Mother Goddess, Immigrant Children, and the Pain of Social Consciousness

All throughout my social media feeds, I am inundated. Children crying, screaming, for their parents. People begging not to be sent back to the country they fled to save their lives. And my own people - Pagans who feel the compassion of Oneness, of Gaia as Mother to All, yet cannot stop the wailing that we, the United States, has caused.

This is a tragic time for us, living through this time of horrific deeds shared worldwide, unedited, unfiltered, in an instant. We see all of the pain and joy of everyone, for the first time, getting a taste of how overwhelming it must be to have omniscience.

There is no way to describe this new way of living. It used to be that a small handful of photos, taken by a war correspondent, printed months after the fact, could shock us as a nation. Now, those photos are shared, meme'd and seen hundreds of times.

It is easy to become numb. It is easy to mute the videos and the audio recordings. It is all in our faces, and it is easy to push them away to protect ourselves.

What isn't easy is the realization that this choice could place us on the wrong side of history. What isn't easy is plowing through contradictions and lies to find the facts. What isn't easy is to open our hearts and hear what the gods are telling us. What isn't easy is to take a stand and to be vocal about it.

In truth, nothing about this is easy. But that's the point. Life isn't easy. It isn't supposed to be. Life is a mountain. You don't get to the top by complaining about the incline.

As a Heathen, I believe in certain values. First, in my heart is the value of Hosting, or Hospitality. It is my duty as a human on this earth to aide travelers, visitors, and those fleeing danger. It is my honor to provide for them, knowing that someday they or their children will do the same for another.

As a mother, I believe in a single rule: Always protect the children. This is non-negotiable, and I accept that others may need to be... um, removed to do this.

As a Pagan, a member of a minority religion, I believe that every right and generous action given to women, minorities, immigrants, etc. PROTECTS my rights. In a fascist situation, I will be one of the last to have my rights stripped. I will not let it get to me and my children. The rights of more vulnerable people literally protect my rights.

So there's some things to consider as we all struggle through this mess.

What are you doing about this situation? Are you good with your choice? Should you be?

Pagan Children's Books Litha Newsletter

See the full Newsletter here.

It's time for Litha!

School is out! Our plans for the year are either in full swing or coming up soon! This time of year can be hectic and frustrating, and so much fun!

This would be a good time for kids and families to make some time to breathe. Camp and vacation is great, but are you stopping to enjoy everything along the way?

Don't be afraid to let things go, to say "no" to an activity, to just have a movie night instead of cramming another day-trip or public event in. And don't forget to check in with the rest of the family. Are they enjoying what's going on, or are they stressed from rushing around? Maybe they want more, maybe less.

Remember that the growth of your kids requires some down-time, even at this time of year.


There are some great activities you can do just for Litha. I'm pretty big on developing life skills, so I tend to focus on things that will help kids learn to take care of themselves later on.

Here's some ideas for helping kids get their summer groove on to celebrate this time of bounty and beauty.

Pagan Children's Books Beltaine Newsletter

View original HERE

The next Sabbat is just around the corner! Check out our thoughts on summer fun - tell us how you like it on our FB page!

Blessed be, <<First Name>>! It is once again Beltaine in the northern hemisphere! The school year is almost over, and the hot season will be upon us quickly. This is a great time to talk to kids about accomplishing their goals, and encouraging habits such as walking (instead of driving those few blocks), and recycling and neighborhood trash pick-up. Parents, what values do you want your kids to really understand this year? What activities will help with that understanding? What small but mighty activities can you encourage? Get your goals a-growing with some easy activities that keep your kids thinking and spotlight the values YOU want to instill! ABC Book of Goddesses is a great choice for birthdays or bedtime reading! The school year is almost over, but kids never stop learning. There are a few things that you can do over the summer to keep those young minds busy. If you've been working with your kids on planting the seeds for their yearly goals, now is the time to put those into action! Summer Camp. Whether it's a day camp or a week of overnights, camps can be a great way to immerse kids into an activity. There are music camps, sports camps, camping camps, and more. Check out what is in your area and talk about the options. Make sure you discuss budgets, too - those camps can get pricey! Museums/Zoos. If you are fortunate enough to live in a place with a good museum or zoo, consider getting a membership. Kids can spend hours going through exhibits, and many museums and zoos have kids' areas where they can play and explore with only a little adult oversight. (Letting kids learn for themselves is a great way to foster their own interests AND build self-esteem!) Scouting. Spiral scouts, girl scouts, or boy scouts (now open to girls, too) can be a great way to give kids a social outlet with goal-oriented rewards. Badges can cover all levels of ability and skill. It's well worth checking out. Libraries. Consider having a library day - one day each week when you make a trip to the local book habitat. Spend some time browsing, check out story time, and take a few home to read throughout the week. Nature walking the neighborhood. Challenge kids to find plants and animals throughout the neighborhood. Or go to a nearby park for your walks. Have a notebook handy to write down more interesting specimens, then see what videos and pictures you can find on the internet to expand your knowledge!

