Helping your child be more spiritual: Lesson 1-Faith

"Children don't come with a handbook."- My dad and hero, Jimmy M.



And boy, is my dad right! Raising children is probably the most difficult job we will ever be given, and yet, it is also the most rewarding. Watching your own child grow, and learn, and live is the purest form of joy and love we could ever feel. Having three boys of my own, I have felt these blessings first hand. I have empathized with their sorrows, and shared in their happiness. However, I have also felt fear. Fear of what our often hard and cruel world will do to them. Fear of what the peer pressures and fast paced technological world will turn my sweet, innocent boys into.

But no matter how dark or scary my fears, I will always have faith. And that is where I shall start. Because even through all the negative and evil energy that can surround and consume us, there must always be faith. Faith in a Higher Power, and faith in ourselves. And no matter your religion, or denomination, our children must learn spiritual awareness, for that is the true foundation for personal growth and development.

Over the course of a few weeks, I would love to share with you all, some simple ways to build a spiritual bridge for your children. Not only will it give your family the stepping stones needed for a healthy relationship, but it will help you along your own personal path as well. These lessons will be a learning experience for us all, me included. I am in no form or fashion, assuming that my way is the best way. These are merely simple exercises that you can do with your children in your own time, with the hopes that you can boost their self esteem, their confidence, and their connection with the Higher Powers that Be. They are Mother Earth's future protectors, may we teach them the best that we can.

Lesson 1- Faith

Faith can be defined as a noun as having a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence. But also as a verb, as being able to act on what we believe.

Exercise:

Take your children outside with a blanket, and find a shaded tree to sit under. Have them sit still and quiet for a moment, eyes closed, as they listen to the things around them. With their eyes still closed, ask them if they can feel the wind through their hair, on their cheeks. Ask them if they can hear the wind rustling the leaves, blowing through the branches of the tree. Now, have them open their eyes, and ask them if they can see the wind. We can see it blowing the leaves, and maybe even the wind chimes. But can we really see it? The answer is no. We cannot physically see the wind. But yet, we know it is there. Moving the clouds above us, pushing the birds through the sky. We know it exists, even though it doesn't have a shape or form of its own. This is faith. We have faith that the wind is there, moving all around us at all times, even though we can't see it. 

Next, you can take a small moment with them, to discuss the many names we use to identify The Higher Powers that Be. Explain how people worship many different Gods and Goddesses, all from very different countries, and all with different names for God and Spirit. Explain that there are many different religions, and none of them are right or wrong. Some examples are Christianity, God and Jesus. Catholic and Mother Mary. Buddha, Allah. Even Zeus and Greek mythology. Give detailed descriptions of what these Gods have been assumed of looking like, and what The Higher Powers do. I personally, imagine a Higher Power, that is neither male or female, it's not even human. It is simply pure, raw, colorful energy. It is the purest form of creation you could ever imagine, that radiates above us, a thousand times brighter and warmer than our own Sun. That is "God" to me. However you see your God, explain that to your children, yet be sure to leave it open-ended, so that they may come to their own conclusions. Don't forget to include the fact that Spirit is also a power that is felt within us, radiating from us always. This will lead us into the Activity.

Activity:  

You will need:

white typing paper

water colors and brushes

crayons

map pencils

markers

glitter, glue, or foam stickers

Bring the supplies outside with you, weather permitting, or you can go back inside for this activity.

Have your kiddos think back to faith, and what it means to them. Then have them remember all the different concepts of God. Have them think about the love and creation that God emits. When they are ready, have them paint God in their own eyes. Or they can write the word FAITH and decorate it how they wish, as a reminder of the love and trust we have for forces unseen. When they are finished, let the painting dry, and hang it where it can be seen, so your children will have a daily reminder of faith and eternal love for the things that cannot be seen with the eyes, but only felt with the heart. 

Up-coming Lessons:

~ Learning the Importance of Prayer

~Making a Prayer Altar and the Importance of Honoring Deity

If you have a topic you would love to know about, or one that you have studied, in regards to helping your children cross the Spiritual Bridge, please email me or comment below! I am always open to topics and ideas!  Thank you, and Namaste!

*Please keep in mind that these lessons are non-denominational, and do not conform to any one specific religion or faith*

Ritual: New Moon/New Year- How to Make a Witches' Ladder

Blessings to you all, for a New Year full of good health, prosperity, and all your hearts desires!! January 1st, 2014, will mark the first day in 19 years, that a New Moon has kicked off a brand new year!! Use this rare energy to your advantage, and make time to pray or meditate on the things you wish to manifest in 2014! New Moon energy is used for fresh starts, new beginnings, and new goals. Combined with the Capricorn's influence of ambition, organization, and careers, the stars are perfectly aligned, we must simply tap into that energy provided to us and use it wisely!

