As the year's wheel spin to the direction of Samhain, the day of the dead, old Hallows eve, Halloween, the time of death being celebrated.
Today's culture, has embraced Halloween, a day of costumes, candy, and themes such as ghost, horror and simply death. Yes death is the main topic of this time period, the Autumn season. Even more so than in the winter, the symbolic death, which we customary celebrate the return of longer days, a new year and the anticipation of spring.
It is now, when the leaves change, that we as a species seem to focus on our own great equalizer, mortality. In some ancient cultures, people would literally bring out dead bodies from cripts and burial chambers, to visit the living. Although I don't recommend following such traditions, for neither the legal or sanitary risk are not worth it. As our modern culture embraces death with horror films, ghost stories and any story that insight fear.
Death, being commonly feared, it is worth teaching children about the subject in a progressively healthy approach. Starting even before the equinox, it is best to start preparing for this subjects and how you can explain it to your children.
How do we as parents teach our children about the subject of death?
You can begin with studies in nature. With small children, you may not want to explain how one day they and everyone they know will die, just yet. You can introduce death gently, with pointing out plants that are dying or dead. You could work your way up to dead insects, eventually mammals, including human.
You may want to honor your ancestors forgotten by time, by incorporating some ancient context. This is a time to inspire history. Especially many fairytales, outside the Disney context and legends are great ways to learn the mindset of the ancient people who told these stories.
You may have statues of God's of your ancestral background. You can even incorporate Christianity. Christianity holds stronger held beliefs in regards to death and if your more recent ancestors were Christian or a different form of religion, you may want to incorporate their symbolism in relations to your ancestors or recently lost.
Catholic saint are an effective way to use magic. Especially when dealing with Christian. They believe the saint has the power to sway gods opinion, providing the energy to find a sway them. In cases of sudden death of may, I suggest, Saint Andrew of Avellino.
Your children will have to face the loss of a loved one.
Sadly people in your life will die. Some of the death is expected, such as cases of advanced age and or poor health. Others are unexpected, and life is often cut short significantly
Samhain is a time to bring out picture and memorabilia of loved ones past, friends, family, etc... It is a time to remember those we have lost. If your child has not yet suffer a loss, btw pets count, tell them of loved ones you have lost. If your family has suffered a loss this year, talking about the recently departed. Encourage natural feelings your child has, rather than insist they react in a differently manner. Crying is encouraged, emotions run high in the time of Scorpio.
Come the ending of Samhain, you and your family should begin to find peace with the new relationship with you lost loved ones, as either memories or spiritual entities. As the wheel shifts towards the longer day, begin putting the dead back in their safe place until next year.
Giving your children a healthy respect and understanding of death will allow you and your family to appreciate life, while it is available to them.
Happy Samhain!