Back to School Pagans: Minority Religions

I love the new school district we are in. Both my kid's are attending schools with a pretty huge variety of cultures, religions and ethnicities and races represented.

My son makes friends with kids from Iran. My daughter has friends who wear hijab. I've spoken to women who shared pictures of their daughters' human ceremony (it's a celebration marking a certain coming-of-age for the girls, similar to a bat mitzvah or First Communion). Both kids are sent home with papers in 3-7 different languages.

The interesting part, though, is that as a Pagan mom, I feel like I am more (painfully?)  aware of potentially stepping on religious toes. My son was making plans for his Muslim friend to join us for Pagan Pride in a year. I told him we needed to make sure his parents were okay with that first.

It seems that being a minority religion creates a kind of double-edged sword. Not only do we get to live in a culture that aggressively assumes we are Christian, but then we become so aware of how that hurts us, we go to extra lengths to not do that to others.

While this definitely makes us more empathic, we can find ourselves in some passive aggressive situations. A few that I end up in often:

• Grandparents suggesting that any reluctance on my part for letting the kids do things through their church is an unfair judgment on them or their religion.
• Family arguing that I'm at fault when I refuse to stay in communication with family members who use said communication to tell me I'm condemning my kids to Hell. 
• People telling me that my religious choice means THEY won't get to spend eternity with me in Heaven... then crying about that.
• People using the "what if you're wrong" logic, then giving me a blank look when I ask them the same question.
• People acting like my choosing a religion that is bullied and discriminated against is somehow "easy", just rebellion, or about hurting them.

The point is, Paganism is hard. We are a minority. We are discriminated against. And, in many ways, it's getting both better and worse.

But I love that my kids are exposed to ideas that aren't just Christian or our immediate family. That's something to thank the gods for.

Children & Beliefs: Teaching our kids our practices

Illustration from Pooka Pages

Why we should teach our kids our religion while we raise them? Why it is so important to embrace sharing our beliefs with our children? How to do so without forcing them or making them feel trapped by their parents' beliefs?

These are questions that the Pagan community struggles with as we raise our children in the highest numbers since Gardner published Witchcraft Today in 1954.

We are so used to seeing the effects of religious belief being framed in Christian terms. That is the world we live in.

But what does pure religious belief have to offer our kids? There are studies (here, here, here, and here) that indicate that sharing religious beliefs, activities and experiences can strengthen a family's relationships to each other. There is often more connection and communication.

Children standing with The Lady of Cornwall
in a neopagan ceremony in England.

Religious beliefs may help children better deal with the natural stresses of life by providing a sense of belonging to a group and being part of "something bigger". The routine of rituals and holidays can provide a sense of structure to a child's life.

Healthy spiritual beliefs may improve health, both physical and psychological. Religion provides a way to express the innate need to find purpose and reason in the natural world, and a way to express our beliefs in a supernatural world.

