The
Earth Child’s Handbook - Crafts and Inspiration for the Spiritual
Child
Books 1 & 2
Brigid Ashwood
Genre: Pagan Parenting,
Pagan Kids
Book 1
ISBN-10:
1479265519
ISBN-13:
978-1479265510
Book 2
ISBN-10:
147927108X
ISBN-13:
978-1479271085
Book Description:
The
Earth Child's Handbook is a primer, reference, craft and activity
book series for families that follow Pagan, Wiccan and Earth Based
spiritual paths. Designed to appeal to all age groups (and
grown-ups too!), the books address common Pagan beliefs and
practices, explaining the principles and traditions behind them.
Each
chapter features:
Recipes
Instructional
craft projects
Coloring
pages, mazes and word searches
Color,
cut and assemble projects
Younger
children will delight in the coloring pages and paper crafts. Older
children will find educational fun with word searches, mazes,
connect-the-dots and instructional crafts. And parents might find it
a lifesaver with easy recipe ideas and inspiration for teaching and
building Pagan traditions.
The
Earth Child's Handbook - Book 1 features chapters on the joy of
family and diversity, honoring the earth and the principles of the
four elements, the universe and Pagan beliefs regarding the Sun and
the Moon, explanation of Deities, and an introduction to Magick and
Ritual with simple spells and exercises.
Special
topics include Shapeshifting, Runes, Book of Shadows, Animal Guides,
Chakras, Meditation, Astrological Signs, The Elements, Cycles of the
Moon, Magickal Correspondences, Sun Deities, Moon Deities, Triple
Goddess and Triple God, The Four Quarters and Casting a Circle.
Featured
activities include making a Chakra shirt, rain stick, homemade face
paints, herbal infusions, bath salts, a moon phase wheel, moon cake
recipe, a complete "color, cut and assemble" paper
altar and much, MUCH more.
The
Earth Child's Handbook - Book 2
features chapters on the Seasons, the 8 Pagan Sabbats and the Wheel
of the Year. Each Sabbat chapter includes facts, traditions,
correspondences and information about that holiday as well as
recipes, altar decorating ideas, rituals and crafts, coloring pages,
mazes and word searches.
Special
topics include Seasonal Altars, Solstice Sabbats, Equinox Sabbats,
Quarters and Cross Quarters.
Featured
activities include cinnamon ornaments, Yule wrapping paper, Brigid's
cross weaving, handmade paper, flower beads necklace, Beltaine masks,
prayer flag, magickal broom and much, MUCH more.
Buy on Amazon
Check out these excerpts:
Earth
Excerpt from Book 1
Earth
Earth
is more than just the planet we live on or the dirt under our feet.
You might think of the Earth as the body of the Great Goddess, our
Mother, our Creator. The Earth sustains us; in it grows food for us
to eat and other materials to help our daily lives. Her trees provide
us with air, shelter, and shade. All of the four elements are related
to each other, and cannot exist one without the others. This is
especially true in their relationship to Earth, for all of these
elements are found on and are part of the Earth itself. Air breezes
through the trees on our Earth, Water runs through her streams, and
Fire glows deep inside her core. If Earth is her body then Air is her
breath, Water her blood and Fire her Spirit and Soul.
Recycling
Recycling
is a big part of being an Earth conscious and responsible person. If
you wish to learn more about the type of general recycling you can do
in your home check at your local library for more information. There
you can find out which materials, such as bottles, cans, newspapers
and cardboard are recycled in your area. In addition to participating
in community recycling efforts you can also recycle or reuse items in
your own home. Try some of the craft recycling tips below and help to
pr eserve the resources of our precious Earth.
For
sparkly silver craft paper save potato chip bags. Cut off the top and
bottom and slice one side open so that the bag lies flat. Clean the
shiny silver side with window cleaner and a rag.
Save
small plastic food containers with lids, such as yogurt containers to
store homemade clays, paints, and bath products. Some
frozen foods come in plastic trays with compartments that are good
for dividing up craft supplies and paint colors while working on a
project.
Save
cylindrical shaped containers such as snack chip containers or
powdered drink containers, these make great molds for soap, candles
and ice.
Save
interesting and beautiful plastic and glass containers to repackage
bath crafts to give as gifts. Save junk mail and divide it up roughly
by color to use in paper making.
