Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

When I started out to write this, it was supposed to be about pagan parenting. About three sentences in I realized I had NO idea what I was talking about. You'd think it would be easy; I meet the criteria, I'm pagan and a parent, just add water and stir. Yet I just could not come up with enough to make a great article about the subject, but I think what I am about to write may be of more interest.

About four years ago I met this girl, she eventually became my best friend and she was the first one who opened up my eyes to the possibility of a world outside of Christianity. Until that point I was what I jokingly call "uninformed", I was Presbyterian. Born into it, baptized and married in it, although never satisfied by it. I was not a regular church attendee and when I was there all I did was sit there and listen to all the questions in my head: Why do they know the exact date Jesus was born, but every year Easter, the day he died, is different? Why do they preach to love your fellow man and then talk about a God that flooded and killed people who didn't solely believe in Him? Women hold the power of childbirth inside them and yet God, the all powerful, is male? I simply never felt comforted by the church. It felt like I was wearing a pair of jeans that someone had put in the dryer, not tight but you wouldn't want to lounge around in them.

My friend took me to Pagan Pride Day in Vermont and I felt great, I stumbled through my first spiral dance and laughed along with others as they did the same. After that I sought out others like me and was invited to attend a Samhain ritual, that night I realized I had found a pair of jeans that always fit (sorry ladies, it's only metaphoric). A group of people who think like I do and see the female aspect of religion. I found the section of the bookstore I never knew existed and began scarfing up books as though my life depended on it. I found a place and a feeling that I wanted to share with my daughter. I started by buying mythology books for kids. My daughter began asking questions simply from reading these books. So I answered her questions about different gods and goddesses.

It was a lot easier before she started school; once there, the other kids are a big influence. After September 11th, religion became important to all the kids and, of course, she asked me why we don't believe in Jesus. I told her that it's not that we don't believe in him. I, personally, believe he was a great man who helped a lot of people, which is why they wrote stories about him. However, I went on to tell her that there were lots of men who were just as great and then I read her stories of Gilgamesh, Heracles and Icarus. Luckily, she didn't ask why their pictures weren't on the cover of Reader's Digest, because I hadn't thought much further ahead for an answer! I do find myself thinking back on what I used to be diluted into believing. I attended a Christening for the little baby for which I nanny. Once finished, the Priest said that the family could take their little Heathen home a proper Christian boy. For a split second, I breathed a sigh of relief that my own daughter had been baptized. Then I caught myself - why did I care? What? Just in case I'm wrong, I don't want her to go to Hell? If you follow that train of thought, I should have her promised to every god in the world! Maybe everybody is wrong. Maybe everybody is right. None of us can be sure! But that split second of doubt made me think about the night before, watching my child run around happy and safe amongst my family, amongst you, at Lughnasadah. I realized that it doesn't matter whether we are wrong or right or upside down and backwards - we are happy and I think that is what pagan parenting is all about.

- Mandi Viva

Return to HVPN Home Page

This page visited  times.

Last Updated: September 28, 2003
Copyright 2001-2002 - Hudson Valley Pagan Network