I am Lady Althaea and this site is home to my ramblings and musings in regards to my experiences as a Pagan Witch, Priestess, and mother of four adorable monsters that my husband and I are attempting to raise within our belief system. Our practice is based upon the Pagan aspects of the double-faith that I was raised in, a smattering of Neo-Paganism, a healthy dose of Witchcraft, and that which makes sense to us and comes naturally. What can I say? A big part of our Family Values is pragmatism and common sense. 

Directly below this little intro bit, you'll find a few articles; these are currently being updated on a more sporadic basis than every Dark and Full Moon, as it was previously. You can find previous articles under Articles, as well as previous articles contributed by your's truly to the Tarot Witch website.

Beneath the current articles there are links to my blog, every day is magickal, as well as a list of various topics that I'm prone to discuss and ponder.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, puns, or crazy stories about your kids.

Namaste!
Lady Althaea

The height of Spring is upon us! Granted, in many places, there is still several feet of snow blanketing the Earth, but the signs of returning life are there none-the-less and Ostara, the Vernal Equinox, is just around the corner.

This is a great holiday for children and the possibilities of things to do with them to celebrate are endless!

So, here are a few great ideas for the holiday, suitable for children of all ages. 

Nature Walk
It’s finally warm! Get your kids outside and in the woods. Keep your eyes open for the Greenman, who is sure to be out, and faeries. See how many flowers you can find (but no picking!) Try to identify them as a family. Small children can try to find as many different colored flowers as they can or spot which kinds of trees have the most leaves. 
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Including children in ritual can be a very warm and rewarding experience. Though if one’s never Circled with children before, planning a ritual to include them may leave one drawing a blank.

Children have a natural interest and curiosity for all the natural world and they take easily to magickal workings. They also function on a more spontaneous and open level, versus the methodical and rational level that adults tend to operate from so planning a ritual for kids is actually much simpler than planning a ritual for adults. But, given that adults and children do function differently, there are some things to keep in mind that can make the ritual more enjoyable for everyone involved.

3 Tips for Including Children in Ritual

• Keep the ritual short! It’s hard enough for adults to sit through a 4 hour long group ritual, can anyone honestly expect a three year old to maintain focus for that long? Remember: kids have short attention spans and are easily distracted. Handy rule of thumb: if your child is three years old, aim for 20 minutes. For every year older than that up to six years old add ten minutes (i.e. 3yo=20 min, 4yo=30 min, 5yo=40 min, 6yo=50 min) Older than 6, aim for an hour, hour and a half tops but only if the child is actively involved throughout the rite. Children under three years old: good luck.
  

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aka Thurible, Brazier; Masculine; Element of Air. Perhaps one of the most overlooked (though frequently used) altar tools, the censer is more than just an “incense burner.” Though, its primary use is to hold the smoldering charcoal briquette and smoking incense, this is not the be-all of its purpose. The censer is a tool aiding in transference. Consider its uses in sending messages to the Otherworlds, casting a Circle, in the giving of offerings and libations, or in astral travel; the censer is a tool that aids in the sending energies from one place to another.

Want more on information on tools? Check out the rest of The Tools of Wicca & Witchcraft article series, The Importance of Making your own Tools, and A Witch's Book of Shadows. And also, Witchcraft on a Budget and The Joys of a Found Stone. 

The only distinction there is between magick and living is that which we make in our own minds. Thoughts on the importance of recognizing this fact, experiences with walking a magickal path, witchcraft as a spiritual practice, and ideas for having a consciously magickal existence. And, because it only makes sense, a bit of actual magick you can put to use in your own life.

Recognizing and acknowledging not just the sacred days of one's beliefs but of one's community, as well, can help to foster a sense of balance and completeness in one's life. Celebrating the Holidays with family, passing on traditions to children, and general musings and reflections on the Holy Days. 

In a belief system that seems to prize and embrace the concept of community so fully, there are still too many Pagans who follow the trend of shying away from family that has become so prevalent in our culture. Thoughts on the importance of the family unit and the dire need for community, as well as reflections on family and my childhood, attempts to save a Family Tradition on the brink of extinction, passing on values and practices to the next generation, and overall thoughts on and experiences with Pagan Parenting and teaching children magick.

Sometimes cohesion, eloquence, and an appropriate topic are hard to come by. And sometimes, I'm just really happy and have to share.

It's not just about cooking! The practice of Kitchen Witchery embraces the use of magick, as expressed through the art of witchcraft, in every day life for every day tasks. As there is no distinction between magick and living, this practice comes easily. The Kitchen Witch is a witch who knows the importance of practicality, simplicity, and creativity. Thoughts on practicality and magick and the importance of trusting your gut and using what you got. Oh, and of course there are some recipes and cooking info, too... 

A modern symbol of the Feminine Divine, the Moon has long been a powerful ally to witches and a governing force in women's lives. Throughout time, She has continued to be a source of inspiration and awe. Recognizing the effects of the Moon in my own life, as well as thoughts and observations. 

Covering a wide variety of aspects, such as Crystals, Energy Healing, Herbalism, Nutrition, and Pregnancy, as well as the spiritual implications of each. And, of course, expect to find a few recipes, too. 

These are ways in which we consciously and formally acknowledge the sacredness of our lives and strengthen the bonds of family and community through the shared recognitions of the commonalities we all share and the trials we must all endure.