Below is another ritual from my personal collection, and seemed perfect for this special occasion. It uses the same basic  ritual outline from a former post, 'Finding Your Own Zen', so please reference back to the bottom of that post for that outline, and as always, feel free to add this ritual to your own personal collection :)

New Moon Rite & Witches Ladder

 

*Make sure you gather all your materials, and have your altar set up, prior to beginning. It is frowned upon to leave the circle once it has been cast! I usually set my altar up in the east, however I have also set it up in the North, depending on the need. You will need one cord of your choice (string, rope, twine, etc.) of about 12 inches long.

 

 

Clear and release before you begin any magic works by sitting quietly, and clearing your mind, sending all worry and doubt out into the Universe, to be recycled into positive energy.

 

Sweep The Circle

Anoint & smudge yourself and anyone else participating

Bless your water and salt, then sprinkle around the perimeter, while reciting the incantation provided in my Basic Outline

Cast the Circle

Call the Quarters

Invocation of the God and Goddess

Light the God and Goddess candles (if any)

New Moon Invocation

New Moon, moon of promise

your reappearance reminds me

that I can always begin anew

for although things change

they also come 'round again

to a point of new beginnings

new directions, second chances

 

Light the New Moon candle
 

O Moon of inspiration

look graciously upon our dreams

O Moon of increase

look kindly upon our efforts

as we commit ourselves

to a new personal phase of growth

 

Witches Ladder

 

{Begin by placing yourself in a comfortable position, then clear and release. Now imagine a ball of golden light in your Heart Chakra.}
 

Say:

"Behold, I am One with the powers of the Universe."

 

{Now imagine that ball of light growing larger and brighter, radiating out in all directions like a sun inside you. Let the ball of light grow to fill your chest, growing stronger and stronger as it does so.

Now take your cord and place it before you.

　 Make three Tuathail, or counter-clockwise, circles above the cord with your hand.}
Say:

"Behold, I cleanse and purify you, sending out for you any impurities which may lie within"

 

 {Imagine the cord surrounded by a golden light. Imagine it shining brightly, then let the image fade.

　 Now make three Deosil, or clockwise, circles above the cord}　

Say:

"Behold, I bless and consecrate you to this purpose!"

 

{Imagine the cord surrounded by a blue-white light, shining brightly. Again hold the image for a moment, then let it fade.}

　Now take the cord in your two hands, or hold your hands to either side of it (palms facing it).　 Imagine a ball of white light between your hands, surrounding the cord.　 Concentrate on the goal you wish to bring about through this spell -focus as hard as you can on the goal for several minutes.　 Imagine the goal inside the ball of light, or some image that represents the goal. See the goal as you want it to be when it is already accomplished and complete -if your goal is to gain a skill for example, imagine yourself already proficient in it. As you imagine this, know that this goal is already accomplished and only needs to be drawn into physical manifestation.

　 Now let the image of the goal and the ball of light fade, and take up your cord. Continue to focus on your goal, seeing it already accomplished.

　 Still concentrating on the goal, take the cord and tie a knot near one end of it.}

　 Say:

"By Knot of One, the spells begun."

 

{Imagine yourself one step closer to having your goal.}

 

 Now tie a second knot a short distance from the first, and say:

　

"By knot of Two, no power undo."

 

Focus even more strongly on the goal, knowing that each knot draws it closer.

Tie a third knot, and say:

 "By knot of Three, so mote it be."　

 

With each knot know that your goal comes closer to you, imagine it more strongly and know that it is truly yours.　

Tie the fourth knot, saying:

　

 "By knot of Four, open the door."

 

Then the fifth:

 "By knot of Five, it comes alive."

 

The sixth:

　  "By knot of Six, the spell is fixed."

 

The seventh:

　 "By knot of Seven, the boon is given."

 

The eighth:

　 "By knot of Eight, decreed by Fate."

 

And lastly tie the ninth knot:

　 "By knot of Nine, now it is mine!"

 

{Now once again imagine white light all around the knotted cord, and place your hands above or beside the cord with palms facing it.　 Again imagine the image of your goal very strongly.　 Then release all of your focused energy and concentration directly into the cord -do this just as you do when you clear and release before or after any working:　 imagine the energy flowing out of you in the form of light or water.　

　 When all of the energy has flowed from you into the knotted cord, take it and seal it in a safe place.　

It is best to bury it in the Earth, and especially good if you can bury it at the foot of a tree.　 This symbolizes the physical manifestation of the goal.}　

 

 

Dismiss the quarters and release the circle

 

The circle is open, but not unbroken
　　　　 may the love of the God and Goddess be forever in our hearts
　　　　 Merry ye meet, and merry ye part
　　　　 and merry ye meet again!