27. Samhain with the Kids

Samhain is right around the corner and that means its time for my favorite holiday! Every year I've taken off work for Halloween to prepare for Samhain. This year since I'm not working I won't need to do that. This year, money is tight so we won't be able to do our normal 2+ Jack o Lantern carvings. So I'm looking for some inexpensive ideas for Samhain.

For those readers not in the know. Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) is the last of three harvest festivals. Its celebrated traditionally between OCT 31st and NOV 1st. It is the second time each year where the veil between worlds is thinner and we are able to communicate with our dead (The first being Beltane). It is a time to honor The Crone and our ancestors.

Sierra (My daughter) and I love to carve pumpkins for Samhain to scare away unwelcome spirits! So every year I spend at least a good day online finding exciting (and free) carving patterns. Perhaps this year instead of mutilating real pumpkins, we'll make our jack o lanterns out of paper. Or maybe we can find some other materials around the house. Anything round like a jar or ball would work. Obviously for those options we wouldn't use any heat source to light it.

Sierra as a Witch

Another thing I've loved to do is come up with an inexpensive option for dressing Sierra up. Last year we bought a witches hat and a wig. She wore an old dress and went Trick or Treating as a witch. By far this was my most favorite costume and it only cost me $5. Unfortunately in the move to Ohio the hat had an untimely death. So we'll need to come up with something new this year. Or perhaps I can convince her to stay home and hand out candy to the younger kids. That would make me a happy momma!

As far as the Samhain ritual, we are going to join up with Inanna's Spiritual Center. I've talked Rev. Lynn to do a ritual at her center. There is a small group that wants it to happen at the center too so hopefully it will be a night of ritual and companionship. I can't wait! We are doing it on the 30th so everyone can go without our jobs (For those who have them) and school interfering.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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6. If your a parent, how do you involve your children in Samhain?

I've always believed in allowing children to choose whether to participate in religious observances or not. Last Samhain we spent the day with The Circle of the Blue Moon. Sierra had a good time playing with the children, doing little games and activities, and sitting around the fire. Every year we also make it our personal project to carve a pumpkin (Or two, or three). This year she has her pumpkin, and we'll carve it a few days before the 31st.

A few years ago I was on a "Learn to cook" kick. When I have time I try to expand my cooking knowledge. That year I learned how to cook a pumpkin pie from scratch, DD helped of course. I didn't even use the can pumpkin puree. Who knew those small pumpkins were for more than just display? *giggle*

Samhain. 2007

It came out great. At least I was told it was great. I actually hate the taste of pumpkin pie. But Sierra and DH didn't leave any extra so I suppose that's the best compliment a cook can get.

This is apart of my 31 Days of Samhain

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Thoughts on the afterlife?

The Phoenix is a perfect symbol for reincarnation. It symbols Life, death, and rebirth and rising above adversity.

I believe that we are here to learn lessons in life so that we can become a more spiritual being. That means, we need many lives (Reincarnation) to achieve this goal. No one is going to learn every lesson in one life. Nor are we going to get every lesson right the first time around. I've talked about Soul Mates before. Basically I believe souls group together. We reincarnate together, we arrange times in our lives where we will meet. Some souls will stay together forever, some for a short time. It all depends on what each soul needs and how we can benefit each other in learning. I also believe once we've learned all we need to, we can choose to become guardian spirits for others. They are there to guide us if we listen.

When you mention reincarnation people always ask about spirits reincarnating in the form of an animal. I don't exclude the possibility. I think if the spirit has something to learn that can't be done in a human form, an animal may be the better option. So yes, I do believe animals have spirits. That doesn't mean that every spirit has been an animal in a past life. Matter of fact I think its more likely they have not.

I've chose to include a picture of a Phoenix for this entry because to me it symbolizes reincarnation perfectly. Its journey from new life and the journey to the end of its life, and then rebirth reminds us of the journey through our lives, and the adversity we face along the way.

A favourite pagan holiday that you celebrate.

Hands down it is Samhain (Oct 31-Nov 1) that is my favorite Pagan holiday. It is the last of the Harvest celebrations and one I'm always looking forward to. It is a time to mark the death of the God and the coming rebirth. Samhain is a time to honor our ancestors. They say this time is the thinnest between the veil of this world and the next. Divination is often done at this time to see what the winter might bring and commune with lost loved ones.

Some of my favorite past experiences at Samhain have been a re birthing ritual. Until I moved, we joined up with Linda Tipton and her coven Circle of the Blue Moon to do a Samhain celebration. We were made to walk along a path lit by tea light candles alone. This walk was very spiritual for everyone. In the end of the path was Ms Linda doing one reading for each person. You could ask one question of her. At the end you were "reborn" to the new year. I loved doing this. And I think it really marked a changing point in my spiritual life. I'll keep what I asked to myself. ;)

But we've had our fun times too. I remember several members drinking a little too much homemade mead. My husband played the designated friend and made sure no one fell into fire pits. He picked up quite a few people passed out in the bushes!

