SECTION II - FAMILY ISSUES

Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene Silverwind

Promoting Pagan Family Values
by Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com

Imbolc will soon be here. It amazes me how quickly it arrives every year. But it shouldn't, because it comes at the same time every year and I honor it as a time of renewal, of preparing for rebirth, of initiation and promises anew.

At my circle's Imbolc celebration, we each state an intention or dedication for the next year. Usually this means we write a four line poem that informs the Gods what we plan to do for the next year (spiritually speaking) or indicates our dedication to Them. Spiritual goals might be a little bit too esoteric for children, but they could dedicate themselves to the family. Prior to your family Imbolc ritual, ask your children to write a few promises to the family, and to the Gods if they're so inclined. They should also write a few thanks and a few new requests. Try to get them to move beyond material requests like a new Nintendo, but it is perfectly reasonable for them to promise to better at sharing their Nintendo with their siblings. Also write one intention for the family as a whole. During your Imbolc ritual, state your family intention, then go around and state your individual intentions, promises, thanks, requests, and dedications.

Many children don't learn the various mythologies behind the seasons in school any more. To help remedy this, go to your local library and check out several books that tell stories of winter from various traditions. (The librarian can help.) Read through the stories, perhaps one or two a week for a couple weeks, then ask the kids to make up their own winter myths to share with the class.

Winter is a fun time to gather your neighbors for a friendly potluck lunch. To give it a winter theme, ask everyone to bring something they remember as being a favorite winter treat when they were children. Your guests will also provide the entertainment by telling stories from their childhood winters, such as that time they "lost control" of the sled and plowed into the snowbank, narrowly missing a tree. Be sure to throw in a few cautionary tales so your young one don't get any ideas they haven't already thought of.

Winter will be over soon enough, make sure you celebrate it while you can.