NMR ISSUE 47

Activating Miraculous Success
Astrological Forecast 47
Editorial 47
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Garden Rituals
Herbal Remedy for Summer Boredom
Herbal Sex
Isian Ceremony of Spiritual Renewal
Isis Play
Lazaris
Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
Letters 47
Magickal Garden
Other Editorial 47
Peacock, Ass/Donkey & Beetle
Potted Herbs - In and Out
Prayer to Isis
Reviews of Unusual Books
Skhmet: The Fire Within
Summoning Hathor
Waking up
Witch's Tor

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Pagan Parenting

By Amanda Cummings

The end of the school year looms before us. Then there is summer: that time of year our children look forward to almost as much as we did when we were children. That glorious season of no school, long days, and heat and boredom. Remember?

Summer was cool as you anticipated it, and as you experienced it for about two weeks. Then the familiar strains of summer are heard across the land, There's nothing to do-o-o-o-o! So, what can we as Pagan parents offer our children to make the summer more enjoyable and interesting?

First, there are usually plenty of outdoor activities in most communities, and they are generally not too expensive. In my area, there are nature walks, landmark tours, historical sites, classes at the community centers (like gymnastics, swimming, sports, etc.), and many beautiful parks to spend the day in. Summer is a terrific time to take advantage of being able to be outdoors. Because it is so warm, there are things to do at night, too, that you can't comfortably do in other seasons, stargazing, for instance. My children are big enough now to locate the constellations in the night sky. So occasionally we will go in the back yard on a blanket and look for them. As the children find each constellation, I tell them its myth or attributes (if I know it), or I read it to them (if I don't know it). It's a cozy way to pass an evening; and the sky is at its most exciting, as summer is the best season for shooting stars.

Another evening thing to do that's lots of fun for kids is drive-in movies. I didn't realize what a novelty this was until recently. When I was growing up, drive-ins were the only movies I went to. They were cheap and we were poor. Once I grew up, I only went to real theaters and that's where I have always gone with my children. Then one of my roommates started taking his girlfriend to the drive-in, and the whole household went along one evening. My kids thought this was the coolest thing to do. I was stunned. I do not particularly care to sit in my car, listening to a bad sound system, watching a late-run movie on a huge screen in a parking lot, but my kids thought it was so fun! We've gone to a couple of them now, and will be going to more this summer. Go figure. We pack a dinner or get fast food, I bring grocery bags of popcorn, candy, and soda, and we have a party! It's something we get to do together that's not horribly cost prohibitive.

Second, there are the things to do at home. When I was younger, my mother solved the boredom dilemma by offering, Fine, go clean your room. Needless to say, we found ways to occupy ourselves at that point. But this isn't what I mean (unless their room is a real pit!). I am thinking more about around-the-house things. Learn a new cooking skill, like canning or making jelly from things you grow yourself. Our plum tree gives so much fruit I make plum jam and fruit leathers (like fruit roll-ups). I take baskets to work to give to my co-workers, and still have plums that rot on the ground. We have a very generous plum tree. Gardening is another favorite pastime at my house. To me, growing vegetables, herbs and flowers is gratifying in itself. However, there is also the opportunity to use the things you grow medicinally and magically.

Using herbs to treat illness or improve health is older than humanity. It is, however, being rediscovered and even tolerated (if not accepted) by medical practitioners in Western cultures. So as my herbs become overgrown, I cut them back and dry the leaves and flowers. My children have grown up asking me to make them tea when they don't feel well. One daughter gets upper respiratory infections and takes a tea of chickweed, feverfew, echinacea and slippery elm sweetened with honey. My oldest child has asthma. Hyssop and hibiscus tea is good for that, as is coffee. My youngest routinely takes goldenseal and echinacea for ear infections. It is also a good cold and flu treatment in the colder weather. Chamomile is good for nightmares, and mint for upset stomachs. The herbs we grow are our first line of defense against what ails us.

I am also very fortunate that our family physician doesn't pooh-pooh this. His attitude is more can't hurt, might help. When I call him to ask for an antibiotic, he knows I've already done what I can and it's his turn. I think this creates more of a mutual respect between us. I don't dismiss what he does and he returns the consideration. Add to that his delivering my first two children and attending the birth of my third, and you will appreciate the years we have invested in our relationship. My children are special to him, and he is special to us, too.

Children can be involved in making herb preparations, depending on their ages. They can cut herbs, bundle them and tie them, hang them to dry, clean the dried herbs, and package or prepare them with you. There are several books on medicinal use of plants, and most offer recipes and basic preparation instruction (like the difference between a tincture and an infusion). Herbs should be dried in a cool, dark, airy place. An old closet or cupboard might do. Bundle and tie them with cotton string (not thread). When you clean them, you pick them apart and sort the parts you will use now from those you will use later, and discard the rest. Generally you can use root, leaf and flower; but it's important to be sure you have what you want. Sometimes one part of a plant may be toxic, while another is not. Definitely do your research. And don't forget veggies. Vegetables taste so much better out of a garden than out of a supermarket bin in the first place. But vegetables can be used medicinally, too. Also, they generally look pretty in a garden because they flower and add color.

Using garden products magically is also special. This gives children the opportunity use something in Circle that they helped grow. Flowers can be cut to go on the altar; herbs can be used as incense (like sage). Vegetables can be offered to the gods and either left for them, or be eaten by the people in the Circle. Healing magick can be done with herbs used both medicinally and magically.

Children are certainly able to understand the concepts of helping the body help itself and giving the mind pictures of what we want it to do in order to get better. These are the things we are attempting to accomplish when we work healing spells and rituals. We are attempting to assist the body in healing by lending our energy and will. We are creating pictures of the reality we want to see when we meditate. Children are creative enough and imaginative enough to understand how this could work. Often, my children would say, Mommy, make me some tea and tell me a story. So I would make some medicinal tea, with a blessing or two added. After they drank it, I would have them close their eyes and I would lead them through a meditation to increase their energy, or repair what was wrong, or just to strengthen them, a story. They knew it would help, and they knew they could do it. I almost never get asked to tell stories anymore. My children are too big for that. But, they still drink the tea, and they tell themselves the stories. I know, because once when one of my children was pretty sick, I asked her if she wanted tea and a story. She gladly accepted the offer of tea, but didn't want me to sit and tell her a story. Besides, Mom, she said, I know how it goes. I tell it to myself as I fall asleep sometimes. I just smiled. They are getting to be so big, and it's reassuring to see some of the lessons are firmly rooted as they grow up. They may not choose my lifestyle or values or religion or hair color or whatever, but they have an appreciation for the important things.

So as summer comes down the way, don't forget to get outdoors. Enjoy the warmth, productivity and abundance of the season.

Blessed Be!