Obviously, these benefits are only seen when the religious experience is a positive one. When the religious experience is confining, restrictive or even hostile, the affects of religion can turn very dark.
Some ways that teaching religion does NOT support healthy religious beliefs include:

• punishment for not adhering to religious behaviors
• teaching by rote memorization rather than engaging with stories and games
• negative reactions to questioning the religious teachings – this can include refusal to answer or refusal to consider alternatives
• using fear as a way to reinforce belief – ie, if you don’t believe, you’ll go to hell

Leaving kids the choice is an issue that I hear a lot of. So I ask, how does allowing your children to religiously identify the same way that their mom and dad do, close the door to them asking about other religions? Or prevent them from later changing their mind?

From Raising Pagan Children

If we want our children to feel like a complete part of our families, we need to include them in our religious experiences. We can do this by talking to our kids about our beliefs, about the rituals that we practice, and about the gods and spirits that we interact with in our lives.

I will leave you with a quote from an article from UU World: “Sharing personal religious and spiritual beliefs with children is not indoctrination; it is offering the guidance they eagerly seek until they are developmentally ready to decide for themselves. If children receive vague and confusing answers time and again when they ask about spiritual and theological issues, they’ll eventually stop asking and start looking for answers elsewhere. But many of the other people your children may encounter in life will not be so hesitant to pass on their religious beliefs, opening up the possibility that the vacuum you’ve left will be filled by others who are seeking to indoctrinate them.”

Books for Pagan Children: Teens (T-Y)

It can be difficult to find books for your Pagan children to read. You want books that teach them your values, and maybe something close to your beliefs and traditions.

I have compiled a list of good books by great authors. Many are outright Pagan. Some are Pagan in flavor or Pagan-friendly. I am noting when the author is Pagan to encourage support of Pagan authors and artists.

Previous

• Teen Witch: Wicca for a New Generation by Silver RavenWolf (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  What Teen Witch will show you is that how you live, how you deal with others, and how you incorporate Wiccan laws into your life determines whether or not you are a true Witch. This handbook presents everything from the Wiccan principles of belief, traditions, symbols, holidays and rituals, to spells for homework and dating.

• Witch Among Wolves, A by Rebecca Buchanan (Fiction) *PAGAN*
  The Pagans of the contemporary world, in addition to rediscovering the Gods and heroes of old, are also writing for those Gods and heroes. "Alexander's Heart" is a science fiction tale set in a distant future ruled by the descendants of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. "Devourer" finds the Egyptian Goddess Bast in modern-day Louisiana, while "The Flower in the Dark" addresses political oppression and liberty. "Footprints" follows the Olympian Queen of the Gods to contemporary Florida, while "Orion: An EcoFable" explores the nature of environmental responsibility and the consequences of human arrogance. Finally, "A Witch Among Wolves" centers around a Lithuanian ragana, a devotee of the Horned Lord of the Underworld.

• Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  In the pages of Yule, Dorothy Morrison presents a wonderful potpourri of holiday lore from around the world and throughout history, along with fun crafts, delicious recipe seven a calendar of celebrations for every day in December.

Books for Pagan Children: Teens (M-S)

It can be difficult to find books for your Pagan children to read. You want books that teach them your values, and maybe something close to your beliefs and traditions.

I have compiled a list of good books by great authors. Many are outright Pagan. Some are Pagan in flavor or Pagan-friendly. I am noting when the author is Pagan to encourage support of Pagan authors and artists.

Previous

• Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox by Kristin Madden (Non-Fiction)
  This book explores the history, legends, and traditions of the season that is honored from the Far East to the Celtic Lands, and from Scandinavia to South America. Create your own Mabon tradition with the help of the book's many recipes, magical workings, equinox rituals, and crafts for all ages.

• Mi's Search for Beauty by Kyrja (Fantasy) *PAGAN*
  In a time and land when death is regarded as the “Realms Beyond,” where surviving children are expected to offer their prayers and services so their ancestors may reach the “Golden Realm of Light,” spirits are known to cause havoc for their own means. Sooshay and Keylei, both disdainful of the stifling moors of their traditional culture have forgotten this lesson, so are caught painfully unaware when their sixth daughter, Mi, is born. Five daughters were foretold; no more and no less, with no sons. The terrifying changes this sixth daughter unwittingly brings with her touches each member of her family. Ignorant of his own role in the chaos that follows, Sooshay seeks the advice of a mysterious old family friend, placing Mi and all of her sisters in danger.

• Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin (Non-Fiction)
  Midsummer is one of the most ancient, widespread, and joyful Pagan festivals. The sun rises to the height of its power on the summer solstice, and Midsummer Eve is filled with fairy mischief and magic. Anna Franklin reveals the origins and customs of this enchanting holiday.

• Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Embrace Ostara as a point of balance in your life, a moment in time where both dark and light and night and day are in harmony before the light is victorious and carries us on to the bounty of summer pleasures. Ostara is packed with rituals, spells, recipes, crafts, and customs to celebrate the awakening earth.

• Price of Beauty, The by Kyrja (Fantasy) *PAGAN*
  Majo had been the Gatekeeper for more than 700 years, guiding souls into the Realms Beyond and keeping the demons from the land of the living, before tricking the young Mi into taking her place. Eager to earn entry into the Golden Realm of Light, five spirits of Mi’s long-dead ancestors had aided Majo in manipulating each of her sisters in turning her into a freak. Majo’s plan went awry, though, when the sisters used the terrible gifts of their ancestors’ power to transform Mi, but left her with a narrow way in which she might redeem herself.

• Sending of Dragons,A (Pit Dragon Chronicles) by Jane Yolen (Fantasy)
  Jakkin and his girlfriend, Akki, discover a primitive cult that sacrifices dragons.

• Serpent in the Throat, and Other Pagan Tales, The by Rebecca Buchanan (Fiction) *PAGAN*
  This anthology - the second following A Witch Among Wolves, and Other Pagan Tales - continues the tradition of Pagan authors writing Pagan tales for a Pagan audience. "Black Leopard" is a contemporary magical realism tale centering on Dionysus, while "Crossroads" finds a young girl voicing a heartfelt prayer to Hekate. "Hysthaany" follows a small community of Sekhmet devotees into outer space on a mission of mercy, while "Mr. West" finds Osiris paying a visit to a modern-day mortician. "Seeds" is set in a dystopian future of environmental degradation, while the title story, "The Serpent in the Throat," is an adventure-horror tale set in ancient Canaan.

• Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen (Fantasy)
  Legend foretold the child named Jenna, who was three-times orphaned before she could crawl, a fate that would leave her in the hands of women who worshipped the benevolent goddess Great Alta. In this world without men, Jenna comes of age, learning quickly the skills of close combat. But her most powerful gift lies elsewhere: a mirror sister who emerges only in the darkness—a twin named Skada—and shares the soul of the young, white-haired warrior who might well be the goddess reborn. But if Jenna is, in truth, the one whose coming is awaited, there is cause for great alarm among those who rule the Dales, for the prophecy speaks of upheaval and change, and a devastating end of all things.

• SpellCraft for Teens: A Magickal Guide to Writing & Casting Spells by Gwinevere Rain (Non-Fiction)
  Empower, bewitch, and enchant. Written by a teen witch with her own popular website, SpellCraft for Teens contains fifty-five chants and incantations. In addition, it provides a twelve-step guide to casting a magick circle, an in-depth look at the moon phases, and the magical properties of colors, herbs, and charms. From finding a craft name to performing the three types of love spells, SpellCraft for Teensaddresses issues specific to young adults, including telling parents about their interest in Wicca and dealing with gossiping classmates.

Continued

Books for Pagan Children: Teens (H-L)

It can be difficult to find books for your Pagan children to read. You want books that teach them your values, and maybe something close to your beliefs and traditions.

I have compiled a list of good books by great authors. Many are outright Pagan. Some are Pagan in flavor or Pagan-friendly. I am noting when the author is Pagan to encourage support of Pagan authors and artists.

