Pagan Parenting Book

[Litha]

Pagan Parenting:
Spiritual, Magical & Emotional Development of the Child
by Kristen Madden

A refreshing departure from other parenting books. Explores advanced spiritual concepts and relates them to children and their primary caregivers. From pregnancy to adulthood, esoteric and mundane topics are explored. Exercises and examples are provided for pathworking with your child. Highly recommended.

I am please to see this books is out before I bear any children.
I have never encountered a parenting book that deals with the spiritual energies of the unborn baby. This book spends a great deal of time in this discussion, which I found fascinating.

Pagan Parenting is a book for the eclectic Pagan. The author, Ms. Madden, is a shamanic Druid, according to the book jacket. I hadn't studied much of this path previously, but as a very eclectic Wiccan myself, I was drawn to the pathworking, and dreamworking that was discussed.

Rather than spend time with the annual cycle of celebrations and crafts and recipes, this book explores other topics, such as "Meeting your child's Spirit Guides", Festival communities, and Rites of passage. I particularly liked having the basic structure for a pet's funeral. (It's not something I need to do today, but I know that hamsters and frogs and fish don't have extremely long life spans.)

The book is organized into the following topics:

Incarnation
Development of energy systems
Innate psychic abilities
Protection and Grounding
Health and healing
The family connection
Children and community
Handling the tough questions
Spirituality
Religion
Honesty vs. secrecy (i.e. to Out or not to Out)
Rites of Passage (including an Abortion Healing ritual - something that I think was very well done)
Comprehensive reading lists, contact lists, and references

[reanna]

Oh this sounds wonderful! I will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing.

[Faery-Wings]

Litha, don't you also have Circle Round? Sorry if you don't and then disregard this! LOL
I want to start adding to my book collection some good Pagan Parenting books. Money sadly keeps me from snatching up all of them ;) Would you recommend this one over Circle Round? I saw Circle Round at Barnes and Noble and liked at (and put it back, due to lack of funds...). Or is there another book you would say is best as a first book?

Thanks and BB

Chris
:sunny:

[Litha]

MM Chris,
I would reccommend Circle Round first!

Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions
by Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill
If you can only afford one book, make it this one. I know it's price-y with a $25.95 US sticker price, but they went whole hog with this one. This is sure to be a standard along the lines of The Spiral Dance .

The most comprehensive family pagan resource I've seen to date. Stories, songs, projects, recipies, rituals. You name it, it's in here. Highest Recommendation.

Book Design. The pages are high-quality semi-gloss with a cream color and green ink. The ink and the typeface are very easy on the eye. The drawings are very nice. The hard, cloth cover and library-quality binding make this a book that will last for a long time.

As far as content goes, this volume is fantastic. 439 pages of stories, songs, rituals, advice, recipies, projects and explanations of the holidays. All interspersed with anecdotes from the 3 authors about their own lives and families.

"Part One: Welcome to the Circle" explains what the Goddess tradition is, and why it's important to hand down traditions to our children. Also contains the basic "tools" for rituals and projects found later in the book.

"Part Two: Cycles of the Sun and Moon" contains chapters devoted to the lunar and solar cycles - and the rituals and holidays associated with each. Each sabbat is given a chapter, with explanations suitable for children of all ages, stories illustrating the holiday, music and lyrics for songs, projects, recipies for special holiday foods, and special altar items.

"Part Three: The Life Cycle" explains the various stages of a person's life, and the rituals associated with them. Notable are the section on teenage sexuality, written by a teen, and rituals for divorce, handfasting, adoption, and death.

"Part Four: Circle of Elements" describes the 5 elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

A comprehensive index is also included (I use sticky-note tabs).

Save your lunch money if you have to, but get this book, or get your library to get it.


p.s. If you get to read this today (Friday July 20th New Moon Cancer) I invite you to meet with us at the B+N in Long Branch tonight at 7pm.
A group of NJ women began last month to meet at least monthly with hopes of creating a study group/circle. Some are mother's, some not yet; people from all over the state have shown interest with Long Branch as the central point.

[Faery-Wings]

MM Litha,

Thanks so much for all that information. I do reward progrmas online for a little extra $$ and I just cashed out for a $25 gift cert. to B& N. As soon as it comes in the mail, I know what I am doing with it. :)

I would love to come down to Long Branch. Unfortunately, I am probably at least 1.5 hours a way (that's with no traffic!) so Iwon't be able to make it, but thanks so much for the invite! I hope you all have fun tonight.

BB

Chris

[reanna]

I have circle round! I love it! So do my munchkins! They really like the stories too.

After the last full moon, we came home and read the story. I had 2 totally captivated little sweeties who pleasantly drifted off into moontime sleep mode.
It was a wonderful night. They are still talking about it. They are so excited about the next full. It falls on my dd 6th birthday!

[Faery-Wings]

Originally posted by reanna
I have circle round! I love it! So do my munchkins! They really like the stories too.

After the last full moon, we came home and read the story. I had 2 totally captivated little sweeties who pleasantly drifted off into moontime sleep mode.
It was a wonderful night. They are still talking about it. They are so excited about the next full. It falls on my dd 6th birthday!

That sounds so sweet!

My hubby just told me to go ahead and buy a bunch of books I want. B&N.com is doing free shipping. Oh I am so tempted, but don't want to blow up the credit card or have a heart attack when the bill comes in. Finances suck!

I should have my gift cert. in a few weeks, so I have to be patient and wait. Thanks for the recommendations. :)

Chris

[Selenia]

I purchased a copy used. Why someone would sell their copy I'm not sure, other than that their children have grown. Now I have to wait for it to arrive in the mail :rolleyes:
Reanna, could you please post from the book any activities, songs, fun things for Lammas?