Teaching my neice magick

[ViolinGoddess]

Okay, here is my hypothetical situation. My sister and her husband just had a little girl. She's 3 1/2 month old now, so I know this is a ways off, but humor me. I'm the only non-mundane person in my family. Most of my family is religious (christian/liberal) of some kind. My sister and her husband are not particualrly. My sister feels kind of weird about my chosen path (a christian witch), but she accepts me and doesn't question it. My question to you guys is what if, when my little neice is older, she asks me about my spiritual path or practicing magick? What if she's interested in learning more about magick or paganism? What if she wants to lean fromn me? My spiritaul path is not a path my sister really wants her children to travel. I don't want to go against my sister's wishes and encourage the path. But at the same time, I want to be there for my neice if she is thinking about following a pagan path. I would rather that I guide her than just anyone.

I have brought this thought up with my sister and she says that it firstly depends on what age she is if/when this happens. She said that if she was in high school, then she thought she would be old enough to make her own decisions about such things. But if she was any younger, then she would rather than I came to my sister first to talk it over. From there it got kind of vague. Now mind you, this whole situation might never happen. But I'd like to be prepared for it if it does.

Does anyone have any advice for me in this situation? I'd be really grateful!

Violin Goddess

[Shanti]

Well if it ever happens, follow your sisters wishes. It is her child after all.
Plus creating static wouldn't help anyone.

[moonbride]

Yeah I would definitely say you have to go with your sister's wishes. It's not right to teach a child something their parent doesn't want them to know. If after she was grown and of age and still wanted to know, then it would be ok.

[Jolantru]

It's best to go with your sister's wishes, because the little girl is her daughter. However, you can teach her (when she grows) to love Nature by showing her plants and animals/wildlife living in her area. Likewise, you can also instil the love for things natural by showing her examples. You are also her role model, when she grows up. The best people she would learn from are your sister and you.

Cheers,
Jolantru

[maeli]

what they said..

[Calen]

Until your niece is old enough to make her own decisions, you should defer to your sister's wishes on the subject. I'm sure she won't ask you to lie if your niece asks you questions, but given that she isn't comfortable with it, I doubt she would want you to go into details either.

[MankyCat]

Something to be aware of is the laws in your area. In some places, it is illegal to teach religion to a child without the parent's (or legal guardian's) consent. Also remember that if you overstep your bounds too far, your sister might limit how often you get to see your niece.

I have the same problem, honestly... only slightly different. My sister, while pregnant with my oldest niece, told me that I could teach my niece my path if she seemed interested. After my niece was born, that changed a bit. So, whatever your sister says now might be different (for better or worse) later on. I know my sister decided she didn't want her child to learn that stuff as of yet... and I know there's underlying issues as to why. In time, we'll see what happens.

Funny thing is, in the past, I was very careful in what I tell my niece or let her see. She knows I'm a witch and wants to show me off to all her friends, which I have yet to let her do. She has seen only a couple of my tools, and only recently. But she loves dressing like a witch on halloween, has "witch stockings" she used to wear all the time (they were black stockings with tons of holes that she put in them) until my sister threw them out for being ruined. She made potions (and called them potions) for very specific reasons and drew down the instructions (she was 5-ish at the time). She loves crystals of all kinds. And she loves her witch movies and witch dolls (some of which were bought by my sister for me, but somehow became my niece's... which is fine by me). She's 7 now.

She asks me to teach her to be a witch, but I explain to her that she's still too young. Instead, I will explain things to her in very simple terms. I explain that things aren't always like they are in the movies. I have no problem with her seeing my herbs and stones and such. I have nothing to hide from her. But as I said before, I just let her know she's too young right now to go deeper. I answer questions, and that suits her fine right now. I tell her that in time, if she's serious, I might. When I decide that time has come, I'll ask my sister if it's okay to guide her. Right now I'd prefer to live in the fantasy land of magic she created. I had one too, which led me to where I'm at. It's a good place to be for her age, enchanted, intrigued, and safe.

The thing that works in my favor is that I do discipline her. Teach her to be respectful, of her mother and siblings and others. I teach her that she doesn't always get what she wants, that she has to deal with the consequences of her actions (good or bad), that she has to clean up her own messes, and so forth. Both her parents applauded me for this sort of thing... and I'm known as the person that can get her to behave and do what she should do or find out what's wrong if something's troubling her. And the best part is that my niece adores me and respects me more than anyone else (which her own mother has told me).

The best thing you can do is be a good example and role model to her and be there for her. That will be more valuable in the long run than anything else you would teach her.

[Semjaza]

The best thing you can do is be a good example and role model to her and be there for her. That will be more valuable in the long run than anything else you would teach her.

This is just what I wanted to say. :)

Whether or not one of my nieces ever becomes interested in witchcraft, it's not my place to have anything to do with them involving that topic without their parents' specific permission. I wouldn't like it if someone began teaching my (hypothetical) young children anything about religion/magic/cults without my knowledge or consent. I'd be pretty pissed off if someone did.

I don't teach my nieces or younger brothers about witchcraft. I teach them the names of birds, animals, and plants; what berries or plants you can eat and what ones are poisonous; that they should always be kind to animals; that jewelweed gets rid of the sting of poison ivy; when to look for fireflies; how to pick up a kitten or snake or frog without hurting it; how to give a horse a treat; how to tell what phase the moon is in; the names of the constellations; the rhymes for ravens and crows; how to kill a caught fish quickly so it doesn't suffer, to be respectful of its death, and to make sure that it is eaten so that its life wasn't wasted...

I just try and show them that I love nature, and that I have a reverence for all life. Sometimes we talk about dreams, but we don't talk about spirits or ghosts 'cause it's so easy for them to be scared, and they're all so much more psychic than me anyway. It's rather disconcerting when they wave or smile at people you can't see, or talk about the 'lights in the woods,' or have a steadfast belief in reincarnation without ever been told about it....

So yeah, what Yuli wrote... :)

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

[David19]

they're all so much more psychic than me anyway. It's rather disconcerting when they wave or smile at people you can't see, or talk about the 'lights in the woods,' or have a steadfast belief in reincarnation without ever been told about it....

So yeah, what Yuli wrote... :)

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

I agree with what everyone else here said, and what Semjaza said, about not teaching your nieces witchcraft without their parents permission (unless of course, they're 18 and so can do what they want), maybe teach them about small things, if their parents don't mind (like maybe teaching them about things they can pick in the wild and which ones to avoid, etc).

Anyway, hope i've helped a bit :).

BTW, can i just say, Semjaza, you're family sounds really cool if your nephews and nieces (and brothers) have psychic abilities, i don't have any brothers or sisters, but i kind of wish that my family had something like that :).

[Aleannah]

first off, follow your sister's wishes - at least she's open to the idea. The only other thing you can do is show her how you do things, and be able to explain why. Children are very interested in different ways of doing things, and that will also give her info to make up her own mind at a later date. But, always be open and honest with your sister when it comes to her child. :hugz;

[ViolinGoddess]

It's rather disconcerting when they wave or smile at people you can't see, or talk about the 'lights in the woods,' or have a steadfast belief in reincarnation without ever been told about it....


Why is that disconcerting? I think it's wonderful! It shows that they are intune and not just mundane like the rest of my family.

And BTW, I I'm not talking about teching a 6 year old child about magick. I know how young is too young. I'm talking about a child in junior high school. Versus in high school.

Violin Goddess