Previous

• Gatekeeper'sSon, The by Kyrja (Fantasy) *PAGAN*
  Delivered stillborn, Sooshay-Chan was unexpectedly brought back to life when his mother, Mi, summoned the previous Gatekeeper, Kazuko, to formally accept her role as Guardian of the Gateway. Because he demonstrates knowledge and skills no child should possess, his family suspects the boy has been reborn with the soul of his grandfather. Mi is the only one who knows that her father’s spirit has traded places with the spirit of her unborn son in the Realms Beyond. When warned by her sister named for the virtue of Justice that she must send her father’s spirit back, or the ancient Goddess of Death will escape into the realm of living, she is torn. Never before has a Guardian had a living child; Sooshay-Chan is unique in all the history of the land. How can she save her son without destroying the world?

• Halloween! by Silver RavenWolf  (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Just where did the autumn gaiety begin? Let Silver RavenWolf guide you through the cobwebby corners of time to uncover the history behind Halloween. Honor the spirit of this hallowed harvest holiday.

• Heart's Blood (Pit Dragon Chronicles) by Jane Yolen (Fantasy)
  Jakkin risks everything--his freedom, his dragon, even his life--to rescue his beloved in this stirring sequel to Dragon's Blood.

• Juniper by Monica Furlong (Fantasy)
  Though Juniper enjoys the easy life of a medieval princess, she chooses to learn about herbs, healing, and the magic within nature from her strange and difficult godmother. As her training comes to an end, Juniper discovers that her power-hungry aunt is using black magic to seize the throne. Juniper must use her as-yet-untested powers to stop her—before the kingdom is destroyed!

• Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Once a prominent Celtic festival known as Lughnasa (from the Gaelic násad, games or assembly, ofLugh, a Celtic deity and hero), Lammas is a joyful celebration of the first harvest. In an age when crops can be imported all year round, we tend to forget just how important this time was to our ancestors―the failure of the harvest meant starvation and death. Early August was a time to celebrate the fruits of the first harvest and work positive magic for prosperity and protection.

• Llewellyn's Witch's Coloring Book by Mickie Mueller (Activity) *PAGAN*
  Brighten your days with the magic of color! Featuring the expressive artwork of six popular Llewellyn artists, this coloring book will take you to an enchanted realm of reverie and quiet pleasure. Includes more than 60 colorable pictures of witch's potions, ancient rituals, magical symbols, and more. Each page has perforated edges for easy removal and is suitable for display in a standard frame.

Continued

Books for Pagan Children: Parenting (R-W)

It can be difficult to find books for your Pagan children to read. You want books that teach them your values, and maybe something close to your beliefs and traditions.

I have compiled a list of good books by great authors. Many are outright Pagan. Some are Pagan in flavor or Pagan-friendly. I am noting when the author is Pagan to encourage support of Pagan authors and artists.

Previous

• Raising Witches: Teaching The Wiccan Faith To Children by Ashleen O'Gaea (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  This is the first book that gives parents the means to teach their children Wicca in a more formal fashion. Featuring a Wiccan curriculum for each of the five age groups from infancy to young adulthood, O'Gaea shows parents how to effectively weave Wicca into a child's natural progression of learning.

• Sacred Seasons: Celebrating Nature Spirituality as a Family by October's Autumn Child (Non-Fiction)
  For those of us that embrace the theology of mysticism, Nature-based spirituality, or polytheism finding fun, enriching ways to involve our children in our beliefs can be challenging. In this book I have created a section for each of the eight most celebrated holidays of modern pagan faith. Each section includes some folklore and origins, alternative names, activities, crafts, recipes, decorations and much more for each season. There are also miscellaneous patterns and decorations.

• Starbright--Meditations for Children by Maureen Garth (Activity)
  Driven by the desire to help her three-year-old daughter settle down into a peaceful night's sleep, Maureen Garth devised meditations that would help her daughter feel secure and cared for. Starbright is a collection of the stories Garth created as her child grew older. These innovative meditations are simple visualizations parents and teachers can read to their children to help them sleep, develop concentration, awaken creativity, and learn to quiet themselves.

• WiccaCraft for Families by Margie McArthur (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  This is a complete in-depth handbook covering all aspects of Wicca written for family use. It covers not only the Sabbats and other Circle workings but also Passages (birth, puberty, marriage, ageing and death), Home Blessing, Spirit Quests and more. Basic information is also provided on pets, plants and gardening, crystals and herbs oriented towards younger children. Each Sabbat chapter first presents the philosophy and traditional customs for that festival and then gives a selection of appropriate music (words and musical notation), recipes and family activities. Following this is a family ritual/play.

