Being a Pagan Parent

Being a Pagan Parent

This was a subject I was debating on talking about because it puts my family in a public light. However, I don't see many people discussing how to raise their kids in a pagan household. As I've said in other blogs, my husband and I practice two different faiths; I'm heathen and he's a practicing Palero and Osanyin Priest. So, how do we handle educating them? It's pretty easy, honestly.

Heathenry and Youtube

I follow this gentleman on Youtube who runs a in-depth channel on the Norse Religious texts, the Prose and Poetic Eddas. He speaks in the old Norse language as well. We listen to his videos on car rides and talk about the stories we heard. My son is five years old, so he has a lot of questions and breaking things down on his level can be a but challenging. He's absolutely fascinated though and loves to hear the funny stories. My daughter is three so just listens to have a good time. I plan on continuing this until they both know the books well. I also picked up an audible account and buy the Norse mythology books or other subjects they would be interested in for lessons. So far, it's a hit! I would highly suggest this for any parent on the go as much as I am. 

Palo and Music

My husband does plan on having our kids scratchedscrat the faith. Scratching is just a term for initiation. My husband talks to him about Osanyin and Palo when he gets the chance and we already have some spirits for him to work with. Both my husband and son are excited about him coming to age. To teach him more about the Afro-cuban faith, we often play the Yoruba and Congo music  and then my husband hard translates as best as he can. This faith is oral, so anything outside of stories passed down, makes the knowledge limited. 

Indoctrination

We do NOT believe in forcing our children into a particular faith, even ours. We'd prefer it, but it's entirely their choice. We plan on enrolling our son into a Catholic private school. We also took our kids to a Mosque and a Hindu Temple just so he can get a better education and can make sure he's religiously informed from all sides. We're very proud of their interest in our practices and will continue to feed those flames until they can decide how they are fulfilled. 

We will continue this blog talking about the ways we educate our kids in the Pagan paths.

Pagans in the News - San Antonio, Texas

According to sources, a household in San Antonio have been placed under arrest for animal sacrifice. A neighbor had called the police claiming that there were 12 animals in the home, chickens, goats, and others, that were doing to be sacrificed for a ritual. They were charged with animal cruelty, but most likely due to the ignorance of those outside of the faith.

In Texas and many southern States, practices such as Palo and Santo are prevalent and they involve animal ritualistic sacrifice. Texas law protects this practice using laws that state animal sacrifice is within the legal confines of animal ownership and killing them is no different than the other practices you see within Judaism and Islam.

Various other Supreme Court rulings have been in favor of the practice so long as it's proven to be a humane process and offering to the orishas. In Florida, you'll read about how they ruled a ban on such is actually AGAINST the religious freedoms of Afro-Cuban followers. In other cases, [such as this one in Virginia, they have managed to successfully deter sentencing. Texas is certainly not new to police and nonpractioners constant demonization of this practice. Even Santaria in Dallas has seen it's right be tested and even the drumming and singing have been complained about constantly.

With any luck to those in San Antonio, they will also win their case and the right to practice as set by their ancestors. The first case to fight for their right was in Florida against an entire house. Thankfully, the courts file in favor of the Constitution, even against their own personal beliefs. We are no longer in the dark ages and this no longer a witch hunt! Will you stand beside your pagan brothers and sisters? The only way forward with these new laws established by a trump era is hand in hand.



References
https://www.animallaw.info/article/legal-aspects-animal-sacrifice-within-context-afro-caribbean-religions

Florida Case: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/12/us/supreme-court-animal-sacrifice-court-citing-religious-freedom-voids-ban-animal.html

Virginia Case:
http://www.animals24-7.org/2016/08/23/first-conviction-of-animal-sacrifice-practitioner-in-11-years

Dallas Case:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/a-court-case-forced-a-santeria-priest-to-reveal-some-of-his-religions-secrets-its-ritual-of-animal-sacrifice-he-revealed-on-his-own-6406316

Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Lukumi_Babalu_Aye_v._City_of_Hialeah

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