Litha
July 23rd, 2001, 08:40 AM
This is a lovely piece on Raising Pagan Princesses
by Rebecca Schmacher
Giving birth to two females has probably been the most earth-shaking episode(s) of my Life. Not only have I taken part in the process of Creation, I now must be responsible for all aspects of these princesses' lives until they may fly under their own power. To gently endow them with positive knowledge, to let them know that anything is possible, to love and protect them in all ways.
When my younger one was not quite two she climbed to the top bunk of my niece's bed, put her arms up to the ceiling and head up high and proclaimed "I am the Goddess!". . .Wowza! I am sure I had never done that in front of her, and spoke very quietly at times of my Higher Power...so I was/am in for a wild ride. I call it 'Ms. Toad's Wyld Ryde'...my Life, such as it is.
At my sister Kathryn's house (very Christian, Sunday school, etc.) with 14 of us all together, with my children and I the only pagans, my girls naturally interpreted the grace said before dinner as "Goddess great, Goddess good, now we thank Her for our food, amen." There was delight and laughter when everyone heard this, and that's what it's all about, anyway.
My girls ask about church and have gone a few times, and I answer their questions. I leave their belief pathways open, but hold their hands with mine as I say devotions...I afford them the opportunity to learn about other belief-systems if the opportunities arise, and am happy to learn more myself. I am secure in my belief and acceptance of Goddess, and I feel filled from within when performing ritual/creating artwork, which are the same thing to me, really.
I feel my girls are being given the advantages and gentleness that I lacked as a child...to feel free to make their own choices, guided by mine. Tessa and Riley look at the sky above them, the grass waving in the wind, the crabs sidling along on the beach and Riley looks at me and tells me that "Goddess made all of this. We are part of Goddess."
It's not too difficult raising Pagan Princesses...I try to fill them with patience, love, tolerance and understanding...and avoid all mention of 'shame'. They are six and eight now, and see books of nudes and half sculpted naked beings lying about, faeries and gnomes, dragons and the like and are able to appreciate the Wonder of the World around them, and let their imaginations soar. I am truly blessed to have these girls in my Life...and look forward to the future with them.
by Rebecca Schmacher
Giving birth to two females has probably been the most earth-shaking episode(s) of my Life. Not only have I taken part in the process of Creation, I now must be responsible for all aspects of these princesses' lives until they may fly under their own power. To gently endow them with positive knowledge, to let them know that anything is possible, to love and protect them in all ways.
When my younger one was not quite two she climbed to the top bunk of my niece's bed, put her arms up to the ceiling and head up high and proclaimed "I am the Goddess!". . .Wowza! I am sure I had never done that in front of her, and spoke very quietly at times of my Higher Power...so I was/am in for a wild ride. I call it 'Ms. Toad's Wyld Ryde'...my Life, such as it is.
At my sister Kathryn's house (very Christian, Sunday school, etc.) with 14 of us all together, with my children and I the only pagans, my girls naturally interpreted the grace said before dinner as "Goddess great, Goddess good, now we thank Her for our food, amen." There was delight and laughter when everyone heard this, and that's what it's all about, anyway.
My girls ask about church and have gone a few times, and I answer their questions. I leave their belief pathways open, but hold their hands with mine as I say devotions...I afford them the opportunity to learn about other belief-systems if the opportunities arise, and am happy to learn more myself. I am secure in my belief and acceptance of Goddess, and I feel filled from within when performing ritual/creating artwork, which are the same thing to me, really.
I feel my girls are being given the advantages and gentleness that I lacked as a child...to feel free to make their own choices, guided by mine. Tessa and Riley look at the sky above them, the grass waving in the wind, the crabs sidling along on the beach and Riley looks at me and tells me that "Goddess made all of this. We are part of Goddess."
It's not too difficult raising Pagan Princesses...I try to fill them with patience, love, tolerance and understanding...and avoid all mention of 'shame'. They are six and eight now, and see books of nudes and half sculpted naked beings lying about, faeries and gnomes, dragons and the like and are able to appreciate the Wonder of the World around them, and let their imaginations soar. I am truly blessed to have these girls in my Life...and look forward to the future with them.