• With Child: Wisdom and Traditions for Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood by Deborah Jackson (Non-Fiction)
  Beautifully illustrated with over 150 paintings and drawings, With Child celebrates the wonder of pregnancy and motherhood. Drawing on the vast, inherited body of wisdom of mothers around the world, expert Deborah Jackson has translated ancient rituals and myths into practical knowledge that will instruct and encourage mothers (and fathers too). With Childtakes us around the world and through the ages in a fascinating presentation of panhuman maternal wisdom. With Child is the perfect gift for mothers and mothers-to-be, a beautiful and unique volume to be treasured and shared by all parents.

Books for Pagan Children: Teens (A-D)

It can be difficult to find books for your Pagan children to read. You want books that teach them your values, and maybe something close to your beliefs and traditions.

I have compiled a list of good books by great authors. Many are outright Pagan. Some are Pagan in flavor or Pagan-friendly. I am noting when the author is Pagan to encourage support of Pagan authors and artists.

• Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon by Ellen Dugan (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Mabon, Feast of Avalon, Cornucopia, Harvest Home, Festival of the Vine . . . there are many names for this magickal holiday that celebrates the autumn equinox, the first day of fall. Ellen Dugan takes a fresh look at this "forgotten" Sabbat and demonstrates how to make the most of this enchanting season.

• Beauty's Children by Kyrja (Fantasy) *PAGAN*
  Kyoei. Kodokuna. Daiji. Each is a daughter of Mi, the unforetold sixth daughter of Sooshay and Keylei, who was turned into an enchanted freak by her older sisters, complete with wings and a mermaid tail. Each has lived without her mother, but none has escaped her touch. Each daughter’s tale speaks of Mi’s own journey to accept her sisters’ charge of loving herself first and best in order to break the terrible spell. And now, more than two decades after Mi was tricked in her unique form, the spirits of the ancestors who once guided her older sisters to trap her, have returned. The children of Mi are now called to witness her worthiness to become the Guardian of the Gateway to the Realms Beyond.

• Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore, & Celebration by Raven Grimassi (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Discover the roots of Beltane or "bright fire," the ancient Pagan festival that celebrates spring, and the return of nature's season of growth and renewal. In the only book written solely on this ancient Pagan festival, you'll explore the evolution of the May Pole and various folklore characters connected to May Day celebrations. Raven Grimassi reveals the history behind the revelry, and shows you how to welcome this sacred season of fertility, growth, and gain.

• Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K (Non-Fiction) *PAGAN*
  Beyond the darkness of winter, there is an oasis of light and warmth on the journey from solstice to spring. Known as Candlemas, Imbolg, Brigantia, or Lupercus, it is a hope-filled celebration held in early February to welcome the returning light and the promise of spring. Candlemas sheds light on the origins, lore, and customs of this ancient holy day.

• Celts,The (British Museum Activity Books) by MikeCorbishley (Activity)
  This activity book produced by the British Museum is a must for teachers, home educators and children interested in the Celts.

• Dragon's Blood (Pit Dragon Chronicles) by Jane Yolen (Fantasy)
  Training a dragon to be a fighting champion is the only way to freedom for fifteen-year-old Jakkin.

• Dragon's Heart (Pit Dragon Chronicles) by Jane Yolen (Fantasy)
  Austar IV isn't the planet it once was, and when Jakkin and Akki finally return to the dragon nursery, their homecoming arouses mixed emotions. Together they've survived the insurmountable, and now they can weather the brutal conditions of Dark After and communicate with the dragons they love. But with this knowledge comes responsibility. What they've learned about survival could transform the planet--or, if entrusted to the wrong hands, bring about its destruction. Akki's insistence that she return to the Rokk to finish her training and begin new experiments drives a chasm between her and Jakkin. Suddenly she finds herself in the midst of a political battle that could claim her life. Only Jakkin can save her. If only he could reach her.

Continued