The list is endless. There are so many projects that children can do to get them outside (which is always better than sitting in front of the television) and communing with nature and your community.

Show your children what it means to care for our Earth Mother. Let them see you give offerings to the earth and elements. Allow them the space to ask you questions about what you are doing and why. The questions usually always flow into those of your beliefs and religious practices. This way the introduction flows naturally and isn't forced upon your children. And this brings up a second point.

Never force your children to participate. Allow them to see what you are doing; allow them to ask questions. Ask them if they would like to help you set up your alter for an upcoming holiday, Esbat or ritual. Let them help you clear and cleanse your ritual space, all the while explaining to them what you are doing as you do it. If they show interest in participating in a ritual or officially meeting your coven (if you have one), great, if not that's alright too.

This also applies to families who have different faiths. If you have made an agreement with your partner to not 'officially' bring your children fully into the Craft, they need to respect those same boundaries and not demand that they go to church every Sunday. Hopefully this is a discussion you've already had with your partner but it's one that will continue to evolve as your children get older, see more of both your faiths and ask more questions. Communicate early on with your partner so you can both find a way of being open with your children and show respect for your partners beliefs at the same time.

We all want our children to grow up happy and healthy, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Give them the room to feel out what works best for them (even if that is not the path you have chosen). The more we expose our children to, the more they will learn from our example to coexist with the amazing diversity we have throughout the world.

Find the commonalty in varying belief systems. Do some homework on all types of religious and spiritual practices and use the different holidays as a way to show your children how others live and celebrate their faith. Even Atheism holds basic beliefs on creation through evolution, living a good life, being responsible and caring for others. Discuss the similarities and let go of the differences. There are some great examples of how we all live that are similar. Show this to your children, let them see that no matter what faith or belief system we hold to we are all a part of a much larger and intricately connected system; we are all human beings, we all have feelings and we all deserve respect.

Teach them how to answer questions from others on Wicca. Whether or not the topic is ever brought up (and depending on how open you and your partner are on your faiths), it's a good idea to give your children some basics on what to say if asked about Wicca.

Teach your children the tenant of 'To Know, To Dare, To Will, To Keep Silent'. We know that we are on an eternal quest for knowledge throughout our existence. We dare to move into the realm of the unknown in our quest for knowledge, to have courage in finding our own path. We will ourselves to continue on our path of discovery and persevere through the challenges and diversity we face within our lives. And we know that to keep silent can hold far more important meaning than any words we may utter.

It may be easier to tell your children that you don't discuss your faith with others, and at times it is certainly appropriate to keep silent; but there will come a time when they are asked something that will cause your child to feel like they need to divulge some information. Better to decide what you are comfortable with now then after the fact. It could be something as simple as 'My mommy is Wiccan, we love and care for nature', to a much more in-depth definition. Find what works for you, your partner and your children. If you live in an area that is very open with varied religious paths, great. If not, teach them what is appropriate to discuss in public.

Teaching our children about our faith and beliefs should be a fun experience. Help them see the beauty in the diversity that surrounds us. They don't need to follow in your or your partners spiritual footsteps, but they should have the information available to them so they can make a knowledgeable choice when they are old enough to decide. Knowledge really is power and those of us in the Craft know this fact intimately. How better to show our love for our children then through passing this gift onto them.

Some of my favorite sites for Witchling fun:
Pooka Pages
Pagan Parenting
Pagan Parenting Articles - WitchVox
Pagan Moonbeams
Mystic Moon Coven - Pagan Parenting Information

Posted on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/article/raising-witchlings-how-to-introduce-your-children-to-the-craft