Being in the closet with kids is also difficult when trying to pass along your knowledge and beliefs. I would love to teach my children everything I know, have them learn along with me, watch them dance in the love of the Lady and the Lord. But it isn�t all that simple, especially when it comes to celebrating the Sabbats.
In our house, I don�t call them Sabbats. I call them Special Days. Yule is the Sun�s Birthday, Oestre is still Easter, even if the timing is off slightly. Beltane is May Day. By doing this, I can teach them a bit about The Wheel of the Year without too much worry about those adorable, yet big mouths. The last thing I want to hear while pushing my cart down the aisle in Shop Rite is,� Your son told us all about leaving food out for your dead family members in school today.� And can you imagine their faces as they say that?
We also try to incorporate the more �socially acceptable� forms of celebrations and decorations for each holiday. For example, we do have a Christmas tree. But we also have a Yule log that we decorate and make wishes on as a family. To me, the Yule log represents more of the holiday spirit than the tree. We dyed Easter eggs while discussing the things that we hoped would happen in the Spring. We talk about the beginnings our hopes and dreams during this season of growth. For Litha, we talk about the abundance of fruits, vegetables, and flowers all around us. We talk about the sun being closest to the Earth and how strong the rays feel on our skin. For all of the holidays, we typically incorporate some sort of food dish to finish off the celebrations and tie it all together. For my family, there is no better way to bring the family together than to combine ingredients and good intentions in something delicious to be eaten.
We include as much of Nature as we can into our celebrations. It makes them appreciate all the Earth has given us and it makes me look crafty- as in a bit like Martha Stewart! We try to use these things from Nature in art projects or as decorations on our kitchen island/altar. According to my son, being outside is �the best� and I like to bring the outside in. So we are usually busy gathering wildflowers or herbs, pinecones, rocks and branches to use in crafts. I can also teach my children simple things about the properties of crystals and herbs. In doing so, they are learning to understand correspondences, as well as a reverence for the Earth�s gifts.
However, I worry about the implications of doing this. I worry about the message I am sending to my children. Am I demonstrating strength of character by hiding my faith? Am I teaching them to stand up for themselves, what they believe in despite opposition, and possibly being ostracized? Or am I teaching them to try and be more mainstream in order to keep the peace? These are not really the lessons that I wish to pass along to my kids. But Mother Hen protection comes into play with here. If I could be sure my children would be safe, I could be open with our traditions and celebrations. And only then I would be more comfortable.
Sometimes I feel like I am compromising much of my religion. Other times I feel as if
these types of adjustments and simplifications are not that difficult for me, as I am not Wiccan, but a green/kitchen witch sort. So by following my own Path, I feel very free to adapt traditions, projects and concepts to my own needs. It makes it easier for me as well as my family. And for their sake, as well as mine, we will continue to celebrate our special days, tucked in our Cozy Family Closet.
