SECTION II - FAMILY ISSUES

Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene Silverwind
Just Hold My Hand - DreamDancer

Promoting Pagan Family Values
By Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com

A few days after Imbolc, I thought the old groundhog's prediction of six more weeks of winter was wrong, but it turns out he was right, and then some. As I write this, it is pouring in California and the East Coast is expecting a whopper of a storm. But never fear, because Spring will soon be here, regardless of how the weather looks right now. The snow and cold weather will soon turn to April showers and May flowers. We're going to celebrate that.

The winter rain might not seem worth celebrating, but a refreshing spring rain definitely is. You and your kids can make rain sticks to help in your celebratory dance. You will need parchment paper, a cardboard gift-wrap or shipping tube, raffia, construction paper, glue, scissors, rubber bands, and dried beans. First, cut a pair of parchment paper circles about two inches bigger than the end of the tube. Secure one circle over the top with a rubber band. Using a cotton swap, wipe glue under the paper to seal it down. Now tie the raffia around the rubber band to hide it. Pour the beans inside, and then cover the other end with parchment and raffia. Once it's dry, test the stick to make sure it's sealed, and then it's time to decorate. Cut out construction paper flowers, suns, and other spring symbols and glue along the sides of the rain stick. Now your stick is ready for shaking to a merry spring beat.

Most Native American tribes, in addition to many European cultures, had weather deities and myths to explain the rain. Do some research, and then bring a selection of rain stories to your child's classroom. After reading two or three of them, ask the kids to make up their own myth about why it rains. When they're done with that, move onto the snack. Continuing the theme, bring raindrop or cloud shaped cookies for the kids to decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles. 

It seems that the best thing about rainy days is that they provide an opportunity to curl up in front of the fire with the family and play games, but after a week or two of rain, you might be getting a little sick of the sight of each other. When you reach that day, invite over your neighbors for a rainy day party. The adults can play cards while the kids tackle "Chutes and Ladders" and "Monopoly." Ask each family to bring some kind of snack food, whatever they have on hand, and you should get a nice assortment. All you'll need to provide are the drinks. To make it a "springier" occasion, ask your neighbors to dress up in their spring finest and pretend that it's an indoor garden party. Decorate your living room with crepe paper flowers and serve lemonade to complete the mood.

Spring is probably going to be rainy and wet this year, but we can all make the best of it by celebrating it rather than cursing it.

Just Hold My Hand
By DreamDancer

Young lovers they were. Gazing deep into each other's eyes, thrilling in each other's touch, each other's presence. Magick seemed a part of their lives, but magick they'd heard, the magick of love was but a fleeting thing.

This worried them. What would become of them if the magick started to fail? How could they go on?

"What happens when we fight, when we are scared or unhappy with each other?" she asked.

"I'll promise to you" he said, and I'd like you to promise me. When times are hard, when we're scared or angry, when we simply walk through life, just hold my hand, and I'll hold yours, and it will be all right".

As happens with all couples, within a year they had their first fight.
It was over a simple thing they wouldn't even remember later, but it grew intense. Heat filled their bodies and minds, and words were about to spill forth which neither could take back.

Remembering their promise she paused, harsh words about to spill forth, and collected herself. "Remember our promise to each other. Even now while we fight, just hold my hand, and it will be all right".

And holding each other's hands, a gentle squeeze now and then, they found that they could not bring forth hut to the other, for they had a gentle reminder of their love for each other.

Time went by, and the dawning of the birth of their first child came to them. Being her first, she was scared, so scared. The pain of birth was more than she could bear. She knew deep down that she could not do this thing. It was just too much.

Feeling a soft touch on her fingers, she heard a whisper in her ear.

"Just hold my hand my love, and it will be all right". Grasping his hand tightly, she drew from the strength of his love for her, and while the pain didn't lessen or go away, she took from his strength and added it to her own, and soon their baby girl was born.

The years passed, their baby girl grew into a woman, and she found a love of her own. All to soon, her wedding day was upon them, and he felt a deep feeling of loss. His baby girl was his no more.

Seeing his sadness, she said to him, "it doesn't matter that she's grown. In your heart, she will always be your little girl. The world can't take that from you. This is just a little change. Now, just hold my hand and you'll see that it's all right."

And so, hand in hand, they watched their little girl take her vows with the one she loved, and start on her new life. Not an ending of the old, merely traveling along a new path.

They grew old together. Children seeing them would giggle, and other people were touched that the old couple always seemed to walk holding each other's hands.

Her time here was ending, and she grew scared. Not so much of ending things, but because she didn't know what was to follow. Barely able to see, no longer able to hear, each breath she drew a painful labor. Holding on desperately to life, fearing the darkness to come. In pain but unable to let go.

A feeble old hand took hers and held it tight, seeming to grow young and strong once more, and though her ears had failed her, the words came through loud and clear. "Just hold my hand my love, and it will be all right. It's time to let go now".

Feeling a gentle kiss upon her lips, she let herself go and passed from this life.

It was lonely now for him, the love of his long life no longer at his side. He grew tired, and soon it was his time as well. Passing from this life in his sleep one dark winter night, he found himself in darkness. No light, no warmth. Was this what eternity would be? His heart sank and he was filled with despair.

From the air around him, he seemed to hear a soft voice whispering to him. "Remember our promise my love. If you just hold my hand, it will be all right".

He tentatively held out his hand and felt it grasped. Warmth filled his cold soul, and light burst forth around him. He looked and saw, standing next to him, his young love, brightness in her eyes and a loving smile upon her lips.

"Welcome home my love" was all she said, and together they walked hand in hand up the pathway they were on and into the green meadows they found ahead of them.

DreamDancer
3-4-01