The Honey or Mead Moon is a time of transformation. A time to give thanks to Nature and the magickal creatures and folk who protect nature with their lives. This ritual will combine both the Cherokee and Celtic ways and Pantheons.

Supplies:

*Honeyed Wine (use sangria, pour two cups into a decanter or bottle add 4 tblsp honey, add orange slices, lemon slices and a tblsp lime juice. Fill bottle ¾ of the way with the wine)

Fruit Bread (banana, currant, berries etc. Muffins will work)

Drizzle with… Real butter & Honey

Candles -

Green, Yellow, Blue and Red

Orange

Purple

White

Salt, silver, rosemary and sage mix (use silver glitter or fairy dust)

Incense should be musk, sandalwood or amber or a rich a heady incense.

Decorate your altar with flowers or petals and new fruit. This ritual does not use stones or crystals unless they are wands.

Place the Orange, Purple and White candles in the center of the elemental circle of the

Yellow in the North for Air

Red in the East for Fire

Green in the South for Earth

Blue in the east for Water

HP - We are gathered here together to give worship to the Lord and Lady. To give praise and offering to the spirits of nature who are called by many names.

HPS - Our circle we cast with the blessing herbs of Rosemary and Sage, with sacred salt and an offering of silver. (casts circle with mix)

HP - We call to the four corners, to the elements of life. We ask that they bless us in this our transition from new life to growth along the Path of the Lord and Lady.

We call to Air, our Guardian to the North, she who blows away the cobwebs of confusion and whispers her blessings on the breeze. May she guide us in her wisdom and give us the winds of change. (light yellow candle)

We call to Fire, our Guardian to the East, she who raises the sun and shines upon us with all her glory. May she fill us with her strength and energy, giving us her fire in body spirit and soul. (light red candle)

We call to Earth, our Guardian to the South, she the great mother who nourishes and protects us, shelters and guides us. May she grant us the peace of her valleys and the strength of her mountains. (light green candle)

We call to Water, our Guardian to the West, she the glorious cleanser of all life, she who rules in both realms of earth and air. May she grant us her purification that we come with a clean spirit and soul. (light blue candle)

HPS - The circle is cast now ones times four, may all who are gathered here be blessed and safe within this sacred circle.

HP - We offer our praise and thanks to the creatures of the Earth. Those who nourish us and guard us. Those who teach us and guide us. The Raven, The Salamander, The Dragonfly and The Turtle, those who represent each aspect of the creatures who abide on this Earth with us. We lift them before the Lord and Lady for their love to shine down upon them. (light orange candle)

HPS - We offer praise to the folk of the land. Those who cannot be seen in the mortal world unless they have granted their blessing. The Faeries, The Elvin, The Gnome and The Merfolk who represent each aspect of those who keep the world in harmony. We lift them before the Lord and Lady for their love to shine down upon them. (light purple candle)

ALL - We offer praise to the Lord and Lady, they who are called by many names. To grant us their blessing and guide us through spirit and worship. We give thanks for the new life we see around us, for their blessing on a fruitful life and their love always. (light white candle)

HP - I lift this wine to the Lord and Lady, an offering prepared for them in the old ways and set out to share with those most beloved by them. (all take sip of wine )

HPS - I offer this bread made with the fruit of the earth, the toil of its creatures and the consecration of worship. (all take a bite of bread)

ALL - To the Lord and Lady on this Full Moon we offer our praise and thanksgiving for your love and guidance. We beseech those creatures and folk we have lifted up to you to partake in this offering and bless our homes throughout.

Our praise we offer

To those above

To shine down

Their everlasting love.

Our gifts we offer

To those around

To protect and guard

As the wheel turns round.

We offer wine and bread

And ask that it be seen

As a sacred offering

For As I Will

So Mote It Be!

This time is open to all members to give thanks or praise in their own words.

We close this circle, that what has been wrought here will stay in motion until we meet again this time next year. May this Circle hold true the worship and praise that has been offered and may those who we have brought before the Lord and Lady be appeased and pleased with our offering for this coming year.

We give thanks to Water, our Guardian to the West, for her cleansing and purification of those assembled here.

ALL - Go in Hope and Love. (extinguish blue candle)

We give thanks to Earth, our Guardian to the South, for her strength and the peace granted.

ALL - Go in Peace and Love. (extinguish green candle)

We give thanks to Fire, our Guardian to the East, for her glory and power that she has shared.

ALL - Go in Light and Love. (extinguish red candle)

We give thanks to Air, our Guardian to the North, for the wisdom and change she has blown into us.