One year, it was so cold at Samhain (We always camped out) that we had to leave. It really isn't smart to camp out at the end of October. That year it was bitter cold. We got to a point where Lance and I could no longer feel our feet even while standing next to the open fire. So we left, found a hotel and came back the next day. I got pregnant that spring, so we never did another camping in October; especially with the baby around. We did visit for the days however. When we returned to work we were laughing at ourselves and quite a few people heard the story. To this day there is a UPS worker who reminds us of camping in October when he sees us.

Samhain is just a great time to celebrate family, the death and rebirth of life, and the changing of the seasons. Its a favorite of many Wiccans and its not hard to see why. We dance, we laugh, we sing and praise the Lord and Lady. And we remember those who have left us this year.

Blessings, Love, and Light

Prompt: Teaching Your Children

Prompt: Teaching Your Children

So we've talked about what we, ourselves, are leaning anew.... but what about our children?

What do you teach your children regarding your beliefs?

Do you chose to home-school your children? Why? How do you think this will affect them as they grow up?

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I choose to allow my daughter to learn about all religions and make a decision for herself. When my son is old enough he will do the same. I don't believe that children should automatically be considered X religion because the parents are. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Religion is a choice, not a birth right.

I share with my daughter what I believe. I allow her to ask questions about any religion. Between DH and I we've studied most religions so we can help her understand what each religion has to say on various topics. I do always remind her that it is her choice and she shouldn't feel like she has to be Wiccan just because I am. While they are very young and too impressionable I avoid the topic all together. I do not allow media that could influence or "brainwash" her at all. 

I'm uncertain if you mean home school as in general school topics or home school as in theology. As far as normal home-school. I don't do it. Mainly because until recently both my husband and I work long hours. I think if you have the means and knowledge to do it fine. But I don't believe a parent should be teaching school if they themselves do not understand the material. 

For theology, I'll encourage my daughter to take a class in college. But otherwise she will be taught by myself and my husband.

Pagan Parenting: My Way

I grew up in a "Christian Light" household. By that I mean my mother claimed she was Christian but never preached to us, never went to a church, and the only religious study she encouraged was to throw a children's bible at me on my 13th birthday and tell me to read it.

My grandparents were the opposite. They were very fundamental. You went to church on Sundays. Always had to dress up. Sunday school was suppose to be a weekly event. I remember the one and only time I went. I guess I asked a "dumb" question. I never went back. I don't remember what I asked now, but I remember what they were preaching didn't make much sense to me.


So as my daughter matures I've always let my daughter know that when she wishes to participate and learn about Wicca I will teach her. Similarly, I will help her learn other faiths as well. I feel it is important to learn about all major and some minor religions to have a better understanding of other cultures and people.
Last year my daughter participated in her first Full moon ceremony. I was so proud of her! She said her part when it came time and took her cues from the adults. She enjoyed it a lot. She also has worked with me when doing a spell and kept asking to "do it again". lol. For now she thinks its fun, but knows its not something that is to be played with. I've always told her what I believe in, and in no way do I expect her to follow me. But if that is her wish I would help guide her way.

Over the years I've had to protect her from other people. While I don't mind that she learns about other religions when she is older and doesn't believe everything she hears, in her younger years they are so impressionable. When she was a toddler I didn't speak much about our faith and when I did speak about it, I always reminded her that its what I believe and one day she would learn and make a choice about her faith. While she was young and too impressionable we dropped off the "Pagan radar". Mainly because I didn't want to be carrying around a toddler at festivals, but it served to isolate us from others. I feel that if they are young enough where just mentioning God means the child repeats, "I believe in God" then its too young.

Religion is a choice, not a birth right. I do not want my daughter to be Wiccan because I am. I want her to study and come to that conclusion (Or whatever faith she decides) herself.

Pagan Blog Prompt: Changing Beliefs

Prompt: Changing Beliefs

This comes from a random hidden place in my mind....

"Do your beliefs change over the years as you change and develop?"

I know we are humans, and if we are living a life, we are always changing, growing, developing, learning.... And I was wondering how those changes have been reflected in your spiritual life....
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Yes I have to say my beliefs do change over time. Not so much now that I'm older, but I can't say it doesn't happen. From ages 15-24 my beliefs changed drastically and I was really learning a lot from family, friends, and online sources. I feel to spiritually grow you always need to be open to new perspectives. The best way to do that is socialize with other people of various beliefs. Even if you don't believe as they do, you still see a new perspective and are more knowledgeable about other beliefs.