Take an Imagination Vacation

Introduce Your Child to Litha

by Heather Evenstar Osterman

article

As a parent, I find the modern world rather dismaying. With television, mass marketing and rampant violence, it seems that we get further from the world of imagination. It can be hard to compete with Power Rangers and Barbie. Where are the dragons, faeries and unicorns that I imagined when I was a kid? Where is the magick?

Well, I use the Sabbats to try and infuse the lives of my children with the joy and wonder I have found in Wicca. Litha (also known as Midsummer, St. John's Eve or Albin Hefin) celebrates the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice. The sun is at its zenith. Passion and creativity peak in our lives. Traditionally, the god of the waxing year, the Oak King must give way to his brother, the god of the waning year, the Holly King. Like Beltaine, this is a fire festival. The God and Goddess rule lush nature with mature power, approaching parenthood. Use this time of culmination to spread some joy and wonder in your home:

1. Go on an herb gathering expedition. This could mean a walk in the fields and forest or a trip to the local nursery. If you cut plants, make sure to leave an offering.
2. Choose special fabric and dried herbs to make small sweet dream pillows.
3. Explore the power of the sun. Hang prisms in the windows. Make special sunglasses with multicolored
4. Be kings and queens for the day. Dress up and refer to each other as Your Highness or Your Royal Majesty.
5. Make giant papier-mâché flowers. When they're dry, paint them bright colors and hang them around your home.
6. Share images of the Green Man with your children, then help them to make their own Green Man masks.
7. Re-enact the traditional battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. Create swords out of wrapping paper tubes or window lathing. If more than two people want to participate, stage a tournament, with the two kings facing off in the final battle (this time of year the Holly King wins).
8. Organize a Giving Fair with friends, family and neighbors. Have the whole family find clothes, toys and household items they no longer need or want. Have everyone bring these things to the Giving Fair, and then see if other families have things that you can use. Anything left over should be given to charity.
9. Using recycled materials and scraps of fabric and ribbon, make a little house for faeries to stay in if they visit your home. Fill the faery house with love and whimsy.
10. Leave milk and bread on the back porch at night for the faery folk.
11. If at all possible, arrange to have a campfire. You should build the fire with oak and fir. After the fire is burning well, let each family member add an herb of their choice to the fire and have them explain why they chose that herb.
12. Take turns telling stories around the fire. Reward young bards with foil wrapped chocolate coins and ginger beer.
13. Drum and dance into the night. Make beds for little ones (well away from the fire), and let older children welcome the dawn....

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