What’s inside the book?

Page 14 The Wheel of the Year

Pagans have special holy days that are different from everybody else. The Earth and the Seasons are important to Pagans. That is what Pagan holidays are for. We have holy days for the Sun, called Sabbats. We have eight Sabbats. The Pagan New Year is on October 31. Halloween falls on the same day as Samhain. Samhain is pronounced “sow-en”.

Summer is coming. Mommy invited friends from the city to come and help with the yearly home blessing. They come every year. Before they arrive Mommy, Daddy and Rabbit clean every room of the house. The floors are washed and waxed. The basement where the cats’ litter boxes are kept is aired out. Even the cats’ litter boxes are scrubbed. When the whole house from top to bottom is shiny and clean, the house is ready for the ritual.

Mommy, Daddy, SeyWitch and Thoss sat in the living room sipping iced tea while they discussed the blessing ritual. SeyWitch pulled an ancient bell out of her big bag. She handed it to Rabbit. Rabbit shook it gently. It rang clear and loud even though Rabbit had barely moved it.

SeyWitch smiled. “Would you like to use my bell during the ritual?”

The first of the three harvest festivals is called Lughnasadh (loo-na-sa). Lughnasadh happens on August 1. Pagans celebrate the first fruits on this Sabbat. Rabbit’s family has a ritual with apples dipped in honey. Rabbit, Mommy and Daddy take turns covering juicy apple slices with golden honey. Rabbit, Mommy and Daddy say a thank you with each crunchy bite. They are always very sticky when they are done with the apples. They are happy to have so much in their lives to be thankful for.

“This book is written from my own experience as an Eclectic American Pagan. There are many different forms of Neo-Pagan, Earth-centered religious paths. I could not even begin to include them all in a children’s book. The purpose of this book is to remove some of the mystery surrounding an often misunderstood, minority spiritual choice. The celebrations shown are based on Wiccan holidays and customs. There are many different Earth-based paths, of which Wicca is but one.” W. Lyon Martin