A Journey Back in Time

Slowly Introducing Kids

I often like to put on the history channel for the kids to watch and learn about the ancient civilizations as they run around the house making messes and mischief. I feel this is an easy transition into pagan beliefs because its more understood of it being real and other have practiced it before. I also believe that culture plays a pivotal role in any religion practiced and should be studied alongside the older religious views. Their customs, morals, and everyday life will give a greater insight into the why and why nots of how they believed the Gods to act. Even though they're five and two and a half, I know that some of that information is getting to them one way or another because throughout the week my son will randomly ask questions about some of the programs he was not fascinated with. Instilling this learning at your own pace environment has definitely allowed them to pick up on things their own way. My daughter, the youngest, will even stop at times to sit and watch the programs. I usually do this for a couple hours a week depending on what's on the TV and how long were home.

The other way I do this, is by using YouTube and Audible. We'll hook up my phone in the car rides around town and listen to lore or other things. This past month we learned about Stonehenge on YouTube and then watched a series on it on the History Channel. At first he thought it was cool, then they started talking about the ritualistic sacrifice and he got scared that people were going to come up from the ground. (He's really into zombies.) He relaxed after I explained as best as I could to him that these things happened a very long ago, way before even great grandma and grandpa were alive. He was really interested in it, so I suggested a trip.

Stonehenge Reconstructed

Here in our little town we have a full sized reconstructed site at one of the colleges. It's quite a grand thing and when you can't travel to the real site, it's the next best one. After listening to the YouTube video again as a refresher for the course they were going to learn, we got out and they had some fun. We talked about what it must have been like back then and I asked my son what kind of a shop would he open if he lived here. Of course, he said video games or ninjas, and my daughter wanted a pink store with makeup or my candles. (She's very fascinated with what mommy does.) 

My son asked where they buried people and why. That was a little harder to explain since they way is not really known. I told him that this wasn't the real Stonehenge and that the real one is very far away in another country, but that people from all over the world can still go and visit it. I asked him how he thinks people back then lived and we discussed that there used to tribes of people who would wonder the world. That there didn't use to be cities or houses like we have. People couldn't use phones to talk like we do with his grandparents. I think that idea worried him more than intrigued him because he was wondering a lot about how they managed to live then. 

Baby Steps in Understanding

At the end of the trip, I asked him what all he learned and if he'd like to come back another time and listen to more about the actual people who lived here. We really only heard about what Stonehenge was used for and not so much about the people or religion. So we're planning a trip back again to see what else we can find out about this mysterious wonder of the old world. I told him that there many different kinds of people who had once lived in the real Stonehenge. That there were old Britton tribes, Romans, Celts, and even older peoples still. We discussed the type of told used, because he's getting more interested in tools and working like his dad. How they're different from the ones we have today because they were wooden and stone. It was a lot of information to take in at once and I think highlighting the parts he would find more interesting helped. In the end, we walked away with a lot of fun in the desert sun.

I hope you enjoyed our trip. Do you have any questions in regards to how we teach? 

© 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

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.

Update to the Santaria San Antonio Case

The accused from the arrests made in San Antonio, Tx in mid-march have set a court date! They will appear in court on April 9th at 9am. Unfortunately, I may not be able to make it myself, but any of those who wish to attend, here is the address:

Cadena Reeves Justice Center
300 Dolorosa, 2nd Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205

They ask that you wear all white, as well any of your religious emblems to the court room to show your support in solidarity. Please do not make noise or be disruptive, as this CAN hurt them. They already have enough to face.

They will also be holding a public prayer to Obatala on Sunday. If you wish to join in, jump down to the group link and ask to join. You can also offer your support from far away by burning a white or green candle for legal aid and justice.

According to an article written on the 23rd,  here from my SA, even the animal protecton agencies have stepped up to say this is not a matter of animal cruelty. People all over Texas often kill chickens and goats to eat. My husband and myself have killed a lamb and several goats over the years for his practice and I, personally, have used some of the meat as offering to my own gods.

So what is the problem?

The issue that we're seeing is a straight up prejudice against the Pagan religion. This isn't anything new either, given the countless cases that have gone up against and won in the supreme court. The most recent one, in 1993, was even sited in the above article, where it was already stated that they cannot be arrested for a religious act and that it IS protected under both the first amendment and the right to religious freedom. This is bold discrimination. However, without proper legal representation they cannot win. The Olasha United has set up a legal aid donation center where you can support them as best as you can.

You may be against this, personally, but this is a fight for all pagans and the right to respect.

Link to the Olosha's Group
To donate and read more


© 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame

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

 © 2016, Copyright The Dame and The Devil Business Blog - Writer The Dame, the above image is owned by the writer