Pagan Parenting

Monday, August 21, 2000
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Imagine your child growing up to become a witch, to hold pagan ceremonies and embrace ancient Wiccan rituals that idolize nature and the cycles of life.

Now, any family can "circle round" a pagan version of Dr. Spock to raise their tot as a proper witch or warlock.

"Our book is meant to show families how we do it, show families how other families do it and then invite them to exercise their own creativity, create their own rituals," said Diane Baker, the co-author of Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions.

Like children from other faiths, pagan kids celebrate holidays and rites of passage with songs, rituals and blessings — but instead of one God, they're taught to worship many gods and goddesses. This is a fundamental departure from monotheistic religions and, for some, a source of contempt.

"We talk about God — God bless you, God take care of you, God be with you — and when you teach that there's not a god that you are accountable to, you are destroying the culture," said Rev. Lou Sheldon, president of Traditional Values Coalition. 

Sheldon is a religious rights and anti-gay activist and his coalition is the largest non-denominational, grassroots church lobby in America. 

"We weave them together with our wishes for a good reason," said Lorelei Hansen, a pagan parent who denies she's destroying anything — but, rather, raising a caring, responsible son. 

Hansen said her religion isn't about Hollywood's image of witchcraft. She said she has tried to shield her son, 5-year-old Mordred, from the kind of teasing she endured as a child.

"I bring my festivals to the pre-school and celebrate with them, and give them a feel of what we are and it's worked quite well, said Hansen. "He's not seen as an outsider."

The U.S. government now officially recognizes paganism, and more people emerge from the pagan closet every day. 

Followers of the little-known and widely misunderstood faith say the slow pace of acceptance is just one more thing they will pass on to the next generation.