Family Practices

[branynos]

Leading on from the druidry thread. I'm wondering what if anyone does as a family practice.

Things we do.
We have a family shrine, it took a long time to find the right place to put it.
I found if the shrine was in the main living room it just ended up covered in clutter (small children don't really get the idea of reserved space) put in one of the less used rooms it tended to be forgotten except by the cats who had a field day with the feathers. We finally found the right home for it, which is in the hall.
You can't get anywhere in the house without passing it , you can see it from every room if the door is open (as I sit here typing its a quick glance to my right).

Two candles are lit most nights (it should be every night but if I'm in and out with shopping etc I worry about candles burning) One of them is mine which usually burns out before I go to bed, the second one is my sons which he blows out on the way to bed.

In the living room we have the candle tree which we 'dress' at each festival of the wheel (I know the wheel is a modern construct but I like it). Its currently dressed for imbolc which means loads of glass and crystal icicle decorations to celebrate the thaw.

I'd like to have a feast at each festival but my son is whats known as a 'picky eater' and solo feasting is no fun, I keep trying though

Theres other stuff but thats a start.

[blackwitch]

my hubby is wiccan too so we do rituals together. not as often as we used to before the kids arrived though, its hard to get any peace and quiet

we try to involve the kids in little things liek decordating the altar, going on nature walks and things. we don't allow them to take part in rituals yet, we don't feel they are old enough to understand yet.

bb Moira

[branynos]

black_witch said:

my hubby is wiccan too so we do rituals together. not as often as we used to before the kids arrived though, its hard to get any peace and quiet

Isn't it just . How old are your children?

we try to involve the kids in little things liek decordating the altar, going on nature walks and things. we don't allow them to take part in rituals yet, we don't feel they are old enough to understand yet.

bb Moira

When my son was younger I was lucky enough to be working with a group that had a number of children so for the big festivals we'd do a child friendly afternoon working, really just a big party with games, as a way of introducing them to the myths.
He's 12 now and I still do some with /for him that focus on things he wants to deal with like bullying but I also do deeper 'grown up' workings when he's asleep.

[Blackbird]

I don't have any kids - apart from the big kid who is my boyfriend ;D

When we met (six years ago now), I told him that I was polytheist and explained about my faith. He asked some polite questions, but it's never been something that he's wanted to get more involved with.

I still get him involved with some celebrations though - I just have to think of some secular activities. For example, at Calan Gaeaf, we had a big feast with a plate laid for our ancestors, and I persuaded him to join in the toasting etc.

The other thing that he witnesses is me leaving offerings for the Brownie who lives in our house. Despite making his presence felt, he doesn't believe the Brownie really exists, but he does humour me occasionally...

[siaron]

Blackbird said:

The other thing that he witnesses is me leaving offerings for the Brownie who lives in our house. Despite making his presence felt, he doesn't believe the Brownie really exists, but he does humour me occasionally...

LOL! I'm constantly complaining about how lazy my house faeries are--I mean, not even a tiny pair of shoes! This is probably why-lack of offerings. I'll have to try it.

We are fully immersed in 'practices'....from full moon prayers to altars to protection (medicine necklaces), to smudging daily...as well as observing various dates on the calendar, including Calon Mai, Calon Gaef, Imbolc, and Lughnasagh (sp?!)--(sorry, it's too early in the morning!)--and the midwinter and summer solstices

For Imbolc my daughter and I like to pour some milk on the ground, and for Harvest, we make grain dollies. Calon Mai my 'tribe' has a feast and some of us celebrate traditionally in the woods ; in other words, it's pretty much a daily thing with my family.

My tribe also do our sweat lodge ceremonies weekly and then of course we do the Vision Quest during the summer solstice.

Bendithion,

Siaron