Teach your children how to bake, and jumpstart a car

Both of the above mentioned activities happened today.

I'm fortunate enough to share an island with my family, and as such I take full advantage of their superior kitchen and photography gear. (The above photo did NOT come from my 3 year old iPhone.) 

When I arrived, my parents and brother were surrounding their car. Apparently some rats made a love shack under the hood, and the car wouldn't start. Once that was cleaned out, and the damaged wires taped, we found the battery to be dead. The rat's nest was just a pleasant distraction apparently. As all good life moments, this one was a great teaching opportunity. My Father seized on the chance to explain to my brother how to jump start a car. They had the car running in time for me to steal my brother and his superior photography skills. 

We tromped across the moors, using what little sun there was to take a few shots. Foliage out here isn't spectacular, but that makes what we can find that much more interesting. The landscape itself is what's really inspiring. The heart of the island is made of low rolling hills, long heathlands, scrub oak moors, and a few tucked away woods. It's an otherworldly environment that most people describe as a cross between Middle Earth and how they imagine the landscape of "Return of the Native." We're blessed to call it home. Afternoons such as this I take full advantage of, as I glean as much as possible from my brother. Afterwards I repay his efforts with potato leek stew and soda bread. Both of which he attends to, and learns as well.

Where I'm going with all of this is the simple act of teaching. Many of my peers struggle through their 20's and early 30's as they grow into "functioning" adults. I have been fortunate however to have had close family that enjoy teaching, and show great patience, which I believe is the only reason I've survived thus far. As the Pagan community ages, many of us are starting our own households. That is an exciting prospect. Not only is our community growing, but the transmission of folklore and spirituality is taking on a more organic nature. I may be speaking with a broad brush, or stereotyping, but the nature of our community as a strongly academic one does extol some common virtues. Pagan parents may be well positioned as great teachers because of our own experiences. We've all had to study, practice and work tirelessly to build the lives we want, and we decided to try our hands at reviving a near dead spirituality for good measure. Whether we express it or not, Pagans value hard work, and education. Our community wouldn't exist otherwise. 

I hope everyones day may wind down with a wood stove and stew, as mine has. 

Tapadh Leibh

Owen