Hearth, Heart & Home: Adventures in Pagan Parenting

Raven (yes, really), a pagan, homeschooling mother of two -- one teen, one tot -- shares her adventures in parenting from a pagan perspective. Watch her juggle work, education, parenting, cooking, gardening, and . . . how many balls are in the air now? Sometimes they fall, and sometimes she learns from her mistakes. You can, too.

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Harvesting the Intangible

My best friend has a mantra she says when her children are being difficult, "I love my child, I love my child, I LOVE my child …" and it helps to some extent when dealing with the upsetting behaviors of those we love.  I've tried it out a few times myself, and it tends to lead me to laugh or at least to breathe and reconnect with my priorities.

Lately, the mantra hasn't been working for me.  As a birthday promise to myself to change some of my own poor habits, I disconnected myself from Facebook for a month (still going), because it had become such a big distraction, it was bleeding into my writing time, my cleaning time, and worst of all, time with my kids.  So, I set up a filter so all my notifications go to a special folder instead of my inbox, I deleted the related apps from my phone, and stop myself when I unconsciously start typing in the URL.

Why has it become such a distraction? Because there's always something new to discuss, learn, or otherwise divert my attention from my chronic pain.  After two weeks without, I'm definitely noticing my pain more, and it's making me far more sensitive to -- and irritated by -- the behaviors of my dearest people.  But it's also making me more present in my life, more active in the house, and getting me to connect with friends one-on-one again.

Yet what now must I do to find a relief or lessening of my pain so my temper and depression don't take over and send me down a different path of bad habits?  Being harvest time, I've been focusing on gathering in abundance.  An abundance of patience.  An abundance of strength.  An abundance of friendship, support, and healing.

After months of good deeds and good actions, I'm reaping the benefits of caring for others -- greater social commitments get me out of the house more often, engaging myself and my family in games, volunteering, healing others, and adventures.  Not being distracted, my home isn't as overwhelming as it once was, because I've been pushing myself to use my time to make things better, and keep them that way (though such chores will always be a struggle, they're less of one if we can make better systems for keeping them clean).

The pain and illness makes things more difficult to accomplish, and the desire to return to any form of distraction remains a powerful temptation, but I am working daily -- sometimes hourly -- to summon what I need in the moment to keep me present, focused, and even-keeled.

If you're suffering from chronic pain or illness, you're struggling with mental health issues, or a weariness of spirit, I offer you this prayer to use.  Bring yourself to a quiet place, find a focus, such as a lit candle or a sacred object.  Breathe deeply, and recite this prayer.  Repeat the second stanza as many times as needed before closing with the final lines.

 

A Prayer for Abundance

I ask those who offer me support to hear me in this moment of need.
I open my arms to gather in the harvest I have sewn.
Guides and gods, spirits and guardians,
fill me with what best will serve me.

Fill my heart with compassion and my mind with patience.
Gather close the love and friendship I have worked to grow.
Bind me with the strength of solid earth that I might remain upright.
Open the dam to let forth cool waters and rich minerals to heal me.
Bless me with light so i might draw from it warmth and hope.
Let the wealth and bounty of my good work come to me now.

So mote it be. 

I offer my thanks to you for guidance and assistance.
Go if you must, stay if you will, within or without, we remain with you still.
Blessed be.

 

 

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Raven lives in a forest with her two homeschooled children, partner, and several demanding cats. She enjoys performing, cooks a mean burger, and is obsessed with farming, but has yet to adopt a goat. Her publications are listed at SatyrsGarden.com.

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