The
Heavens Excerpt from Book 1
The
Heavens
When
you look up at the sky what do you see? Sure you see the Sun, and at
night the Moon and the Stars, but did you know that there is a whole
lot more up there than meets the eye? Ancient people didn’t have
cities full of electric lights to brighten up their night sky. They
looked to the Moon and the Stars to light their evenings. When they
looked up at the heavens the stars were so clear and bright in
comparison to the darkness of evening around them that they were
struck with awe.
When
the ancient people looked at their world and the stars, Sun and Moon
above it, they noticed the relationships that existed there. They saw
the ebb and flow of the oceans tide with the phases of the Moon. They
saw the changing of the seasons with the Sun’s position in the sky.
They noticed changes in their environment when a comet flashed across
the sky, and they observed how children born under certain signs had
similar natures.
Ancient
people saw such awesome power exhibited by our Sun that they knew the
Sun must be God’s representative to us in our day sky; a reminder
that God is always there to protect us, provide for us, and love us.
These same people looked to the Moon in the darkest nights to light
their way, they saw how the phases of the Moon guided the cycles of
women, and recognized the Moon as Goddess’ representative to us in
our night sky.
Just
as the Earth is a symbol and living representative of the Great
Goddess, so is the Moon a symbol of her as well, and the Sun a symbol
of God. And each of these things is a reminder to us, of the
everlasting presence of our divine parents the Goddess and the God,
who in their love for each other, their love for us, and in return
our love for them, are one and the same.
Some
Pagans call the united God and Goddess, Spirit. Spirit is the fifth
element. It is all around us, and in us. It is the love of the
Goddess and the God.
Moon
Excerpt from Book 1
Phases
of the Moon
Our
Moon gets its glow from the Sun. Sunlight is reflected off of it’s
surface enabling us to see the Moon from Earth. The Moon orbits
around the Earth, the Earth in turn orbits around the Sun. The Moon’s
cycle around Earth takes about twenty-eight days.
As
the Moon orbits Earth we see it from different perspectives and with
different amounts of the Sun’s light illuminating it. This cycle is
a gradual and continuous process, with the Moon appearing slightly
different just about every day. However traditionally this gradual
change is recognized as having eight distinct phases.
Magick
Moon Phases Wheel
To
see which phase the Moon is in all you have to do is look outside in
the evening. Many people use the phases of the Moon in conjunction
with special spiritual meditations or for help with spell work. You
will learn more about spells and rituals in another chapter of this
book. In the meantime have fun making this Moon phase wheel.
To
use your wheel, find out the current phase of the Moon from a
calendar, the internet or take a look at the real thing. Once you
know the Moon’s current phase, line up the wheel window with the
picture of the Moon that matches its current phase. Line up the name
of that phase underneath the picture. Lastly line up the magic tips
disc for that phase. Now you’ re ready to appreciate the phases of
the Moon!
**My thoughts**
I think these books are fantastic. They celebrate the Earth and teach children how to take care of her. Yes, there is a Pagan basis to the books, but many lessons and activities can be pulled from these books to fulfill many science activities. For example, this moon phases wheel just above would be a great addition to a unit on the moon. The adult who is choosing the activities can choose how much information she wishes to share with the children.
For those who are using it at home, it is a great way to build bonding family time together, as you make your way through the different activities. If you practice Pagan beliefs, you can tailor the activities to your family's rituals and beliefs. Another way these can be used is simply by putting them out for your children to read and explore on their own. They are written in a way that elementary and older can read for information and instructions without an adult's assistance. I would have devoured many of these crafts when I was a kid.
It is up to individual adults how they are going to use these books in their children's lives. I look forward to using some of the activities to supplement my science area.
About
the Author:
Brigid
Ashwood is an artist, illustrator, blogger and author of various and
sundry titles such as The Earth Child's Handbook (Books 1 & 2),
Oracle of the Tarot Deck and more.
She
is a core contributor to Wired's GeekMom Blog and creates freebies
for Geeky Kids with her monthly Printable Fun feature.
Her
artwork ranges from New Brow contemporary, Pop Surrealism, Steampunk,
Fantasy and Fairy illustration, Celtic Knotwork, Witchy Pin-up to New
Age, Pagan and Goddess imagery.
Facebook page for book:
Art
& Blog
Wired
Blogger author Page
Brigid Ashwood has a fantastic giveaway package to go along with her books! Check this out and then enter the Rafflecopter below!
Tour wide Giveaway features: Both
volumes of The Earth Child's Handbook, signed by the author. A one of a kind
Pagan Kid's tote bag to hold your books. Your very own craft kit bag that
includes safety scissors, glue stick, tape, colored pencils, crayons and 7
tubes of glitter glue. A $90 value!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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