ALL - Go in Faith and Love. (extinguish yellow candle)

© 2004 Khara Siochain O’Taryn

Two Simple Steps to Introduce Young children to the Path

 The First Step

A basic core belief that is shared by both the Wiccan, Pagan and Native American Paths is the love and worship of nature. This is a wonderful first step to introducing even your youngest toddler to the Wiccan way of life. It also allows you time outdoors with your child or children and gives you a chance to enjoy the beauty and glory of nature as well. Small bug-catching kits are available at many stores nationwide. This gives your child a chance to study these small miracles up close and then release them back to their natural habitat. Explain to your child that all life is sacred, and while we may observe, we must also return with a thank-you. Catching lightening bugs and putting them in a jar is wonderful fun for both of you. Again, let them go before you go inside.

Make up a picnic for you and your children, decide where you are going, and have your children help you pack what the nature around you would like for picnic as well. Bread or seeds for the birds, water for the trees, if there are squirrels, peanuts or walnuts. Enjoy your lunch while teaching your children to care for the world around them. Even to shaking out your picnic blanket and leaving food for the ants.

Pinecone, peanut butter and birdseed bird feeders are an excellent way to teach your child to care for the God/Goddess’ small creatures. On a walk have your child pick up a few large line cones. On the next rainy day, sit down with your child, cover the table with newspaper or wax paper. You will need your pinecones, a jar of peanut butter, crunchy or smooth, birdseed, a plate, string or yarn and a spoon. Tie a loop of string or yarn to the end of the pinecone for hanging. Help you child spoon peanut butter all over and into the niches of the pinecone. Pour birdseed on a plate then roll the pinecone in the seed. Make sure you get all the peanut butter covered well with a layer of seed. Set them aside and let them set. Take them with you on your next walk and let your child choose where to hang them. Do this with an explanation that the birds are beloved creatures of the God/Goddess, that by taking care of them and feeding them you are giving praise for their creation.

If you have the outdoor space, allow your child to make their own little garden, planting the seeds of their choice. Let them tend their gardens and see how their plants grow. Be prepared to eat any vegetables they may choose to grow. You may use this to incorporate an understanding of Imbolc and the rituals for growth and planting. It carries through to the Ostara, as their plants peak through the earth, on to Beltaine, as their plants have grown and matured. If they have chosen flowers, allow them to pick them and place them on the family altar.

Invest in a book that gives picture references of your local flora and fauna. See how many from the book you and your child can find. Use this as a tool to explain the many varieties of life which are all beloved by the God/goddess.

Spend a warm evening listening to the sounds of the night. Have your child try to name which creatures he/she hears that you have seen during your daytime adventures. Enjoy with them the peace and tranquility of a beautiful evening. Even children of a young age can sit and be quiet for a few minutes to just listen and feel. It can be a good opportunity to explain the Summer Solstice and the time of the year to watch things grow and mature.

As the season moves towards autumn, take some time with your child to appreciate the fruits of the field. Find a project you can make together, possibly making an apple pie. If you garden, let your child help you with the harvest and watch as you can or freeze the bounty from your garden for the winter months. This is an excellent time to incorporate Lughnasadh, Mabon and Samhain lessons.

Books with Native American animal stories are a wonderful resource for teaching young children. In this day and age of children’s television, going back to a simpler time with well written and humorous stories, is a beautiful way to spend time with your child. So many of these stories have a subtle lesson behind them to teach. They will often inspire your children to ask a lot of questions on the whys and wherefores. Be prepared to incorporate the little lessons they learn from these stories into your everyday life.

Using these simple ideas and others you come up with like them, builds in your child a strong sense of balance and respect for and with nature and the world around them. They are a stepping stone to understand and acceptance as they mature and the nature of your lessons on Wicca grow into worship, ritual and the Craft.

The Second Step

Children love to do what Mommy or Daddy do. If you have kept your altar hidden, or behind locked doors, then now is the time to start an altar for the entire family. It does not need to be glamorous or perfect, it is just a place for your children to see as a sacred space in their home. Choose a shelf, counter, bookcase top, wherever you feel comfortable and set up an altar for family worship and community.

Let your child or children help. If their astral color is not one they like, let them pick their favorite color candle, let them place leaves or flowers they have found on the altar. Stones, shells and nut husks are acceptable as well. Altar figures of the God/Goddess may not be something for this altar. Let your child help you choose something they feel is correct. An animal or bird, a dragon. Or keep fresh flowers and grasses there.

Take some time each evening, when homework and dinner is done and sit together. Light the white candles for the God/Goddess, then help your child or children light their candle. Sit and give thanks for the good things of the day. Discuss anything bad or upsetting that may have happened and have your child write it down or draw a picture of it on a small piece of paper. Fold or crumple the paper and place it in your censer or a glass dish and light it. Explain to your child or children that in doing this they are giving their troubles up to the God/Goddess and they are free from them now.

As the seasons change and the Sabbats and Esbats occur, decorate the family altar accordingly, have you child help with this, explaining the meaning behind what you are doing.

As your child or children grow, these two steps will be the cornerstones upon which you may base a lifetime of education.